Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) will not make his 2023 debut for at least another month.

UAE Team Emirates reported tendonitis problems in late January, which led to the 20-year-old Ayuso's departure from Volta Valenciana.

"We have to be patient and go step by step," team manager Joxane Maxine Fernandez told the Spanish newspaper AS (opens in new tab).

"It is still difficult to know [when he will return], but it could be at the end of April.

"We are not putting pressure on him or stating a specific race.

After winning the U23 Giro d'Italia in 2021, Ayuso turned pro with UAE Team Emirates in June of that year, finishing on the podium at the Vuelta a España.

However, his preparation for 2023 seemed to have caused tendon problems and more complications than originally anticipated.

"We are talking about a mentally mature rider. He knows it's for his own good.

"He sees his team winning races and understands that he has the level to win races. That may be the hardest part, but he will get back to a great level."

"I talk to him every day. It's easy to be by his side when everything is going well, but it's times like this when you really need to be there."

Despite the delay, Matin insists that Aizzo's season will not be a complete setback. He is still scheduled to return at the Vuelta a España, which is still five months away.

"His big goal this year is the Vuelta, and the fact that it is a medium- to long-term goal also calms him down.