News | Volta a Catalunya • March 30, 2025
Ayuso finishes second at Volta a Catalunya after brave performance
Young Spaniard ends week with head held high
In a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Volta a Catalunya, Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates-XRG finished in second place overall after a thrilling final stage where Primož Roglič (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) made a late surge to claim the overall victory.
The final stage was a true test of endurance and tactics on the 88km circuit around the Catalan capital of Barcelona. With the general classification hanging in the balance, Ayuso entered the day leading by a single second meaning everything was to play for on the notoriously aggressive and unpredictable final stage.
The first intermediate sprint saw Roglič taking the full three seconds and his teammate Nico Denz coming through in second place, leaving just one second for Ayuso. This saw the race situation change with Roglic now taking the upper hand by just a single second.
From there, the bunch remained intact and UAE Team Emirates-XRG took control of the pace-setting, with the intention of avoiding a repeat of the first sprint, and Ayuso dug in to nullify the first battle, taking the full three second bonus and reclaiming the lead.
The efforts would prove futile in the end, as Roglič attacked at -20km at the steepest point of the climb to Montjuic with Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Ayuso just losing contact with the Slovenian over the top, leaving Ayuso to settle for second overall in what was a gutsy and determined ride to the finish.
Despite hard pulls from the likes of Marc Soler and Adam Yates behind, the gap to Roglic remained intact and he soloed to stage and overall victory. Ayuso would slip to second in GC with Enric Mas (Movistar) taking third.
Soler also graced the final podium as best Catalan rider, a testament for his teamwork done throughout the week.
Ayuso : “I didn’t have the best legs but the team helped me from the beginning. It was a big battle all week and Red Bull played a smart race today. Roglic attacked and opened the gap and I couldn’t follow – he was the strongest today so chapeau to him.”
Volta Catalunya final results
1.Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe) 24:46:21
2.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +28”
3.Enric Mas (Movistar) +53”
