Juan Ayuso: “I may not be 100% fit, but I’m at a good level to try to compete in the race”
PARIS, Aug. 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s road cycling team, formed for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by Juan Ayuso, Alex Aranburu and Oier Lazkano, is planning a “crazy” race this Saturday in which they will have to be aware of any cuts that may occur, with Ayuso not being 100% fit after his latest coronavirus infection.
“I don’t remember a race like this, it’s difficult to find and watch them. It’s something atypical and strange, we’ll have to adapt. We don’t start out as the main favourites and it could open up more options for us than in a more normal and controlled race. It will be a crazy race and we’ll all have to be attentive,” said Ayuso at a press conference organised by the COE.
The men’s road race has a twisty layout. It will be 272.1 kilometres of terrain full of small hills or walls, very twisty and with various dangers along an endless route, as is usually the case in Olympic events. And with a final circuit of three laps at the height of the beautiful Montmartre neighbourhood. Although the race may already be broken at that point.
Juan Ayuso, who had to withdraw from the Olympic time trial due to the COVID-19 that he contracted in the Tour de France and which forced him to abandon the French round, has now recovered and is ready to face this challenge, although he is not 100% fit.
“It has taken me a lot longer to recover than other times I have caught COVID. I have tried to recover in the best way possible in two weeks and although I may not be 100%, I am at a good level to try to compete in the race,” he explained.
Yes, Oier Lazkano is, and in great shape. He was also able to get a feel for the terrain. “The circuit is quite technical, it’s all curves, islands and slopes all day long. I don’t think it will be that decisive, but we’ll have to be very attentive,” he warned.
“The condition is that there are about 90 registered riders. It affects the fact that everything will be more open, we will have to be more attentive, but it will be the same for all the teams,” he commented on the fact that the few registered riders and the small teams could lead to such a crazy race.
“I think the race will be over before Montmartre,” he said. “The cobblestones are not bad but they make the climb a bit more difficult, but the 240 kilometres beforehand will be more noticeable. The circuit has another steep slope, which is not difficult but more technical. The whole circuit is quite technical. That’s where the difficulty will be, I think,” said Lazkano.
His teammate at Movistar Team, Alex Aranburu, agrees with Lazkano and Ayuso that the race will be difficult to control. “It’s the first time I’ve competed in the Games, I expect a crazier and more open race, difficult to control. We’re used to a team controlling the whole race with three guys, or between several teams. Here, if a group of 15 with good people goes, they can walk and if the course is like that, even more so. We expect a pretty crazy race and we’ll have to be very attentive,” he argued.
“So far it’s been a great experience for everyone and we’re very happy. We’ll just have to keep an eye on the cuts, get into one or the other and see who does well,” said the Ezkio-Itsaso cyclist.