Juan Ayuso 'a lot calmer' ahead of Giro d'Italia Time Trial, despite Stage 9 crash leaving him with three stitches

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Juan Ayuso's UAE Team Emirates - XRG find themselves in a strong position in this year's Giro d'Italia, with the Spaniard one of four riders in the top 10. Isaac del Toro is a little over a minute clear of second-placed Ayuso. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's time trial, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, Ayuso said he felt "a lot calmer" about the stage after a crash at Stage 9 left him with stitches.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider Juan Ayuso feels "a lot calmer" ahead of Tuesday’s Giro d'Italia time trial, after three stitches did not prevent him from training.

Ayuso injured his knee in a crash on Stage 9 in Tuscany, and required stitches as part of his treatment.

His team is currently in a strong position in the first Grand Tour of the season, with four riders inside the top 10. Ayuso is in second, 1:13 behind his team-mate Isaac del Toro, while Brandon McMulty is 1:59 back in eighth, and Adam Yates is two seconds behind in 10th.

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With Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) a minute behind Ayuso, it leaves UAE Emirates in a promising spot ahead of the rest of the Giro.

Before the race began, the 22-year-old revealed that he hoped to make the podium. However, after winning Stage 7, he said "we’re here to win," suggesting his early form has boosted his ambitions.

Despite the competition within the team, Ayuso is focused on UAE bringing home the title above all other concerns.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"The important thing is that the team wins the Giro," Ayuso said at a press conference. "Obviously, I want to win it, but if a teammate wins it, then it's mission accomplished as well.

"If I have to lose the Giro, then I'd like the disappointment to be because a teammate has won it, not a rival rider."

He added that being fit enough for a training ride after his stitches, "makes me feel a lot calmer about tomorrow's time trial".

"Morale-wise, things are great. If you'd told me at the Albania start I'd reach this rest day lying second and with a minute on Roglic, then I'd have signed for it on the spot.

"Both me and the team are in a great position."

Team manager Joxean Fernandez Matxin added that the team had not changed their approach to strategy in Italy, with Yates and Ayuso the squad leaders, despite Del Toro heading up the General Classification.

Matxin explained: "This has not changed the team's strategy. Juan is a leader, Adam [Yates] is a leader, nothing changes even if Isaac is leading the race.

"Rather than asking us about it, maybe you should ask the other teams how they plan to attack us now. I'd like to know the answer to that."
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Watch and stream the cycling season, including the Giro d'Italia, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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