Nearly 14 months have passed since Derek Gee-West and Juan Ayuso crossed swords for the first time and only time in a Grand Tour GC battle at the 2025 Giro d'Italia, but the Canadian still vividly recollects the impression Ayuso, now his teammate, had on him during that race.
"He was smoking me at the start," the 28-year-old told Cyclingnews with a wry grin before stage 13 of the Tour de France, "but then he had bad luck. He got stung by that bee" - and then had to abandon.
