Juan Ayuso discussion thread

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Oct 30, 2023
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I’m not sure Ayuso is leadership material either. He just wants to be protected at all times. Even if protection equals abandonment with another race ahead.
 
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Aug 9, 2021
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Rarely. His take on it is enough considering he’s championed the Ayuso excuse making in the past. Even he knows the inevitable is for Ayuso to lead a team that can fit him exclusively into situations that suit his mentality.
Riding with one eye is dangerous for everyone whether you're in the grupetto or not. Also he complained 2022 that Roglic left tdf. But Roglic was severely injured. So no he's not always right. When it comes to judging injury he's outdated.
 
Sep 5, 2016
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I’m not sure Ayuso is leadership material either. He just wants to be protected at all times. Even if protection equals abandonment with another race ahead.
It's weird all the fill in the blanks feelings people have with conversations, data mostly done by one. UAE signed Ayuso to contract extension until 2028..sure he is getting paid well, including typical bonus structure. Those are established facts.
.UAE with in complicated support structure designated Juan Ayuso as established leader for Giro. Ayuso through training and testing was selected for lead role over other UAE riders , there was an unfortunate crash and Ayuso after tentative efforts and unbelievable battle of the bees, abandoned.
He had time deficit, physical limitations and allergic reaction to insect attack. Nobody at UAE said anything about displeasure with Ayuso. The opposite, management and teammates said support, before, during and after epic events of the disastrous Italian outing. Ayuso has not said he is shopping, doesn't feel supported or not hopeful at UAE.
And a very strange phenomenon is privacy. If Ayuso's injuries are more extensive than has been reported in public. Juan would be doing his young career a drastic disservice by reporting to all that he has salvage title. UAE would also be making a double intelligent choice by shielding Ayuso's personal and medical privacy. If indeed Ayuso goes into the transfer market his value would be less to UAE and himself by airing gruesome details of medical conditions. If he is on the mend, smart play is to turn volume knob to off, say publicly to expect nothing of Ayuso and then open the door for miraculous recovery and return later in the season.

Both Ayuso and UAE have nothing to gain by rushing him back if he is seriously banged up. After what UAE has dealt with from Giro, public relations is a high priority for sure. Riders and team subjected to the equivalent of public torture.
 
May 29, 2019
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If there is really a clause in the contract, guaranteed leadership at one GT, then Ayuso is free to leave if he chooses. Otherwise i guess to stay and lead another GT in 2026 season, among some other races. It in the end i guess could be worse than that. Hopefully the money is still good.

P.S. On the long term of course hostile working environment is a no go.
 
Jul 16, 2024
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That team would be INEOS or Movistar.

I've read some comments on X suggesting LIDL, but I don't think I'd fit in at all.

At LIDL, everyone works for everyone. We've seen Ciccone work for Pedersen. Ayuso would never do that, he wouldn't even throw Molano around like Pogacar did at last year's Giro.

Ayuso needs a team dedicated to him but one that doesn't demand any work in return, and that's the complete opposite of LIDL.

Astana is a team of free spirits. Someone like Almeida would fit in there, not Ayuso.

INEOS has changed its racing style because they don't have a solid leader. We'll see Carlos Rodriguez at TDF, but Bernal and Arensman aren't solid leaders today, which is why they're riding the generals differently. But INEOS is a team that feels more comfortable with riding for a leader.

Movistar would be the other team. They're already riding like this for Enric Mas, who only performs in the Vuelta.
Would they even wan't him though? For free and at a reasonable salary I am sure as he as a competent cyclist but suspect he got a pretty hefty salary and if he got years left buyout would also be some money.

To me Ayuso seems like he always "get sick", "stung by a bee" or whatever if he is not up to par(which is all of the time since his Vuelta 3rd to be fair). Hardly a reliable leader prospect and even less so of a teamplayer since I never saw him sacrifice anything for a team mate.

