Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Lequack]

Another twist in the Juan Ayuso saga! Spanish national coach refutes UAE claims Ayuso was unfit for La Vuelta: "He told me he was perfect"

Juan Ayuso did not go to the 2024 Vuelta a Espana an

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Salvarani]

Another twist in the Juan Ayuso saga! Spanish national coach refutes UAE claims Ayuso was unfit for La Vuelta: "He told me he was perfect"

Juan Ayuso did not go to the 2024 Vuelta a Espana an

cyclinguptodate.com

Just sounds like the national coach wants his back free for having him in the Olympics team. There are a few others who could have gotten that spot on a course better suited to them than Ayuso, perhaps.

 

[Unchained]

Didnt say he was going to be leader, thats Yates/Almeida for this race. Del Toro was just mentioned as being part of the team here and one for the future, for sure. He is here to learn but also test himself, but woulnt surprise anyone if he does really well.

All great points , it's sounds funny, but the problem at UAE is too many good quality, leader capable riders. Happens w lots of fresh food items, you get too much of a good thing you gotta give some away..or you can make it into jelly or can it..Ayuso on toast maybe..
Del Toro is holding his own..20th today's stage @51 seconds back and 17th on GC
Also another too much of a good thing situation, Landa put together a great, great effort today, who knows what a Remco would have brought to the race...

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Ayuso should be at this Vuelta ...before alot of their riders who are there

Its petty of UAE not to take him ...he is a top rider and deserves a chance to ride his home GT...geez he didnt kill anyone just hung back on a climb at the Tour

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

IMO the 100 millions is BS too. It's from that non-interview on tuttobici anyway, if the conversation happened the way it's written(which can be, should be, but then why not post it as an actual interview, but mention it en passant, while knowing everybody will still jump on it? Deniability for Gianetti?) , those 100 Millions are just a way to say he's not for sale. Like me saying that the only way to stop me posting here is 10k. Of course if somebody offers me 1k I'll take it immediately... 500 too, but I'd try to get closer to 1000 first. Hell, probably 100 Euro is enough to get rid of me actually. Too bad I'm not even worth that... sniff. 5 Euros anyone? (I'll proudly refuse and claim I can't be bought)

As for the rest, punishment? He wasn't planned for it at the start of the season. Early out at the Tour, so a start certainly became a possibility. But see Remco 23, it doesn't always work. Keep the old program is another possibility, have Almeida and Yates as leaders as they were promised, have Ayuso do his original program, nothing wrong with that. It can also be a mix of quite a few things:

-Not regarded as fit enough for a 3 week race (1 day race different, and it's not even like he did an exceptionally good Olympics either, he basically was there, nothing more)
-"Punishment" for the Galibier
-Keeping the original plan for the season.

The whole story is over-reported anyway by now, just seems like a desperate search for some controversy and drama, since we won't have Visma providing that this year at the Vuelta...

More interesting is what you do with Ayuso in 25 actually. What does Pogacar plan? Tour-Vuelta as would seem logical, since he hasn't won the Vuelta yet. Or will he try the real double, Giro-Tour again, since it worked that well. With an eye on going for the triple if he gets the double again?
Then Almeida, right now he simply is ahead of Ayuso. Not only inside the team, but also on the road. Yes, Ayuso has won Itzulia, Almeida still hasn't won a big 1 week race. But on the other hand the one Ayuso won, was the one Roglic and Vingegaard crashed out (Remco too, but since he's at 0 wins in that category as well....) give some crashes to races Almeida is in, and he could have won one too... In GTs Ayuso has a third and a 4th place at the Vuelta, the one GT few riders prepare specifically for, it's the 1 plus race for most others. Ayuso came there with that as season goal twice. Almeida's Giro podium and Tour 4th has to be rated higher, and especially this year he seems to have made another step forward. If before 24 I would have said pretty confidently that Almeida would never win a GT, now I could see him win one. Giro without the 3 ahead of him at the Tour? Could happen. Ayuso? The sky is the limit, but for the moment the balloon hasn't reached the sky yet... Sort of entangled a bit in the Eiffel Tower. Adam Yates less of a problem, he's Simon's brother, so as inconsistent as him after all. Superb 24, this year not as bad as Simon but clearly 2 steps below again.

So again, the question really is less the Vuelta 24, than what his program will be in 25, what can he ride, and does he get leadership, or at least co-leadership somewhere? 1 Pogacer 2 Almeida, then Ayuso (Adam, possibly McNulty... although he sure is taking his time) Hard to see a GT left where he can be outright leader, at best co-leader with Almeida at the Giro or Vuelta, depending on Pogacar's program. If he's happy with another year of leadership in one or 2 of the one week races, trying to get the results needed to level up with Almeida in the team pecking order, then ok, 25 should be ok. If he unrealistically expects to be at the same level there as Almeida for a GT without that, then there is a problem.

So even if he wants out, gets out, might just have to do with future prospects in the tam, not necessarily with this punishment, imagined or real... But if he does leave, we will probably figure out if it was imagined or real pretty soon when he or Gianetti start talking freely.

