'It's been a few tough days' - Juan Ayuso abandons Itzulia Basque Country before chance to climb out of large GC deficit

Juan Ayuso has abandoned the Itzulia Basque Country race due to persistent stomach problems, as confirmed by his Lidl-Trek team. The young Spanish climber had started stage 4 but was forced to stop midway through the 167.2km route after struggling with illness since the previous Tuesday. Despite being one of the pre-race favourites, Ayuso’s campaign was hampered by poor form and health issues, which ultimately led to his withdrawal before he could capitalise on the challenging terrain of stage 4. Ayuso’s difficulties began with a disappointing time trial on stage 1, where he lost significant time to the stage winner Paul Seixas, falling well short of expectations. Although he improved his general classification position on stage 2, the French leader Seixas extended his lead, leaving Ayuso nearly four minutes behind overall. Stage 3 proved tough but manageable for Ayuso, who completed the stage despite ongoing discomfort, while another contender, Isaac del Toro, had already abandoned the race due to crash injuries. In interviews, Ayuso acknowledged the physical toll the race had taken on him, describing the past few days as "tough" and expressing hope for recovery to support his team in the remaining stages. His withdrawal follows a pattern this season, having only finished one of three stage races he started, notably winning the Volta ao Algarve in February but crashing out of Paris-Nice recently. His exit leaves Lidl-Trek relying on Mattia Skjelmose, who remains in a strong position in fifth place overall with two stages to go. The implications of Ayuso’s withdrawal highlight the challenges young riders face in maintaining consistency at the highest level, especially in demanding stage races like the Itzulia Basque Country. His absence removes a potential GC contender from the battle, potentially shifting team tactics and opening opportunities for rivals. As the race progresses, attention will turn to how Lidl-Trek adapts and whether Ayuso can recover in time for upcoming events in the season.