Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[tobydawq]

Juan Ayuso joins Lidl-Trek on five-year contract after early UAE Team Emirates-XRG exit​

Juan Ayuso joins Lidl-Trek on five-year contract after early UAE Team Emirates-XRG exit

23-year-old Spanish rider will ride as US-registered team's GC star until at least 2030

www.cyclingnews.com

He's going to have to change his attitude now if this is to work.

 

[Brullnux]

Pedersen or Milan will be out next season

It affects Milan more than Pedersen as Pedersen isn't a feature in bunch sprints anymore so the team needed for him is the same as the team needed for Ayuso.

But even then, Milan just needs three lead out men, and they can double as controllers of flat road in mountain stages.

 

[pastronef]

It affects Milan more than Pedersen as Pedersen isn't a feature in bunch sprints anymore so the team needed for him is the same as the team needed for Ayuso.

But even then, Milan just needs three lead out men, and they can double as controllers of flat road in mountain stages.

Ayuso will just have to follow Visma and UAE

 

[Brullnux]

Ayuso will just have to follow Visma and UAE

He'll need a couple of climbers to pace him to the finish when he inevitably gets dropped at the start of the third week on a benign Cat 2 80km from the finish.

 

[ingsve]

The one impacted most at Lidl-Trek is perhaps Skelmose who won't have the same free pick at what GTs to target as leader.

 

[Mako]

5 years is the most interesting thing about it

I dont understand that either. Given his history, I would have started with 2 years? What could be the reasoning behind it.

 

[Red Rick]

I dont understand that either. Given his history, I would have started with 2 years? What could be the reasoning behind it.

I assume there was a buy out fee, which is then amortized over a longer period of time.

Basically the same reason Chelsea is giving their players 8 year contracts.

 

[Savant12]

Ayuso will just have to follow Visma and UAE

If he latches onto the UAE train he may decide that he's done enough, drop off and go for stage wins.

 

[steffr222]

Pedersen or Milan will be out next season

Of course not. Both long contracts. Pedersen will be part of the Tour squad & Milan going Giro and Vuelta I guess.

Pedersen will be fine on his own.

 

[Peyroteo94]

And Ayuso?

Of course not. Both long contracts. Pedersen will be part of the Tour squad & Milan going Giro and Vuelta I guess.

Pedersen will be fine on his own.

 

[steffr222]

And Ayuso?

Giro squad - Milan and his lead out men, Ciccone as stagehunter

Tour squad - Pedersen and Ayuso plus full support for Ayuso

Vuelta squad - Milan and his lead out men, Skjelmose GC

Probably another GT for Ayuso, Skjelmose and/or Ciccone - but I think that will be kind of the main focus in terms of GT for Ayuso, Pedersen and Milan at least.

Actually more difficulties to be expected for Skjelmose rather than for Pedersen and Milan I guess… Ayuso transfer will have a massive impact on Skjelmoses future GC bids

 

[Peter von]

For sure it will be a lot of work for the management at Lidl-Trek to keep them all happy. But I think it's doable with some hands on leadership instead of closing your eyes and hoping it sorts itself out as seems to be the UAE approach.

You would think they have talked a lot about this during contract negotiations and Ayuso might be happy that he doesn't have to work for anyone and have a bit of support in high mountains. I don't think it'll be too bad for Milan or Pedersen having Ayuso on the team.

If Ayuso then suddenly is able to challenge Pogi they'll have to rework the team to give him more climbing support going forwards.

The bigger issue to me is keeping both Milan and Pedersen happy if both want's to go for green+stages at Tour.

 

[Top Climber]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971116702567125385

View: https://x.com/LidlTrek/status/1971116702567125385

 

[Peyroteo94]

It will be funny to see him in the Tour next year.

 

[Berniece]

It will be funny to see him in the Tour next year.

Depends on what you think is funny. Maybe the expectations of LIDL-Trek are top 10 and if everything goes perfect top 5. I wouldn't send him to TDF though. Giro/Vuelta double.

 

[SafeBet]

Depends on what you think is funny. Maybe the expectations of LIDL-Trek are top 10 and if everything goes perfect top 5. I wouldn't send him to TDF though. Giro/Vuelta double.

Reckon it'd be easier to fit him in a Tour team with Pedersen than in a Giro team with Milan.
Unless Lidl plans to send both Pedersen and Milan to the Tour, which would actually make sense.

 

[Berniece]

Reckon it'd be easier to fit him in a Tour team with Pedersen than in a Giro team with Milan.
Unless Lidl plans to send both Pedersen and Milan to the Tour, which would actually make sense.

But winning TDF is not going to happen. Giro or Vuelta might be possible

 

[memyselfandI]

Very interesting to see how it goes with Trek. I am not surprised at all if everything goes just fine or even better. I must admit I didn't read the news that much, any idea if his pt/coach gruppo stays the same or is there changes? I still think he's very, very high prospect though, not arguing his performance.. but maybe there's a room to grow as a whole. And very interesting to see what team can do to broaden his mental power, It looks like there's not that high tensions in new team like overall, maybe they find good balance.

