emirates7 - Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates XRG made an impressive start to Tirreno-Adriatico, securing second place on the opening stage behind the overwhelming favorite, Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers).

The Italian stage race commenced with its traditional 11.5km out-and-back time trial in Lido di Camaiore, a coastal town on Italy’s western shore. Ayuso, aiming to defend his victory from the previous year’s stage, put in a strong performance.

The 22-year-old, who has already claimed two wins this season, completed the flat course in 12 minutes and 14 seconds, maintaining an average speed of 54.4 km/h. His result places him second overall in the general classification, and he will wear the white jersey as the best young rider in stage 2, which spans 192km from Camaiore to Follonica. Johan Price-Pejtersen (Lidl-Trek) completed the podium.

Reflecting on his performance, Ayuso said, "I think I rode well, especially with the General Classification in mind. I lost a bit of speed on the final stretch after the turn and didn’t feel as strong as I had hoped."

Looking ahead, he aims to stay among the front-runners and gain time, with a particular focus on the crucial mountain stages later in the week.