The test is presented with an attractive route, with the bet of the mountain and with the contest of the two best youngsters of the Spanish platoon, Juan Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez
The couple, born in the 21st century, celebrate their first year among professionals and have stood out in all the races in which they have participated
Beyond the 21 stages, the mountains, the visit to the Netherlands, whether Sierra Nevada will be the queen summit, what determines or not the passage through Asturias or whether Navacerrada will decide the race, two names illuminate the test to the point of being the leaders of the ‘revolt’: John Ayuso and Carlos Rodriguezrides so much, rides so much.
When was born peter slim in 1960, the first Spanish phenomenon of contemporary cycling, Federico Bahamontes was still doing his thing for the Tour. While changing the first diaper to Miguel Indurain In 1964, the French round experienced one of the most exciting duels of all time between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor. Rodriguez he is 21 years old and Ayuso 19. Both were born in the 21st century with Lance Armstrong traveling to nowhere and before cycling began to examine their conscience on the murky things that could not be done and that the couple of ‘troublemakers’ fortunately have not known.
extra incentive
They debut for the grace of the Vuelta and to have an extra incentive for the Basque Country, Cantabria, Castilla-León, Asturias, Valencian, Andalusian, Extremaduran and Madrid lands through which the race will pass, apart from the explosive visit to the Countries Low. And, above all, to give an extra incentive to a Spanish crowd that has already suffered too many disappointments with Enrique More Y Mikel Landaand that he needs something more than to honor and fire for 21 days Alexander Valverde in his last Spanish round.
Ayusoborn in Barcelona because his father worked there before settling in Atlanta, is so good that Miguel Induráin has even noticed him to point out him as the next Spanish contender to succeed in grand tours. Rodriguez He has the skills of a climber who is not afraid of time trials, while he does not forget his engineering studies at the University of Granada. He continues to live in his native Almuñécar while Ayuso He already resides in Andorra, the country with the most cyclists, for the mountains and something else.
They are runners who already move in a peloton that has forgotten French as its mother tongue and has left other languages, such as Spanish or Italian, in a secondary plane, to pedal to the rhythm of English. Ayusoin the UEA, grows far from becoming a domestique of Tadej Pogacarto the point that he has signed the longest contract, until 2028, never seen in this sport. Rodriguez is the pearl of Ineos, and although he states that he has come to the Vuelta to work for Richard Carapazhis team have no intention of stopping him if he decides to carry out an offensive in one of the unexpected mountains such as Pico Jano (Cantabria), Peñas Blancas (Andalusia) or Piornal (Extremadura).
First professional year
The couple celebrates its first year among professionals and have stood out in all the races in which they have participated. Rodriguez won a stage in Itzulia and the Basque Country also smiled at Ayuso by winning the Getxo Grand Prix at the beginning of the month. Ayuso, who must be identified as a cyclist from Alicante even though he was born in Barcelona, has not been out of tune in any general of the races he has contested. He was fifth in the Volta and fourth in Romandie, while leaving the Dauphiné ill when he was in the top ten of the standings.
“I have never competed for more than 10 days in a row and that is why I don’t know how I will feel. But more than pressure, I feel motivated and I like people to expect great things from me.” she says it Ayuso who, despite not yet having turned 20, shows a similar experience to that exhibited by his partner Pogacar when he made his debut in the Vuelta at the same age.
dreams to fulfill
Rodriguez he speaks slowly, with that charming Granada accent. He celebrates that he is the champion of Spain, a title that he conquered a week before starting a Tour that awaits him next year with open arms. “My goal is that everything goes well and I can get to Madrid. I’m not afraid of pressure, because I’m motivated and happy to debut in the Vuelta. The dream? Win a stage and enjoy the race.”
The particular ‘reVuelta’ begins for them as for everyone with the team time trial, then, at the beginning of the second week, they will have another one in Alicante and they will already forget about the stopwatch when the test heats up on the roads of Córdoba and Jaén on climbs marked by high temperatures such as the one they will find on the Pandera slope in Jaén . But that’s still two weeks away.