Anguish seized the new jewel of Spanish cycling. Juan Ayuso (Barcelona 2002) was away from the competition for four months due to a problem in the sural nerve of his right leg that the doctors were slow to detect. The rider, who already returned in the Tour de Romandie with a victory in the time trial stage, now admits that he was going through a very delicate moment. This Sunday he will compete in the Tour of Switzerland after training for three weeks and without pain in Sierra Nevada. From the Granada mountain he answers the call of EL MUNDO.

He spent a long time away from the competition. Is that stage over? I'm progressing well. When the pain in his right leg appeared at the beginning of the year, we thought it was due to a problem in the Achilles heel, but it was not.. The cause of everything lay in the sural nerve, which was affected. It was a long and desperate process because I couldn't find solutions. I didn't know what was the cause of the injury. everything was going uphill. There was no clear diagnosis and therefore there was no adequate rehabilitation. The problem was not the injury itself, but the treatment to follow. Everything made me mentally very hard, I did not know when the pain would appear. After going to the best doctors in Spain, I had no answers, everyone told me that there was nothing. That is the reason why these months have been especially hard. Then, when we discovered that the cause of everything lay in the sural nerve, everything was better. With a radiofrequency treatment the pain has been disappearing. In Sierra Nevada I have already trained normally. He says that they have been hard months. Is he stronger mentally now? Without a doubt. Now I'm stronger. I had to adapt to that situation. Now, when I'm training or having a bad day, I remember those moments and that makes me better. You always have to take the positive out of the bad. Now I train better. A few months ago I was crying at home because I wanted to get on the bike and I couldn't. Now, remembering all that allows me to hit the road stronger. During this time, the support of the family will have been fundamental. In those moments you realize who is closest to you. I have to thank my partner, who has done many tourist trips in Spain, going with me from doctor to doctor. I am also very grateful to my parents, to my family. After the injury, he reappeared last month and won the Tour de Romandie time trial? That is within the reach of very few. I did not expect that result, it was a surprise. I went to the race just to test myself, to see how the discomfort was going and how I could help the team. I went day by day. In the online stages I suffered a lot, but on the climbs, with the goat bike and short climbs, I didn't notice the lack of shape so much. Later, in the time trial I started very well and it was all a surprise. Are you aware that the greatest hopes of Spanish cycling rest on you, does that create extra pressure for you? No. On the contrary. That people are aware of me motivates me. The support and affection that I receive in all the races is very nice, although there is always someone who talks too much. They talk too much! But if you have an excellent poster between the press and the fans. Sometimes there are people who speak without knowing. There are many who admire me but there are others who are there…. Well that's the law of life. But yes, I feel lucky. After the training sessions in Sierra Nevada, do you notice that you are at a level similar to that of your teammates? Before Romandía, you noticed that I trained to the limit that the injury allowed me, not what I really should. In Sierra Nevada I am doing what I have to do, without injury or inconvenience. following the lines that I had imagined since the beginning of the season. After the work done for three weeks, now I really want to compete. Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic or Evenepoel are still in the upper echelon, right? Last year it was evident that I was one step below. Before this year's injury, I had noticed that he had taken a big step forward, but then everything went wrong.. Now it seems that the matter is beginning to be fixed.. Well, this question will be answered over time, seeing my evolution. In Sierra Nevada he has coincided with Pogacar. How is the Slovenian after his wrist operation? I see him as fine, but we will have to ask him. What have you learned from him? In competitions we have met for a few days. I have a good relationship with him. We are not great friends, but I have a cordial relationship. What strikes me the most is its tranquility. He never gets nervous. What's your schedule after the Tour of Switzerland? I'll do the Spanish Championship and then I'll stop to prepare for the Tour of Spain. And the World Cup, which this year takes place in August? I haven't thought about it. Let's see what level I'm at at that moment. If I'm fine and they want to count on me, I'll be delighted. But my main objective is to prepare for the Vuelta. The Tour, in the near future, will be your main objective, right? My biggest dream since I was a child is the Tour, but both the team and I thought that the logical step this year was to return to the return And then, with a little more maturity and experience, face the Tour. We'll see if by 2024 or later. Does the Giro d'Italia appeal to you? Yes, I love Italy. I have lived there and I have already won the Giro sub'23. It is also another dream, but above all is the Tour.