Ayuso cautions against complacency as Tour of Romandie climax nears: "We still have a lot of work to do"

Juan Ayuso heads into the queen stage of the Tour de Romandie in leading position. Thanks to a strong second half in the time trial, the UAE Team Emirates leader dethroned Thibau Nys in the standings and gained crucial seconds on his main rivals when it comes to the overall victory. In a post-race interview, Ayuso reflected on the race, feeling satisfied.

The approximately fifteen-kilometer time trial consisted of two parts: an initial uphill section followed by a fast descent to the finish. "It was a very tough time trial, everyone suffered," Ayuso began. "All my teammates told me back at the bus how challenging it was, which mentally prepared me. I didn't feel my best during the race and was really struggling. Nonetheless, I managed to pace myself well, knowing when to accelerate and when to recover. The second part in particular, with the wet road, was very tricky. I gained some nice time there because I dared to take risks," the affable Spanish stage racer said with a smile.

In the standings, Ayuso now leads Ilan Van Wilder by seven seconds. "I briefly looked at the standings, but I think I'm in a good position. I'm confident that we can defend the lead tomorrow." Saturday presents the riders in Switzerland with a day full of elevation gains, culminating in a long uphill finish.

Ayuso warns against underestimating the competition: "A lot of riders are still close"

The first days in Romandie were very cold, and several riders, including Ayuso, struggled with that. "The past few days have made recovery difficult, but we have only a day and a half left. After that, I can take my rest," he downplays the issue. As for the overall victory, Ayuso remains cautious. "There are still a lot of riders who are close in the standings. If they attack tomorrow, we'll have to respond. So, we still have a lot of work to do to win this race," the leader speaks. It is clear that he considers victory far from a done deal.