In a way it is funny; he always talked about wanting s long career and wanting to last long as a rider and hence didn'twant to do things like 2 GT GC a season. So why did he have to force the leadership thing instead of having it happen organically? Like I just guess it would've taken a lot of pressure off his shoulders while he could still improve anyway.
His ambition got the best of him I'd guess. Possibly bad advisor. I just remember the discussion in this thread about why he shouldn't have left QS.
Imo though if Ayuso surpasses him this vuelta I'd considered sending Ayuso as a coleader with Pog to TdF to counter Jumbo coleadership.
That might be smarter than taking Almeida to the tour as a domestique. Even if I guess Almeida would top 10 at the tour as well.
Funny enough taking Ayuso as a coleader at the tour wouod literally be copying Jonas who also only had had a vuelta and then went as coleader to the turtle next year.
Plus such a TdF could be really fun to watch