UAE Team Emirates' 2021 season could have been dominated by Taddei Pogachar's big wins, including Tirreno-Adriatico, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour de France, and Il Lombardia.

At 23 years old, Pogachar is still a youngster, but the competition to find new versions of Eddy Merckx, Tom Boonen, and Alberto Contador in the World Tour grows stronger every year.

Spaniard Juan Ayuso may have already found the next big thing.

The 19-year-old turned pro midway through last season after a dominant victory in the U23 Giro d'Italia. He finished 17th in the Giro dell'Appennino and second in the Ordigiako Classica behind veteran Luis Leon Sanchez, and also won a bronze medal at the U23 European Championships.

Hailed as the next big thing in Spanish cycling, Ayuso will begin his first full professional season next month at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He believes UAE Team Emirates is the right team for his ambitions.

"Teams ask me to win and I ask myself the same thing, but that's what motivates me," he told ES Ciclismo (opens in new tab). Besides, I'm on an ambitious team and I like it."

"I like to make demands of myself. This is a sport and there are other things in life.

Ayuso, the youngest rider on the team this year, has plenty of riders to look to for inspiration and help in his development as a rider: in 2022, GC men George Bennett and João Almeida will join him, as will Marc Soler, Davide Formolo, Rafau Mayka and others are also very experienced.

He called Pogachar a "reference" and said he hopes to one day be on par with his level, which is not surprising given his dominant results over the past few years.

"Training with Pogachar is a great experience. He's the best in the world and I'm lucky to run with him. Learning from him is a luxury.

"He is on another level, but he is a reflection of himself.

Ayuso, who will take on the Vuelta a Andalucía in late February and then head to France for the Von Ardèche and the Drome Classic before heading to Catalunya for his first World Tour stage race, praised the strength of his new team and that he will have a big result in his first professional season He praised the strength of the new team, adding that for those hoping for big results in their first professional season, having a star-studded group of riders takes the pressure off.

"The team is strengthened and has great blocks. That's important, because if I fail, the other riders will get the results, which takes the pressure off. I demand it from myself because I want results, but I am lucky to be part of a very good team. That helps."