Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida to lead UAE Team Emirates at Vuelta a Espana 2023 – ‘We’re up to the challenge’

Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida will lead UAE Team Emirates at the Vuelta a Espana, after the squad was revealed on Monday.

The squad is completed by Jay Vine, Finn Fisher-Black, Marc Soler, Sebastian Moleno, Ivo Oliveira and Rui Oliveira.

Vine will be competing in his second Grand Tour, while Fisher-Black is set for his Grand Tour debut for the race, which begins on August 26.

Ayuso enjoyed an impressive Vuelta debut in 2022 after securing a third-place finish, and overcame injury adversity to win two stages and secure a second-place finish in this year’s Tour de Suisse.

He was omitted from both this year’s Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, with the priority on leading Team Emirates in Spain.

A strong pool of talent will be heading to the Grand Tour, and includes reigning champion Remco Evenepoel, along with the respective Tour and Giro winners, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic.

“We’ve been putting in a lot of work together the past months as a group and it’s gone really well. The route this year will be passing close to where I grew up or lived, so personally that will make it extra special too.

“As for the competition, it’s going to be tough no doubt with some big rivals on the start list, but I feel we’re up to the challenge. Going in like we did last year with two leaders worked out as an advantage, so I think it’s a good strategy. We can’t wait to get the racing started.”

For Almeida, the aim is a podium finish after coming fifth last year, and he is eager to continue his upward trajectory after securing third place in this year’s Giro.

“The sensations are good: I feel I’m stronger than I was this time last year. I think Juan has also improved so we’re in a really good place,” Almeida explained.

“Last year at the Vuelta was already quite a success for us so we’re going back to aim for the same or more. We had two guys on the podium at the Tour so why not at the Vuelta too? It could be really nice.”