Juan Ayuso takes his first professional victory at the Circuito de Getxo

Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) won the first victory of his young and very promising career on Sunday by winning the Circuito de Getxo.

The Spaniard, who dominated the Giro d’Italia U23 last year before turning professional with the United Arab Emirates in the second half of 2021, has made strides this season but Sunday was a milestone.

Ayuso reached the finish of the one-day race in a four-man group and was the fastest to raise his arms for the first time in his professional career.

The 19-year-old beat compatriot Andrea Piccolo (Androni-Drone Hopper) at the line, with Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe) third. Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies) was the last member of the leading group to cross the line in the sprint.

Ayuso won the 77th edition of a one-day Basque race that honors the memory of the Otxoa brothers. Sunday’s race covered 196.5km over six laps of a hilly circuit.

He was aggressive throughout and, although he couldn’t get rid of everyone on the short steep climbs, he still had enough in the tank to overtake the last three in the sprint for the line. .

“It was amazing,” Ayuso said. “I want to thank the whole team because they worked for me and believed in me. Finally my first professional victory has arrived.”

The home victory will raise hopes for Ayuso ahead of his expected Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España.

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