Juan Ayuso

At the age of 19, Juan Ayuso made his Grand Tour debut and finished third overall at the Vuelta España, which made him the youngest-ever podium finisher at the Vuelta and the second youngest podium finisher in the history of any Grand Tour. He was born on September 16, 2002 in Barcelona, though most of his childhood was spent in the south-easterly region of Valencia. Whilst still a junior, aged 17, he signed a five-year contract with UAE Team Emirates, racing half of his rookie pro year in a devo’ team before joining the WorldTour squad mid-way through 2021.

The next season Ayuso was far more productive, with a top-five finish in the Volta a Catalunya followed by a Best Young Rider’s win in the Tour of Romandie and his first professional win in the Circuito de Getxo one-day race in late July. That all set up his major achievements at his home Grand Tour with third overall, as well as the youngest rider to claim a top three in a Grand Tour in 118 years.

2023 Ayuso’s season start was delaying because of a leg injury, but he made up for lost time with his first WorldTour win in the time trial of the Tour of Romandie. In a Tour de Suisse where all results were overshadowed by the death of Gino Mäder, Ayuso  claimed a mountainous stage and a TT en route to second overall.
After a runner’s up spot in the Spanish National Championships road race in late June 2023, Ayuso then clinched the Best Young Rider’s award in the Vuelta a España as well as fourth overall.

He had a prolific 2024 with 16 top 10s, including his first podium on stage 4 at the Tour de France. However, his chances for more top finishes in support of teammate Tadej Pogačar abruptly ended when he pulled out due to COVID prognosis in the second week, and finished the year with a lighter schedule, though he won a stage at Tour of Luxembourg.

Ayuso had a brilliant start to his 2025 season, taking back-to-back wins at Faun-Ardèche Classic and Trofeo Laigueglia, then going on to the GC victory at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Key results

2025

🥇Faun-Ardèche Classic

🥇Trofeo Laigueglia

🥇One stage and GC at Tirreno-Adriatico

🥇One stage Volta a Catalunya

🥈 GC at Volta a Catalunya

2024

🥇One stage and GC at Tirreno-Adriatico

🥇GC at Itzulia Basque Country

🥇Faun-Ardèche Classic

🥇One stage Tour de Luxembourg

🥈 Faun Drôme Classic

🥈 Two stages and GC at Tirreno-Adriatico

🥉 One stage Tour de France

🥉 Trofeo Laigueglia

2023

🥇Youth classification at Vuelta a España

🥇 Two stages at Tour de Suisse

🥇 One stage at Tour de Romandie

🥈 Road race national championships

🥈 GC at Tour de Suisse

🥉 Two stages at Vuelta a España

2022

🥇 Youth classification at Tour de Romandie

🥈 Youth classification at Vuelta a España

🥉 Third overall at Vuelta a España