Ayuso looks out for Roglic on the first uphill finish, but sees another big opponent: "One of the best riders in the peloton"

The time trial on stage two was the only day Ayuso had to go all out. It was a nervous first week, in which the Spaniard also had some bad luck with a crash on the first day. "It did not help, but I've been feeling better every day, so tomorrow should be good. I think I've been OK getting my race rhythm back," Ayuso told Cyclingnews before Thursday's sixth stage. Now, his focus is fully on Friday's first mountain stage. "I'm looking forward to it a lot. It's the first chance we have to see where we are, so I hope that I'm there at the front and that I can be battling it out."

The climb to Tagliacozzo is unfamiliar territory for the Giro d'Italia. Whether it will really be a big opportunity for the GC contenders remains to be seen. "It will be new terrain for me, but I think probably the breakaway will stay away," said the young Spaniard. Nevertheless, he expects a few challenges from the contenders, especially in the steep final kilometers. And then, of course, one opponent stands out above the rest. "We've also got Roglič to think about, we saw Egan [Bernal Ineos-Grenadiers] has been on the front a lot, so he seems to be going quite well."

But Ayuso knows there are still a lot of competitors to contend with. He sums up the most important ones. "Obviously, we're now missing [Mikel] Landa (Soudal-QuickStep), and we should see [Antonio] Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) up there. I think it's the first time Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) might try the GC, but anything he attempts, he can perform well, because he's one of the best riders in the peloton. In any case, there are quite a few guys in play." Praising the Brit from Q36.5, who is currently 14th in the GC.

The seventh stage is not the only one of the weekend that could see significant changes in the GC. On Sunday, the gravel stage to Siena is on the program, a test where many see their chances but others fear a big crash. Ayuso is not afraid, but sees the danger of the treacherous white roads. "The stage to Siena could have a big impact on the Giro, because you can lose a lot of time with a bit of bad luck. Being at the front of the GC on the rest day would be a big advantage."

The ambitious youngster is eager to let his legs do the talking. Sports director Fabio Baldato also sees the first uphill finish as an important day when we can already rule out some names. "It's always the same with the first big mountain day in the first week," says the Italian. "After this stage, you can remove some GC guys from the picture, guys you think could be doing well, but who then lose two to three minutes. If you started with 10 contenders for the overall, then there will be less afterwards. You begin to understand which riders cannot beat the others."

After a week, Mads Pedersen is still in pink, having lost the jersey to Roglic for one day. But the UAE Team Emirates sports director does not expect him to remain in the lead after today. "We could see what he was able to do in the first two stages in Albania. The first stage had 3000 metres of altitude gain, and his team was super strong as well. They have done an excellent first week. But tomorrow [Friday] everything changes and we'll see, for example, if a local rider like [Giuilio] Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)" - who comes from the Abruzzo region where the mountain top finish is located - "tries to keep the pink jersey for the team. But in any case, Lidl are really going well and many congrats to them for what they have done."