With the calendar turning to 2024, the cycling season intensifies before the trails begin. Teams and riders arrive at the final sprint of pre-season, setting ambitious goals for peak form and focusing on the big races ahead, each in its own way.
Tadej Pogačar and Juan Ayuso kick off their pre-season with friendly matches in Alicante
Juan Ayuso, a standout on international roads, returns to his home base in Alicante for another pre-season chapter. At 21, he enters his fourth year as a professional rider, his third completed season, and a year that marks a shift in goals compared to previous campaigns. The Spanish city remains a central anchor in his calendar as he builds toward a demanding year.
With Pogacar alongside Ayuso
In 2024 Ayuso seeks greater responsibility within his team. UAE Team Emirates, one of the strongest outfits in the WorldTour peloton, counts Slovenian star Tadej Pogačar among its leaders. Pogačar, a proven winner at every major event, hails from Xàbia and is committed to guiding his teammate while embracing leadership from the front. The previous season’s benchmark, Jumbo-Visma, showcased dominance with three Grand Tour triumphs and a bold strategy that helped Sepp Kuss land on the podium in the Vuelta a España. Ayuso watches closely, learning from the example of teamwork and determination that defined 2023.
Ayuso eyes the Tour de France in 2024
Emirates will approach major races in 2024 with heightened intensity. Pogačar is slated to race in Italy before the Tour, then push toward the grand goals beyond. For Ayuso, the Tour de France is a primary focus, the place where the Alicante rider hopes to challenge for a high general classification finish while sharing the road with the Slovenian champion. The plan includes a first-time appearance at the Tour, underscored by a desire to contend seriously even with a strong rival in the same squad.
New year, fresh ambitions. @Ayusoteam_ https://t.co/7Yv9AOYuzH
— Juan Ayuso on January 1, 2024
Last summer, Ayuso watched from home as his generation rival Carlos Rodríguez celebrated early victories in France, including a stage win and near-podium contention. He intends to be ready when the action returns. If things go smoothly, he expects to be in Florence on June 29, where one of the most eagerly anticipated Tours of recent memory begins. Jonas Vingegaard, aiming for a third straight title, confronts Pogacar, and Primož Roglič has shifted teams, adding drama to the race’s balance of power.
Experience and victories
The young Alicante native hopes to gain experience without surrendering any advantage, especially given the potential to ride freely and seize chances when they appear. Sharing a team hotel and a common bus with Pogacar will be a unique scenario that only time and the road can reveal fully.
France is not Ayuso’s sole target this season. He also has his sights on Paris, where the upcoming Tour’s stage ends not in the city itself but in Nice, and where the Olympic Games will take place. The Emirates rider has applied to participate in the road race at the Olympics on August 3, and he plans to close the season in Zurich, where the World Championships are scheduled for September 29.
The Spanish squad is aiming to find successors to legendary riders who dominated medals in recent history, and Ayuso is viewed as a strong candidate. The WorldTour kicks off in Australia on January 16, but Ayuso is not expected to race at the Clásica de Jaén on February 12. In his calendar, alongside the Tour, Olympic Games, and World Championships, several other races are listed as priorities, including Vuelta a Andalucía, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Amstel Gold Race, and La Flecha Valona. The 2024 season is one Ayuso hopes to embrace with determination and success.