Ayuso laments losing white jersey but welcomes skipped protocol

Spanish cyclist Juan Ayuso found satisfaction in his participation during the Tour de France's second stage, even as he relinquished the white jersey to Mexico's Isaac Del Toro. Ayuso, however, saw a silver lining in the jersey change, humorously noting it would exempt him from the post-stage protocol interviews.

"Today I didn't have the legs to win, so the result is satisfactory," Ayuso stated. "I finished at the front and although I lost the white jersey, which is cool to wear, it allows me to skip the protocol."

Looking ahead, Ayuso plans to remain focused on the race. He described the upcoming stage as "strange," anticipating breakaways and a tough finish, but expressed uncertainty about team strategies, including whether Vingegaard's team would seek control. Ayuso's immediate goal is to "get through the day" without significant time differences, with his sights set on the challenging Tourmalet climb scheduled for later in the week.

"There's no terrain for significant differences, and we'll have to think about the Tourmalet," he added, indicating his strategic focus on the race's more demanding mountain stages.