Mas performs better in the Vuelta and both are no shows elsewhere unless I am missing something? Sure Ineos might be willing to gamble considering their GT hopes are pretty dead at the moment but id argue there are other cyclists I(and probably they) would prefer to gamble on.
 
Would they even wan't him though? For free and at a reasonable salary I am sure as he as a competent cyclist but suspect he got a pretty hefty salary and if he got years left buyout would also be some money.

To me Ayuso seems like he always "get sick", "stung by a bee" or whatever if he is not up to par(which is all of the time since his Vuelta 3rd to be fair). Hardly a reliable leader prospect and even less so of a teamplayer since I never saw him sacrifice anything for a team mate.

Mas performs better in the Vuelta and both are no shows elsewhere unless I am missing something? Sure Ineos might be willing to gamble considering their GT hopes are pretty dead at the moment but id argue there are other cyclists I(and probably they) would prefer to gamble on.
Youre a little harsh on Mas I think. Always in top 10 or even podium in 1 week races like Catalunya, Itzulia, Romandie and 2nd in Lombardia. His descending skills and crashes are the problem, just like with Landa.
 
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Jul 16, 2024
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Youre a little harsh on Mas I think. Always in top 10 or even podium in 1 week races like Catalunya, Itzulia, Romandie and 2nd in Lombardia. His descending skills and crashes are the problem, just like with Landa.

Suppose you are right. He is actually one of my favorite riders so guess it's just that I always hope(d) for more, a win here or there that is.
 
Aug 3, 2015
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This was the same a year ago, wasnt it? His camp and spanish media pushing for La Vuelta, but UAE had other plans. This year Almeida will definitely be in La Vuelta and Yates definitely wont. Don't think Isaac will be in there as well with his schedule this season, it might be a bit too much for him. So I think it comes down to Pog, if Pog races I cant see him riding, but if he isn't UAE only have Almeida, so in that case he will probably ride
 
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Apr 13, 2025
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This was the same a year ago, wasnt it? His camp and spanish media pushing for La Vuelta, but UAE had other plans. This year Almeida will definitely be in La Vuelta and Yates definitely wont. Don't think Isaac will be in there as well with his schedule this season, it might be a bit too much for him. So I think it comes down to Pog, if Pog races I cant see him riding, but if he isn't UAE only have Almeida, so in that case he will probably ride
A year ago, he leaked that he wanted to go to the Vuelta, and that continued until August.

This week, he's been leaking that he wanted to go to the Vuelta and that he had a chance if Pogacar didn't go. And suddenly this news comes out. Last year, they didn't go that far with his desire to leave.

In any case, the timing is completely inadequate. His team is in the decisive week of the Tour.

I understand he wants to leave; I think it's the best thing for everyone involved. But he should have had better timing and not used the last week of the Tour.
 
Aug 19, 2011
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I hope it is true and also hope to not see him in Redbull (I expect Remco to go there). His career is going like I expected, he is good but way overrated and with his attitude, he doesn't deserve to succeed in his career.

bad take. I get he's difficult to deal with. but there's no reason he doesn't deserve to succeed. who are we to say what he does or does not deserve?
 
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bad take. I get he's difficult to deal with. but there's no reason he doesn't deserve to succeed. who are we to say what he does or does not deserve?
If I have to choose, I prefer to see honest and loyal guys to succeed. Nothing wrong with that. There are many riders who don't succeed in their careers and few who can really achieve something big.
I just prefer to see others being successful and not Ayuso. I'm not wishing anything bad to his personal life (what kind of guy would I be?) but I don't want him to be successful.
 
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Aug 19, 2011
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If I have to choose, I prefer to see honest and loyal guys to succeed. Nothing wrong with that. There are many riders who don't succeed in their careers and few who can really achieve something big.
I just prefer to see others being successful and not Ayuso. I'm not wishing anything bad to his personal life (what kind of guy would I be?) but I don't want him to be successful.

I think you take is swayed by you being a Pog fan. but I can even understand you. but I don't agree AT ALL.
 
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