- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,994
- 25,994
- 28,180
- Aug 31, 2019
- 3,516
- 6,300
- 14,180
It's no guarantee that it will stay like this next season. Up until now Ayoso has been the crown prince, being 2nd in line and he got to lead the Pog free Giro. Last year he didnt get to lead a Pog free GT as he did in 2022 and 2023.
If Pogacar wants to go for Tour-Vuelta double next season, I dont see why it should be obvious that Ayoso once again will get leadership in the Giro. I think Almeida will have a stronger case, and maybe even Del Toro (depending on how this Giro ends). If he drops behind Almeida and Del Toro in the hierarchy, there might not be a good GT chance for him next season if Pog wants 2.
I could totally see a scenario for 2026 where Pog do Tour-Vuelta, Del Toro gets to do the Tour with Pog, Almeida gets Giro leadership and Ayoso at best becomes second leader in the Giro and "only" gets to lead a couple of one week races for the rest of the season. For the next Golden Boy that might not be enough.
They should just send exactly the same team to next years Giro because it would be funny, this might be my favourite UAE iteration since Catalunya 2022, maybe include Almeida or of course Mythical Marc for added comedy.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,374
- 13,954
- 23,180
Ayuso is riding with an injury. The gravel stage did a lot of damage to UAE because it also created the false impression than Del Toro was their superior rider here in this Giro. He's not.
But since Ayuso has a bad knee his performance here is not reflective of his actual level. You could also easily extrapolate Almeida's poor performance in last year's Vuelta into something it wasn't because he was sick.
It's up to the teams to understand the how and why when a rider collapses like this and not just go with the various narratives that spawn online whereby people conflate a bad performance with a rider's actual level when there's other factors (like injuries or illness) here.
Almeida, Ayuso and Del Toro as joint leaders. Soler, McNulty and Vine as domestiques + Ivo and Sebas. I would pay good money to watch this.
- Sep 17, 2020
- 982
- 1,604
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- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,538
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Not saying you're wrong but if you need everything to go your way to win a GT you're probably destined to win very few of them (or possibly nome). Not getting ill, managing pain, managing bad days, overcoming adversities are all part of the package.
I'm sympathetic toward Ayuso though, he's currently in a tough position being touted as the next big thing, podiuming his first ever GT as a teenager and then never performing at that level again. Must be a nightmare. A change of scenery could probably help him.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,374
- 13,954
- 23,180
The main problem I see for Ayuso at UAE is that if he has one bad GT in a year, there isn't necessarily a second option for him. On most other teams, his Giro going belly up would be a shame, but at least he'd have another chance in the Tour or Vuelta. We already know Roglic will be at the Tour, for instance, and Landa probably at the Vuelta if he heals well enough.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,175
- 29,818
- 28,180
Almeida and Soler instead of Yates and Majka.
- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,886
- 12,045
- 23,180
If Majka and McNulty finish above, he has no choice but to change teams. I don’t think UAE would give him much besides weak races.
I bet the mighty Ayuso will become the stage hunter during the remaining stages of this Giro and won't care about GC for his teammate.
- Apr 14, 2021
- 1,598
- 3,010
- 10,180
Yes but he is not going to do that. Because his detractors are right...
- Aug 9, 2021
- 5,987
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The way Gianetti looks there is quite terrifyingA picture is worth a thousand words etc.
It depends on him and his character now if he ruins his career or not. I expect donkey work from him today and the following stages. No stage wins, no trying to stay with the big guns, only helping del Toro. If he is not a loyal teammate he will not get another opportunity from Dracula. His options will be leaving the team or water carrier duties until his contract expires.
Gianetti and Maxtin looking like two high ranking members of the politburo glaring ominously over the ramparts of the Kremlin at a young bureaucrat who failed to meet this months wheat quota. I fear for his future.
He'll get a flu virus or something to DNF like last year at the Tour.
- Aug 9, 2021
- 5,987
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This! This is why it's so cynical to drum up such young people. They are so darn vulnerable.
I admit I've enjoyed the drama, I still do. But this hatred towards him has gone way too far by now and it's not like he's in good hans either 🤢
the hate and Schadenfreude in some corners of the Spanish twitter is wild. shameful, pieces of *** those people. dear me some Spanish fans are mental
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Noone will need to buy Ayuso out of his contract if he is not wanted by the team. This buy out clause is a red herring.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,175
- 29,818
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- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,937
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And nothing indicates that the team does not want him.
maybe you do with some irony. those *** hate him personally. angry with him. those tweeps who'd never turned a pedal, having a go at a rider whose talent they'll never even imagine. I hate those Spaniards even more than the Sky haters
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You get those type of fans everywhere, trust me
- Aug 9, 2021
- 5,987
- 6,488
- 17,180
In every sector too. Whether sports or pop fans, actor fans, political fans etc etc etc are the same.
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