'I really struggled today'- Ayuso absent from UAE's forcing on Angliru

Juan Ayuso was a no show again in the finale of another GC battle at the 2025 Vuelta, with the Spaniard dropping off before the stage reached the climax of the Angliru and therefore he was unable to be of any assistance to his teammate João Almeida.

"I'm quite disappointed. I couldn't do a bit more for the team at the bottom of [Alto do] Cordal," Ayuso told reporters after the finish. "The whole plan was to reach the top of Cordal in first positions for the downhill, but I really struggled today."

Despite his personal struggles, Ayuso celebrated Almeida's success, noting his remarkable strength in maintaining his advantage to the finish line.  That is something of which Almeida has been famed for and where he has picked up the most success where he won his 2023 Giro d'Italia stage in very similar fashion on the Monte Bondone.

"He's a rider known for this. He [Almeida] puts one pace and can hold it until the line," Ayuso explained. "Angliru is one of the best climbs to do that because going on the wheel doesn't really matter."

The UAE Team Emirates rider attributed his difficulties to previous efforts, exclaiming that he was "probably paying a bit" for his exertions yesterday, where Ayuso took the victory after going clear on the final climb with compatriot Javier Romo, triumphing in the ensuing sprint.

"Today he showed he's one of the strongest riders in the race," Ayuso said of Almeida. 

With the announcement on Monday that Ayuso will be departing the team at the end of the 2025 season, Team UAE Emirates-XRG will surely be hoping to end the messy situation on positive terms and potentially that Ayuso can contribute more of an to Almeida's GC efforts. The Portuguese rider currently sits just 46 seconds behind leader Jonas Vingegaard.