Now just waiting how Pogi and Remco and others fight in Kigali.. piggyback piggyback and nice flyer and there you have your shirt, Sir..

 

[Unchained]

That's a naïve take imo.
He won't need to have a few words with Del Toro. Because what cyclists say beforehand, and what they actually do in the race are often two completely different things.

You are correct overall, in this particular situation at worlds Isaac's ambitions are a distant priority to his trade team alliance and relationship with Tadej Pogacar and UAE. For all intents and purposes Del Toro's, mentor, coach and great friend, Eder Frayre will also be riding for Mexico , the 2 were both born and raised in Ensenada, BC. Frayre is a solid racer, did worlds before, represented Mexico at the Olympics, was a national champion and has raced for American conti teams for years including Legion. This race suits him perfectly except for the distance..it's 30-40% outside his effective range ..Eder will be a short term asset for Isaac. Frayre is a great sportsman, he doesn't look too upset to see Isaac taking the title of best bike racer from Ensenada! Personally when I see the amount of clothing and hand me down equipment that they have given to local riders it's really, really heartwarming.. I am routing for both guys.
Ayuso will not share in any of the benefits from UAE relationships.. Don't think he is on any enemies list for anyone, including Del Toro or Pog, but if I had to guess, anything that Yates, Carapaz or Ayuso does in next few years will be recognized and responded to by Del Toro out of a sense of pride.
Del Toro will surely ride and race to show that he is capable and close in capacity to Juan Ayuso. I don't make too much of Ayuso's recent interview were he says he is rainbow worthy,
Del Toro would never say anything close to that before the race.
Ayuso is a excellent racer but he has never shown anything that would lead me to believe that he can ride Tadej or Remco off his wheel.. And climbs are swallow enough that guys like Vine, Ciccone will probably be a factor.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Good outcome for Ayuso and now it's on him to do with that whatever he chooses.

 

[Unchained]

I dont understand that either. Given his history, I would have started with 2 years? What could be the reasoning behind it.

Cheaper price, extend out bonus structure, so Ayuso would have to do something incredible to make substantially more money, but likely Juan Ayuso's fragile almost frantic state of mind since Giro he was vulnerable to anyone who wants him. Trek was in good position to exploit all the chaos surrounding Ayuso..long term contract would have a calming effect on sensitive, emotionally unhinged Juan, People are quick to forget all the harsh words about UAE almost ignoring Ayuso as he exited the Giro, immediately rumours started about possible mutual unhappiness and Juan's desire to go elsewhere.
Ayuso and UAE were completely disingenuous about the relationship and almost instantly when Ayuso returned to racing overwhelming drama and discontent. Juan Ayuso is a young man and maybe in the future he will seek counsel from someone who can explain that describing your boss and work relationship as a dictatorship is not high praise or something that you say when you are trying to get along with someone.
At Trek I guess they don't mind that kind of stuff after Quinn Simmons threw multiple fits at the TDF in front of a camera and microphone about team tactics, openly questioning his managers intelligence.

 

[ingsve]

Ayuso transfer will have a massive impact on Skjelmoses future GC bids

Skelmose Uno-X move confirmed.

 

[Oldman]

Cheaper price, extend out bonus structure, so Ayuso would have to do something incredible to make substantially more money, but likely Juan Ayuso's fragile almost frantic state of mind since Giro he was vulnerable to anyone who wants him. Trek was in good position to exploit all the chaos surrounding Ayuso..long term contract would have a calming effect on sensitive, emotionally unhinged Juan, People are quick to forget all the harsh words about UAE almost ignoring Ayuso as he exited the Giro, immediately rumours started about possible mutual unhappiness and Juan's desire to go elsewhere.
Ayuso and UAE were completely disingenuous about the relationship and almost instantly when Ayuso returned to racing overwhelming drama and discontent. Juan Ayuso is a young man and maybe in the future he will seek counsel from someone who can explain that describing your boss and work relationship as a dictatorship is not high praise or something that you say when you are trying to get along with someone.
At Trek I guess they don't mind that kind of stuff after Quinn Simmons threw multiple fits at the TDF in front of a camera and microphone about team tactics, openly questioning his managers intelligence.

There's also the NFL mindset about the benefit of a few good results, a declining performance that's blamed on the team's management/culture/cuisine....Then the negotiation with a desperate team in need of a media savior that they'll pay for. Pro sports at it's finest where the rich continue to get richer. Hopefully Juan's ego doesn't turn him into a junior version of Aaron Rodgers; minus the Super bowls.

 

[Red Rick]

Apparently the buy out is 10M and Trek are paying Ayuso 5M a year (he had to pay the buy out himself).

 

[Netserk]

If Lidl sells him after 3 or 4 years, that could be a good deal for them.