EL CHICO DE ORO

At March’s Volta a Catalunya, there was a moment towards the end of stage six that demonstrated a rider’s naivety – and, perhaps, a lack of race and tactical education – but, above all, an insatiable thirst to win, and the power to do so relatively easily.

With 25km remaining, and eventual stage winner Richard Carapaz and Sergio Higuita almost two minutes ahead of a beleaguered peloton, 19-year-old Juan Ayuso of UAE Emirates attacked in pursuit of the two South Americans, building a gap over the main group and distancing his team-mate, and race leader, João Almeida in the process. Although not quite as consequential, it had echoes of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome on the climb to La Toussuire in the 2012 Tour de France, of the student being stronger than the master.

Ayuso – whether through his or his team’s