Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Valv.Piti]

Good chances of a podium. Roglic didn't have it on Tourmalet and today, and Angliru is the true judge of your legs. Smart riding by him by marking Roglic as he's the weakest one and therefore the gateway to the podium.

 

[SafeBet]

Good chances of a podium. Roglic didn't have it on Tourmalet and today, and Angliru is the true judge of your legs. Smart riding by him by marking Roglic as he's the weakest one and therefore the gateway to the podium.

Why mark Roglic and not use the team to attack him then? What's smart in sending FFB of all people on an unrealistic chase instead of having him drill the climb to prepare an Ayuso's attack? Perhaps not his choice but UAE's team today we're beyond ridiculous.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

some of the weirdest team tactics I've seen outside of Movistar and old-school Rabofail.

 

[Mayomaniac]

some of the weirdest team tactics I've seen outside of Movistar and old-school Rabofail.

Maybe they think they need to go full Rabofail to turn into Jumbo Visma afterwards...

 

[Billie]

Why mark Roglic and not use the team to attack him then? What's smart in sending FFB of all people on an unrealistic chase instead of having him drill the climb to prepare an Ayuso's attack? Perhaps not his choice but UAE's team today we're beyond ridiculous.

Black didn't attack. He started pacing with Ayuso in his wheel and Ayuso just sat up for some reason.
If he had just stayed in Blacks wheel they would have arrived at the foot of the final steep 1.5ks with like 10-15 secs behind Vingegaard.

Ayuso and Almeida are too cautious, spend too much time looking at their head unit.

 

[balac]

Matxin said that their comms went down and Ayuso wasn't happy at all in the interview.

Even then, they could have taken 20-30 secs on Kuss and maybe be close to Vingegaard. But TJV has 3 of the 5 best climbers of the race, once you've gifted Kuss 3 minutes, you just played into their hands. At least it will be a good learning lesson that they can't just gift Kuss minutes if they want to win a GT. Soler is just not on the level of climbing of Kuss, so that breakaway was not on their advantage.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I think both Jumbo and UAE did everything right today.

Fisher-Black was strong and so rode for the stage win. You cannot know what happens to Vingegaard at the front. So Fisher-Black chased Vinge in order to win the stage - what would have been an incredible achievement for him.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don't believe Ayuso, Mas, Remco ... will play a role on Angliru. It's now an internal matter. But they can for sure play along.

 

[tobydawq]

With Ayuso being angry after yesterday, maybe he realises that he and UAE are never gonna work out.

Maybe he can form part of a trident with Roglic and Remco next year at Ineos.

 

[Billie]

he should be angry with himself for not following Blacks wheel. He was right in his wheel and just sat up. What did he expect to happen?

 

[Cinemaniak]

He would be a perfect fit for Ineos. Future pairing with Arensman and Rodriguez

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ugh, ugly performance today. Good training for next year when he hopefully gets rid of all the problems - chances are he is paying a bit for that at the moment I think.

 

[Netserk]

Of course he will be better next year and with age probably more consistent, but it's quite clear that going in to this Vuelta he was overrated.

 

[SafeBet]

Yeah the winter preparation was probably problematic because of the injury and he's now paying the price. Honestly he has never looked particularly good during this Vuelta compared to last year and I'm afraid he could lose a few spots in GC before the end.

 

[DNP-Old]

I've been disappointed with his Vuelta. In fairness, he had a terrible (pre-)season riddled with injury, and I want to see where he stands next year after a full winter, but I had expected to see more flashes of greatness. He's young, performances can go up and down, but there was never this aura of holy smokes, he's arrived. He's been living like a pro for so long now, I'm questioning how much more progression he can make. Next year certainly won't be do or die by any means, but it's time for that big breakthrough to superstardom.

This could very well be the other side of the medal of junior professionalism.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Really not sure that UAE are the best at developing young talents. To my recollection, Ayuso is signed through 2028 and like Almeida, with the stipulation that he doesn't need to ride with/for Pogačar (which I suppose made sense to someone at the time), so we'll see which way the cookie crumbles.

Of course, with the injury curtailing his season, a GC 4th place in a GT at 21 years of age is not to sneeze at.

 

[Bolder]

I've been disappointed with his Vuelta. In fairness, he had a terrible (pre-)season riddled with injury, and I want to see where he stands next year after a full winter, but I had expected to see more flashes of greatness. He's young, performances can go up and down, but there was never this aura of holy smokes, he's arrived. He's been living like a pro for so long now, I'm questioning how much more progression he can make. Next year certainly won't be do or die by any means, but it's time for that big breakthrough to superstardom.

This could very well be the other side of the medal of junior professionalism.

Or that his progress will be more in line with what we're used to. It's not as if he took a step back, in the sense that this Vuelta had a stronger field and harder parcours than 2022. He may never have a breakout moment but being a consistent podium contender would put him on line to win a GT if conditions come together. He has all the tools already.

