Even his teammate and double winner of the Tour de France (2020 and 2021) Tadej Pogacar says it: "Juan impressed me".

According to the resistance tests carried out by the specialists of UAE, Ayuso develops the same power as his Slovenian teammate.

"He has impressive physiological parameters, like Pogacar, and the qualities of a complete cyclist," said UAE training performance manager Inigo San Millan in an interview for Eurosport.

"He has everything to become a world figure," continued the Basque.

Little known before the Tour of Spain 2022, Juan Ayuso Pesquera, the youngest of the Spanish loop this year (he will celebrate his 20th birthday on Friday), has become in the space of three weeks the new darling of the Iberian public.

On the sixth stage, Ayuso notably dropped off a group of favorites made up of three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic (Jumbo) and the winner of the last Giro Jai Hindley (Bora) in the Pico Jano pass, before finishing fourth.

"He has an incredible level. He is part of this generation of crazy who arrives as a professional, who is able to win immediately," said climber Ben O'Connor (AG2R) to AFP.

"Almost Scientific"

With Carlos Rodriguez (21, Ineos), 7th overall on Sunday, Ayuso embodies the revival of Spanish cycling, at half mast since the decline of the golden generation made up of the climber's two idols, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde - the latter was competing for his last big turn on this Vuelta 2022.

"I'm realizing a dream. I didn't have any particular objective at the start of this Vuelta, because it's my first. But I see that I'm in good shape and that I can try something" , had advanced Ayuso during the second day of rest.

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Born in Barcelona, ​​Juan Ayuso discovered cycling in the cycling club of Xabia, on the shores of the Mediterranean, where his family settled in 2010. The beginning of a passion.

"I knew he could go far, but I never imagined that he would be one of the most beautiful promises in world cycling at 18," admits his childhood friend Mateo on the rider's site.

The first successes are not long in confirming the enormous potential.

Cadet and junior Spanish champion titles follow one another, on the road or in time trials.

At the same time, Ayuso briefly integrates a platform for the promotion of high-potential athletes in the Valencia region (FER).

"Juan was a boy excessively focused on his sporting project for his age. From an early age, he had a methodological, almost scientific vision of his sport. He is a very talented boy, of course, but with a level of work and an ability incredible effort," FER sports director Ivan Colmenarejo told AFP.

From 2020, the nugget interests the UAE team, in particular led by the Basque Matxin Joxean Fernandez, who offers him a first contract.

After his coronation in the U23 Tour of Italy in the colors of Colpack-Ballan (where he was on loan), UAE made him take the plunge towards the World Tour circuit, last June.

And, given his performance, including a first pro victory on July 31 at the Getxo circuit (Basque Country), UAE is quick to secure his contract until 2028.

With Carlos Rodriguez, his main competitor among young people, Ayuso embodies the bright future of Spanish cycling.

And Tadej Pogacar is warned: his main rival for the next few years may be on the same team as him.

© 2022 AFP