After a year of absence, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) returns to the Grand Tour that launched him to fame with a 3rd place in 2022 at just 19 years old, before finishing 4th in 2023. "This is the first year I'm doing two Grand Tours in a slightly different situation than usual, since I'm here because of Tadej Pogacar's decision to withdraw. My initial goal was to participate in the World Championships, but they called me to come here and at that point I accelerated my preparation," said the Spaniard.

And he added: "I've only raced two days after the Giro and my condition is somewhat of an unknown. I'll try to do well in the general classification and if I can't, I'll try to help Joao Almeida win La Vuelta".

Like Ayuso, the Portuguese rider discovered La Vuelta three years ago but has not yet made the podium (4th in 2022, 9th in 2023, retired due to Covid last year). Another thing they have in common is that he also abandoned after an accident in his only Grand Tour of 2025, the Tour de France. With a broken rib, injured fingers, and scattered abrasions, Almeida spent 11 days away from the bike before resuming training.

"I feel good, but you can't be sure until the race starts," said the winner of Itzulia Pays Basque, Tour de Romandie, and Tour de Suisse.

To add La Vuelta to his list of successes, he will particularly need to get the better of Vingegaard. "We have a strong team, eight good riders. Having Ayuso by my side makes things a bit easier because we can play two cards and put pressure on Visma. But to win, you need to have the best legs. If there's a favorite, I think it's Jonas, but we're here, we're not afraid, and we're ready to give our all".