There are moments that are never forgotten. The jump to professionals, the first victory, the first leadership… Moments that some lucky ones are crossing off their list of objectives. This Friday at the third stage of the Tour de Romandie, Spanish cycling resurfaces a little more, with a halo of light that crosses the firmament as a sign of hope that has a name and surname: Juan Ayuso Pesquera. The one from Jávea (20 years old), paragon of virtues and called to be the new star of cycling, won the time trial of the Swiss race with a recital that allows him to lead a race for the first time in his life in the professional elite. The second victory of his record, but the first in the World Tour category, leaves him in an idyllic situation to win the general, which will be decided this Saturday with the fearsome high end of Thyon 2000 (21km at 7.6%).
The time trial consisted of a route of 18.7 kilometers, with the ascent to a small port in its equator. Those 4.3 km climb at 5.7% average They allowed not-so-specialist runners to dream against the clock, and even increased the options for complete runners, but with a climbing profile, in the case of Ayuso. But it was not the one from Jávea, but another Spaniard, who set the first reference time of the day. Iván Romeo exhibited his prodigious physique as a wheeler to get the best provisional time (26:17). A pity that his stay in the ‘hot seat’ lasted a breath, since the German Marco Brenner beat him by 32 seconds just after (25:45). The best was yet to come…
The time of the ‘roosters arrived, and the first to leave their mark was Adam Yates. The Briton, with a 14:21, signed the best record at an intermediate point in which neither Matteo Jorgenson (1″), nor Ayuso (5″) could beat him, while the then leader, Ethan Hayter, left to a world And although the second part of the time trial, downhill, was propitious for a specialist like Tobias Foss If the balance tipped in his favor, it was Ayuso who flew low on the asphalt. The Spaniard gave free rein to his quality to pulverize the clock, with a time of 25:15 to which only Jorgenson (to 5″) could get closer.
Tomorrow, Juan will defend 18 seconds against the American from Movistar and 19 against Foss, his most immediate pursuers, to certify a victory in the general that will trigger even more the illusion that he instills. The injuries, the months in the dry dock, are left behind. Juan Ayuso is already here.
Results of the 3rd stage
1st Juan Ayuso (UAE) – 25:15
2nd Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) – at 5″
3rd Adam Yates (UAE) – 17″
4th Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) – 18″
5th Will Barta (Movistar) – 19″
General of the 76th Tour of Romandie
1st Juan Ayuso (UAE) – 8h 33:40
2nd Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) – at 18″
3rd Tobias Foss (Jumbo) – 19″
4th Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) – 22″
5th Adam Yates (UAE) – 30″