Ayuso Frustrated but Proud After Seventh in Tour de France

Juan Ayuso finished seventh in his second Tour de France, a result he described as frustrating but not disappointing, having "given everything." The Lidl-Trek leader, who started as the team's undisputed leader, struggled in the third week but attacked early in the queen stage to Alpe d'Huez, only to be caught by the favorites. "I feel frustration, but not disappointment because I gave it all," Ayuso told reporters at the finish Source: lavanguardia.

The Queen Stage Attack

Ayuso animated the stage by launching a long-range move, but he burned energy to form the breakaway. "Decathlon and UAE didn't want to let me go, but I made the selection and took responsibility," he explained Source: elmundoes. He was eventually caught on the Col de Sarenne and could not follow Tadej Pogacar's acceleration. "I didn't have the legs I wanted, I had to use heart and pride," he added Source: infobae.

Team and Competitors

Ayuso's teammate Mads Pedersen won the green jersey, and Lidl-Trek beat UAE in the team classification. Meanwhile, Pogacar praised Mexican Isaac Del Toro, who finished third: "It's indescribable that we end with two riders on the podium" Source: lavanguardia. Del Toro, in his Tour debut, expressed gratitude to the team and Pogacar, calling it "an honor to be on the podium" Source: lavanguardia.

Ayuso said he will continue fighting for his goals: "Giving up is never an option" Source: elmundoes.