For a rider who had just lost all chance of victory in his home Grand Tour, Juan Ayuso appeared surprisingly calm when speaking to journalists after the first uphill finish of the Vuelta a España in Andorra.

In just six kilometres of the first-category Pal climb, and just a day after UAE Team Emirates achieved a remarkable triumph in the team time trial in Figueres, the 22-year-old Spaniard lost almost seven minutes to the big favourite Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Such a massive loss of time, already in the first mountain stage of the Vuelta, definitively compromised any ambition of Ayuso to repeat the podium he achieved three years ago and also erased any possibility of redemption after his withdrawal from the Giro d'Italia in May.

"I've always said from the start, and even before, that my goal wasn't the general classification. The team asked me to test my condition to see if I improved during the race. Out of respect, I tried, and when I saw I wasn't feeling well, I dropped out," Ayuso explained.

The young Spanish talent then added: 'I didn't have the weight of the general classification on my shoulders, you did,' referring to the widespread belief among the media and fans that he and teammate João Almeida were the main threat to Vingegaard.

"I know how I was and what my goals were. It's normal to raise expectations, but this isn't the Giro d'Italia, it's not as big a disappointment as that one. This was about doing what I could and then dropping back when I couldn't take it anymore."

Ayuso will now focus on supporting Almeida in the overall standings and will try to aim for a stage win in the coming weeks, while also keeping an eye on preparing for the next World Championships.

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