Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Valv.Piti]

The absolute shock when a rider says he's not going for GC and drops 8 minutes in the first semi real mountain stage.

Did he say that before this stage?

 

[carolina]

Ayuso has gone full Roglic

'I've been saying since day one I wasn't aiming for GC' - Juan Ayuso unflustered by massive overall time loss at Vuelta a España

'I've been saying since day one I wasn't aiming for GC' - Juan Ayuso unflustered by massive overall time loss at Vuelta a España

Spain's best chance of overall success evaporates as UAE Team Emirates-XRG co-leader loses seven minutes on other top names

www.cyclingnews.com

When and where did he say that? I can't seem to find it.

 

[AlpRaid]

Movistar beckons. he is a perfect fit.

 

[CyclistAbi]

When and where did he say that? I can't seem to find it.

Internal communication within team:

I’ve been saying it since day one, even before the start, that my plan wasn’t to go for the GC. The team asked me to try, to see if things would improve, and out of respect I did. But today, since I still wasn’t feeling good, I let myself drift back.

'My Plan Was Never for the GC': Everyone Surprised Except Ayuso About Vuelta a España Flameout

UAE is still chasing its first grand tour not won by Pogačar. All the team's GC hopes lie with Almeida: 'Losing time is not what you want.'

velo.outsideonline.com

Movistar beckons. he is a perfect fit.

Hard to say, Lidl-Trek seems to be going in the right direction too, Ineos must be desperate by now for a GC talent, Red Bull could be an option ...

 

[fenns]

One wonders why he was named as co-leader of the team when it sounds like they all knew he was not in GC form. Maybe just done to humour the Spanish fans and media?

 

[Cookster15]

his climbing and in particular his floor have always been suspect

What do you mean by his 'floor' ?

The absolute shock when a rider says he's not going for GC and drops 8 minutes in the first semi real mountain stage.

IMO he has set himself up for the criticism. When did Ayuso say he wasn't riding for GC at a Grand Tour? When has he ever said he wasn't riding for GC at a grand tour? And why would he ride the last grand tour of the season not for GC except to be there to support another rider - Almeida in this case? Makes no logical sense.

Are we saying he dropped 8 minutes today to be a super climbing domestique for Almeida? I guess there is always a first time. I think it is now much more likely he will abandon this Vuelta.

Ayuso's 2025 record shows he abandoned the Giro on stage 18 after spending two days in pink and then also abandoned the Tour on stage 13 after being in 9th place on GC. Why would he not ride for GC for the first time in his career after failing at the first two grand tours of the season? And this from a rider who has always acted at UAE like he should be treated on a similar level as Pogacar?

 

[carolina]

Internal communication within team:

'My Plan Was Never for the GC': Everyone Surprised Except Ayuso About Vuelta a España Flameout

UAE is still chasing its first grand tour not won by Pogačar. All the team's GC hopes lie with Almeida: 'Losing time is not what you want.'

velo.outsideonline.com

Sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. When and where, before today, did he say it? I can't find the "I'm not going for the GC" interview.

He was announced as a co-leader and he even said yesterday or the day before, he wanted to keep the white jersey.

 

[YavorD]

Although I kinda feel sorry dor Ayuso, this sounds like a poor excuse.
Matxin said they will need both leaders (A&A) to perform good if they want to fight Vingegaard, and Ayuso himself never said (before today) he isn't going for GC.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. When and where, before today, did he say it? I can't find the "I'm not going for the GC" interview.

He was announced as a co-leader and he even said yesterday or the day before, he wanted to keep the white jersey.

As said this was done internally in the team. It is there on where he said he isn't going for GC although the team still encouraged him to try. That is on what Ayuso told the media.

 

[Netserk]

What do you mean by his 'floor' ?

His worst performances over multiple days. The two one-week races he won both had very easy routes with only a singular GC mountain stage. Catalunya was also very easy this year, and yet he faltered on the last day, where he wasn't even among the five strongest.

 

[hayneplane]

Who cares about the time loss on such stage if he is here to support Almeida.

What kind of support can you offer from 2km further down the mountain?

 

[CyclistAbi]

What kind of support can you offer from 2km further down the mountain?

If Almeida would need any serious support on this stage then he would not be GC contender in terms of potentially winning this race. And besides there are other UAE team members that are actually dedicated support from the start of the race. Better question hence is where are they, where is Pogi.

 

[Didinho]

I’m hoping he’s saving himself for the toughest stages in support for Joao. Maybe be a satellite rider in some or even go for a stage win himself if the peloton is far away. He was one of the strongest in the TTT so if he wasn’t going for GC he did have his all for the team. I guess UAE thought they had enough with Soler if Joao was in trouble.

