Ayuso battling illness on top of injury at Itzulia - 'I ran faster to the bathroom than the stage itself'
Juan Ayuso (Lidl–Trek) has revealed he has been dealing with stomach problems on top of his crash-disrupted preparation, but is still hoping to salvage something from the race’s final stages.
The Spaniard’s Itzulia has gone from bad to worse. Already well off the pace after losing 1:16 to Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) in the opening time trial, Ayuso has since been battling his body as much as the race itself.
"After the second stage it was a really hard day and I didn't really feel well," Ayuso told Cyclingpro.net at the start of stage 3. “Yesterday I also had quite a big stomach problem. It’s been a really hard few days. I think yesterday I ran faster from the finish to the bus to try to go to the bathroom than during the stage itself.”
It is a far cry from February, when Ayuso won the Volta ao Algarve and looked every bit the rider Lidl–Trek had signed to lead their Grand Tour ambitions. That version of Ayuso feels a long way off right now.
Ayuso said there have been few positive signs so far in his 2026 season, with everything seeming to pile up at once: the Paris–Nice crash, the training fall, and now illness. Asked how he felt ahead of stage 3, the Spaniard said: “I was following the same trend. I hope I get on the bike and see how my legs respond, but for now it’s not great.”
With the general classification long gone, the 23-year-old’s focus has shifted to simply getting through the week and helping his teammates in the remaining stages. “I hope the body can start to turn around and that I can be useful for the team in the final days.”
Despite his own struggles, Ayuso was also asked about Seixas, one of the few riders who can relate to leading a major race at 19 years old.
“When you have those legs, I think it’s easier than people expect. I’ve been in similar moments to what he’s going through. I’m not saying you feel invincible, but you do feel like you have everything under control.”
After Itzulia, the Ardennes Classics are next on Ayuso's programme, followed by preparation at the Tour Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes (formerly the Dauphiné) for his main goal this year: the Tour de France.
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