'Pressure he has earned' - Contador on Ayuso's Vuelta media spotlight

Alberto Contador has suggested that Juan Ayuso is facing the consequences of his very impressive early career achievements after the 22-year-old was distanced on stage 6 of the Vuelta a España, falling out of the GC picture, with Ayuso admitting that he “didn’t have the weight of the general classification on my shoulders, [the media] put it there.”

"It's a pressure he has, but because he has earned it,” Contador said on Eurosport’s La Montonera, noting the expectations of the 22-year-old. "In the end, he has participated 2 times, at 19 he was able to finish third in the Vuelta a España, he's finished fourth on another occasion, it's a race that it's normal that you give him as a favourite,” added Contador.

In a sense, Ayuso has become a victim of his own success. With the likes of Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel arriving on the big stage a few years earlier, the pressure and expectation on Ayuso’s shoulders to be the next big talent coming through on the production line increased, particularly when he won the Baby Giro in 2021. 

Ayuso delivered on the hype early, ending 3rd in his maiden Vuelta in 2022, becoming the second youngest rider in history to finish on the podium of a Grand Tour, behind Henri Cornet, who won the Tour de France in 1904. Ayuso backed this debut up with a 4th place the following season, and has since won the GC at both Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country. 

Since his 4th in 2023, Ayuso hasn’t finished his last two Grand Tours before the current edition of the Vuelta. But it's very easy to forget that Ayuso is still only 22 years old, and Contador himself won his first Grand Tour, the Tour de France, in 2007 at the age of 24. 

Ayuso started the Giro d’Italia in May as a pre-race favourite, and started well with victory on stage 7, but abandoned on stage 18.  He wasn’t initially scheduled to ride the Vuelta, so has had to adapt with his preparations. 

Contador, a three-time Vuelta champion, expressed his surprise at how early Ayuso was distanced on the climb to Pal on stage 6. 

"In the end, the Vuelta a España and the road puts everyone in their place. What Juan was saying from the first moment was true, that he didn't have the best sensations,” said Contador. 

“I have to admit that when I saw that there were 50 riders left and he dropped off, it did catch my attention, because in a group of 15 or 20 riders that would have been more normal, but the fact that he had dropped off so soon was more surprising,” he added. 

‘El Pistolero’ did suggest that UAE Team Emirates-XRG were right to come into the race, giving Ayuso co-leadership status alongside João Almeida despite his preparation issues.

“Regardless of the fact that they know he hasn't been able to prepare the Vuelta in the best way, that he's not in the best shape, at least give him those options and not tell him that you're here exclusively to work for Joao,” said Contador.

Ayuso was on the attack at the start of stage 7, suggesting there's plenty of fight left at this Vuelta, and Contador suggested the race will open up different avenues for Ayuso to explore, while serving as preparation for the upcoming World Championships in September in Rwanda

Well, it opens a different Vuelta a España for him than the ones he's faced so far and, well, as he said, he's already thinking about the World Championships."