If he can rest most of the days and be a super dom for Joao, I would be happy.

 

[CyclistAbi]

He was one of the strongest in the TTT so if he wasn’t going for GC he did have his all for the team.

That is true, he already secured his leader a hefty bonus in terms of seconds. On top of that Ayuso was the first one to pull when they went off the ramp.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I’m hoping he’s saving himself for the toughest stages in support for Joao. Maybe be a satellite rider in some or even go for a stage win himself if the peloton is far away. He was one of the strongest in the TTT so if he wasn’t going for GC he did have his all for the team. I guess UAE thought they had enough with Soler if Joao was in trouble.

If he can rest most of the days and be a super dom for Joao, I would be happy.

He already told he will try to win stages.

 

[YavorD]

Imagine the meltdown when Juan "the great one" Ayuso pace Almeida, dropping Vingegaard in the process, thus securing Almeida's GC win..
Or even better, Almeida and Ayuso crossing the finish lines on Angliru and Bola del Mundo hand by hand, like Hinault and Lemond did 40 years ago..
Oh there would be some scenes here.

 

[Gratemans]

That is true, he already secured his leader a hefty bonus in terms of seconds. On top of that Ayuso was the first one to pull when they went off the ramp.

You just sculpt reality to fit whatever narrative is in your mind, dont't you?

 

[red_flanders]

It would be great to see him work for the team.

Seems unlikely.

 

[Rob5091]

Pogi was supposed to be here and the team mindf*cked Visma with the two leaders guff
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...s-up-on-first-summit-finish-of-la-vuelta-2025

It’s been a bit like this all race – I’ve said it since day one, even before the start. My original plan wasn’t to go for the GC, but the team asked me to give it a go out of respect, so I tried," began Ayuso's explanation. "But I haven’t been feeling good, and I’ve just gone with the flow.”
As for his goals, it’s clear from his words that this race was never a real target for him. He was called up at the last minute, after Tadej Pogacar opted out. From the start of the season, his main aim for this part of the year has been the World Championships in Kigali – and, based on what we saw today, that remains the case: “My goal is to support the team and prepare for the Worlds as best I can.”

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I am not so sure anymore that Juan is the best rider of UAE team.

 

[Hugh Januss]

He already told he will try to win stages.

So UAE with a pretty top contender has 3 other climbers, 2 flatlanders, and 2 kind of middle mountain hill guys and 2 of the 3 other climbers are gonna go for stages? Oh, and the 4th climber is Soler so who knows what he'll do. So it's Almeida vs. Visma?

 

[ppanther92]

now when he is here for Almeida he again is the worst

Yeah, well, that remains to be seen - 6 stages, no work so far (although ofc not really needed). But I would be rather surprised to see him as a loyal domestique now for the rest of the race.

 

[Lequack]

And it's all Pog's fault for not wanting to ride the Vuelta, so they had to bring in Ayuso.

 

[CyclistAbi]

You just sculpt reality to fit whatever narrative is in your mind, dont't you?

He didn't work his ass off in TTT and by doing that secured Almeida seconds? If you claim he didn't then it's you who need to check your reality a bit. If you agree he did then what the heck are you on about?

It would be great to see him work for the team.

Seems unlikely.

He already did just that in TTT so this is not even a question any more.

Yeah, well, that remains to be seen - 6 stages, no work so far (although ofc not really needed). But I would be rather surprised to see him as a loyal domestique now for the rest of the race.

He already did his part in TTT and i am sure that on important stages he will step up. Plus he is just one of the supporting team members, likely the last one to pull, so the rest must do their part to. If the rest of the team will do their job then rest assured Ayuso will too. If the rest of the team has the freedom to do whatever they want then i don't know what some of you would like Ayuso to do as then Almeida can't win this race anyway and it would be a waste of Ayuso if only him would suppose to support Almeida.

So ultimately this is not on Ayuso but on UAE, decision if they will support Almeida on this race or not.

 

[carolina]

I've been trying to find the interview where Ayuso said that stuff and it seems it was the pre-vuelta interview with Matxin and Almeida.

“It’s been a different preparation to what I’d have done normally, I haven’t raced much. We’ll just see day by day how I go. If I can’t go for the GC, then I’ll help João if he’s good.”

'It's is an advantage' - Almeida and Ayuso present united front before Vuelta

With Tadej Pogacar an absentee, the leadership of UAE Team Emirates-XRG is up for grabs at the Vuelta a España. The race presents an opportunity for both…

www.domestiquecycling.com

Either way, actions speak louder than words, so let's wait and see what he does.