I was very concerned about the tendonitis earlier in the year. It's almost always a sign of over training or mistraining.

 

[Red Rick]

Really not sure that UAE are the best at developing young talents. To my recollection, Ayuso is signed through 2028 and like Almeida, with the stipulation that he doesn't need to ride with/for Pogačar (which I suppose made sense to someone at the time), so we'll see which way the cookie crumbles.

Of course, with the injury curtailing his season, a GC 4th place in a GT at 21 years of age is not to sneeze at.

Almeida is listed as signed through 2026 on PCS. Pog 2027 and Ayuso 2028. The "no work for Pogacar" stipulation I've only recently read about in their contracts blow my mind to be honest. But then again that probably explains why the signed Adam Yates on presumably big money considering they weren't lacking for leaders at all. It also makes me doubt the thoughts I had that Yates would surely target the Giro next year while Almeida would likely finally do the Tour.

Also, I wonder if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta not because he doesn't want to or because he's too tired, but because UAE has to let Ayuso and Almeida lead those races as per their contract.

 

[Bolder]

Almeida is listed as signed through 2026 on PCS. Pog 2027 and Ayuso 2028. The "no work for Pogacar" stipulation I've only recently read about in their contracts blow my mind to be honest. But then again that probably explains why the signed Adam Yates on presumably big money considering they weren't lacking for leaders at all. It also makes me doubt the thoughts I had that Yates would surely target the Giro next year while Almeida would likely finally do the Tour.

Also, I wonder if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta not because he doesn't want to or because he's too tired, but because UAE has to let Ayuso and Almeida lead those races as per their contract.

Interesting possibility. If true I question the wisdom of guaranteeing a 20 year old that kind of protected status. He could learn a lot by Pogacar's side in the Tour.

 

[theyoungest]

Compared to last year's Vuelta winner, Ayuso did significantly better. The level was probably just a bit higher this year. Makes sense, with Roglic who was properly prepared, and the reigning Tour champion both at the start.

I don't think Ayuso had optimal preparation, but he did manage to keep a decent to good level for three weeks, and that's a good sign for the future.

 

[theyoungest]

Almeida is listed as signed through 2026 on PCS. Pog 2027 and Ayuso 2028. The "no work for Pogacar" stipulation I've only recently read about in their contracts blow my mind to be honest. But then again that probably explains why the signed Adam Yates on presumably big money considering they weren't lacking for leaders at all. It also makes me doubt the thoughts I had that Yates would surely target the Giro next year while Almeida would likely finally do the Tour.

Also, I wonder if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta not because he doesn't want to or because he's too tired, but because UAE has to let Ayuso and Almeida lead those races as per their contract.

That's what Thijs Zonneveld said. Haven't read it anywhere else though. But he's not someone who would just make that up... not a Jerome Pineau, so to speak.

 

[Netserk]

Compared to last year's Vuelta winner, Ayuso did significantly better. The level was probably just a bit higher this year. Makes sense, with Roglic who was properly prepared, and the reigning Tour champion both at the start.

I don't think Ayuso had optimal preparation, but he did manage to keep a decent to good level for three weeks, and that's a good sign for the future.

I think Mas was better last year than this time around, but is otherwise the best comparison. In 2022, Ayuso lost 2'22" in the mountains to Mas, I think. This time around the only real difference between them was when Mas went over his limit on Javalambre and dropped from Rogla and Vingegaard in the last km.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Interesting possibility. If true I question the wisdom of guaranteeing a 20 year old that kind of protected status. He could learn a lot by Pogacar's side in the Tour.

This.

Also, since UAE sponsors are keen on the Tour, it makes no sense to not maximize their possibility of success and send the best team - to support their captain and in case their captain crashes or gets sick.

2023 TdF should have squashed any bizarre UAE assumption of Pogačar winning regardless of what support he has, what the tactics are, or what his form is.

 

[SHAD0W93]

That's what Thijs Zonneveld said. Haven't read it anywhere else though. But he's not someone who would just make that up... not a Jerome Pineau, so to speak.

It was being said last year too though for both riders that they have this stipulation in their contract before Adam was signed.

 

[KZD]

Ayuso had clearly a suboptimal preparation for this Vuelta. Not only he had tendonitis in the early season but also crash twice in the leadup to the Vuelta, first in the Ordizia Klasika and then in Circuito de Getxo.

He still managed to be the best of the non-Jumbo which unfortunately for him meant one place lower than last year and the fact that he didn't win any stage will leave a bitter taste in his mouth as it was a goal for him.

I would like to see him ride either the Giro or the Tour next year, I think that with a better preparation he could challenge for the overall win at the Giro or a podium at the Tour while being used to put more pressure on Jumbo.