 

[YavorD]

Ayuso should be at this Vuelta ...before alot of their riders who are there

Its petty of UAE not to take him ...he is a top rider and deserves a chance to ride his home GT...geez he didnt kill anyone just hung back on a climb at the Tour

Should he really be there "before" others though?
Almeida and Yates gave everything for Pogacar, so they deserve it. Same goes for Sivakov and Soler. Del Toro was nailed since the spring and helped Pogacar as well. You need riders like Baroncini (could go with Bax as well) and that leaves you with McNulty and Vine which you could make argument about.

However, bringing Ayuso in the same GT with Almeida would bring more harm than good IMO.

 

[Sciatic]

All great points , it's sounds funny, but the problem at UAE is too many good quality, leader capable riders. Happens w lots of fresh food items, you get too much of a good thing you gotta give some away..or you can make it into jelly or can it..Ayuso on toast maybe..
Del Toro is holding his own..20th today's stage @51 seconds back and 17th on GC
Also another too much of a good thing situation, Landa put together a great, great effort today, who knows what a Remco would have brought to the race...

Nice metaphor. Going to check the fridge

 

[Mina.S]

Ayuso kind of shot himself in the foot, metaphorically speaking because if you look at Almeida he worked for pog when he needed too, which wasn’t actually that much. Still came 4th in the tour which is probably what he would have come as leader anyway and now gets rewarded with leadership at another grand tour. Ayuso should have just done the bare minimum 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[noob]

Ayuso kind of shot himself in the foot, metaphorically speaking because if you look at Almeida he worked for pog when he needed too, which wasn’t actually that much. Still came 4th in the tour which is probably what he would have come as leader anyway and now gets rewarded with leadership at another grand tour. Ayuso should have just done the bare minimum 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was trying to write a post saying basically exactly the same thing 2 hours ago, (got stuck in perfecting hell 🤣). I haphazard either Almeida is simply more clever/sneaky or it's Ayuso being like all the other hot-headed impulsive guys. Most likely both lol.

I get a feeling discontent with Ayuso has brewed in the team for some time. I mean even Yates basically called him out in tdf. Probably a long time coming.

 

[CyclistAbi]

UAE Team Emirates may leave behind the man who has brought in Tadej Pogacar and Juan Ayuso

UAE Team Emirates had a roller-coaster of a start at

cyclinguptodate.com

Interesting.

 

[Squire]

UAE Team Emirates may leave behind the man who has brought in Tadej Pogacar and Juan Ayuso

UAE Team Emirates had a roller-coaster of a start at

cyclinguptodate.com

Interesting.

CyclingUpToDate, the pinnacle of news reporting! At least they provided a source this time. And going to that source, you'll find a way less overdramatized and clickbaity article.

From google translate, as my Spanish is not great:
"[T]he intention of both parties is to renew. Therefore, there are matters to deal with, something that will be done in the coming days taking advantage of the presence of the Italian Mauro Gianetti (the CEO) at La Vuelta these days."

 

[noob]

LR Patric Broe talked about those rumours yesterday on transfer podcast speculating that Ayuso and Matxin might leave in a "package deal"

 

[ingsve]

Del Toro will not be a GC threat. I don't think he's disciplined enough to not lose time unnecessarily based on what I have seen this year.

My prediction came true that Del Toro would not be a threat on GC this Vuelta.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Joxean Matxín closes the Juan Ayuso "case": "With 21 years you want a leadership role, but you adapt because Pogacar is the best in the world"

Joxean Matxin was asked about Juan Ayuso once again

cyclinguptodate.com

So case closed and everybody is happy.

 

[scribers]

They put him in concrete boots and took him for a ride on the sheiks yacht to talk it out

 

[pastronef]

nice win today in Luxembourg. will boost his confidence

 

[balac]

Seemed to struggle yesterday, but these types of TTs are the best for him.

 

[Didinho]

He will look good with the WC Jersey next week 😁

 

[Netserk]

Typical performance today.

 

[Offline]

Typical performance today.

He just way way to hyped for what his actual level is

 

[Offline]

Ayuso will never be a top top rider, simple too many things he is so bad at. Boy can't position, can't work in a team, zero explosiveness, very inconsistent and non tactical awareness.

 

[Mako]

Ayuso will never be a top top rider, simple too many things he is so bad at. Boy can't position, can't work in a team, zero explosiveness, very inconsistent and non tactical awareness.

All qualities of a proper Movistar rider

 

[ashhutch1997]

The lads 21, I think you guys are being a bit harsh regarding his level.

 

[Squire]

The lads 21, I think you guys are being a bit harsh regarding his level.

Indeed. Almost every rider not named Pogacar has had some bumpy periods during their first few years as a pro/emerging star.

As if a 21 year old can't get better at positioning, teamwork, explosiveness, consistency and tactical awareness.

But pointing this out every time someone writes young riders off is a bit of a losing battle.

 

[Mako]

I have no doubts about his physical ability. I just think he's an entitled little ***