The anti Pogacar agenda started again even when he isn't racing. Incredible.
A lot of this is just journalists acting asif they're in the know about something when they're really just speculating just like everyone else.I assume this article covers the situation.
![]()
"Pogacar wants Ayuso out immediately" - Dutch pundit argues World Champion had a say in Ayuso's UAE departure
Juan Ayuso's departure from UAE Team Emirates - XRG is currently the hot topic in the Vuelta a Espana, but the decision to part ways was already made long before the race began. Thijs Zonneveld brings...cyclinguptodate.com
At end of the day its the performance on the road that counts. At this Vuelta Ayuso didn't help his cause by his collapse in stage 9. That was nothing to do with Pogacar as far as I can see.
Let’s forget what he did during the Giro which in my book is plain bullyingSo Pog, the by far best rider in the world, doesn't want Ayuso, a rider known to don't give a *** about anyone other than himself, out of the team. If you ask me, thats pretty normal and nothing like Armstrong at all.
Also, its still just rumours. But you can't blame him, and comparing that so Armstrong is just so far out man.
Edit: Thats like comparing Remco to Eddy, and even that is probably closer to the truth.
Okay, but unless someone can link to a well researched and factual article I struggle to see any equivalence between Pogacar and Armstrong? I see Ayuso as having a rather entitled attitude at UAE considering his lack of results on the road.A lot of this is just journalists acting asif they're in the know about something when they're really just speculating just like everyone else.
Mostly there's plenty of cases of teammates having some kind of beef with the other, but normally that's resolved by them not racing together. I have really rarely heard of one rider forcing the team to break the contract with another rider. And this story of teams within a team really reminds me most of the Armstrong-Contador feud.Okay, but unless someone can link to a well researched and factual article I struggle to see any equivalence between Pogacar and Armstrong? I see Ayuso as having a rather entitled attitude at UAE considering his lack of results on the road.
Almeida's record at UAE is similar and he actually has given strong support to Pog. Likewise Adam Yates.
Pogacar's performances on the road certainly cannot be questioned compared to Juan Ayuso. Ayuso proved why on stage 9 of this Vuelta. He was given his chance to lead UAE and failed. Then announces he is leaving. That's all on him. Nothing to do with Pogacar or anything like Armstrong.
Okay, but unless someone can link to a well researched and factual article I struggle to see any equivalence between Pogacar and Armstrong?
I see Ayuso as having a rather entitled attitude at UAE considering his lack of results on the road.
He was given his chance to lead UAE and failed. Then announces he is leaving. That's all on him.
1986 TDF LeMond V. Hinault was the best (or worst) example ever of teams within a team. La Vie Claire came down to basically LeMond, Bauer, and Hampsten V. Hinault and the other French riders on the team.Mostly there's plenty of cases of teammates having some kind of beef with the other, but normally that's resolved by them not racing together. I have really rarely heard of one rider forcing the team to break the contract with another rider. And this story of teams within a team really reminds me most of the Armstrong-Contador feud.
Sure not that bad in isolation. But is he more worthy of support than Almeida or A.Yates? Not seeing it. Also he was given his chance to lead UAE this Vuelta but cracked on stage 9. Thing is, if I recall, Ayuso was re signed by UAE at a huge fee I doubt other teams would be willing to match? So now he publicly lashes out after he failed? Poor IMO.His palmares so far are IMHO not that bad.
Pogacar decides his own schedule and doesn't listen to the GM. He decides which riders ride where, and as show during the Giro influences who should be the leader during a GT. Having so much power within the team, and behaving like he does shows he's similar to Armstrong.Okay, but unless someone can link to a well researched and factual article I struggle to see any equivalence between Pogacar and Armstrong?
What 'GM' - GM of UAE? Please be clear? I asked for a link. Can you provide evidence that supports this view about his "behavior" else it is your conjecture? Please don't assume we should all know.Pogacar decides his own schedule and doesn't listen to the GM. He decides which riders ride where, and as show during the Giro influences who should be the leader during a GT. Having so much power within the team, and behaving like he does shows he's similar to Armstrong.
That's fair, I'll break it down some more.What 'GM' - GM of UAE? Please be clear? I asked for a link. Can you provide evidence that supports this view about his "behavior" else it is your conjecture? Please don't assume we should all know.
there is a lot of truth in this post.Pogacar decides his own schedule and doesn't listen to the GM. He decides which riders ride where, and as show during the Giro influences who should be the leader during a GT. Having so much power within the team, and behaving like he does shows he's similar to Armstrong.
Yeah, Pogacar is the new Armstrong for some. Always funny to see how Armstrong seemed to behave in the eyes of users who never saw him racing. Always funny.
Other thing, Pogacar decides his own schedule and rules the team This is different from other riders? Let's take a look to Remco
1 - Quickstep changed his identity to please Remco. Tried to become a GT team, losing assets on classics and what they got? A Vuelta win and failure after failure in other years (in GTs).
2 - Wasn't Lefevre who said many times Remco should race RVV? Did anyone see how many times Remco raced RVV? Yes, zero.
3 - How many times, Remco decided to quit a race because he is egocentric and decided to quit racing in the middle of a race?
The difference is the Golden Boy in major races for his team (WC and OC he raced for Belgium), won:
LBL 2x
Vuelta
Pogacar:
TdF 4x
Giro
GdL 4x
LBL 3x
RVV 2x
I know it's painful to see but Remco's run in GTs has been a total failure for what Quickstep invested on him during these 5 years. Thankfully, they are focusing on classics again (in 2026).
Oh the other hand, Pogacar is totally delivering in his team, they are very happy with him because he is a good ambassador, a good role model and guess what? He is the only one there who wins big races! So if Pogacar wants to race PR, he will race PR because like you could see this year, he is the only one who can win PR from UAE team.
Ayuso had his opportunity this year in the Giro, the team rode for him, not for Del Toro. Who don't remember when Del Toro went in a break with Ayuso behind, and UAE decided to pursuit the break with Del Toro? Facts are there to see, but some folks want to keep their narrative because "Pogacar is better than my boy and I don't want to. But I will speak bad things about him, eventually someone is on the same boat with me and I can vent my frustrations." Unfortunately, reality will strike again and like Remco said one time, "I only see your @ss 500 m ahead".
So, the anti Pogacar agenda can continue but don't forget actual facts and not those rumours invented by someone who wants a spotlight (don't know where this rumour came from).
And what did he found out? That he can finally leave a manipulative team and start focusing on his own career again. More like *** around and win in life.And this is how you always will find out if you start *** around.
Ayuso burnt every bridge at UAE, nobody in the team likes him. He is a selfish guy that leaves the race instead of helping out his teammate. Being Matxin's golden child he has been given opportunities ahead of others and he flopped and left the race instead of helping his teammate that was in pink and now this Vuelta. Even if he stayed he would be in last position of the GC pecking order over at UAE behind Pogacar, Toro and Almeida. He can go sh*t up someone elses team, he would be a good domestique for Lipowitz together with RemcoAnd what did he found out? That he can finally leave a manipulative team and start focusing on his own career again. More like *** around and win in life.
Nothing in this Giro particularly stood out unless we're supposed to believe Ayuso dropped on purpose while still riding for his own GC.I told you months ago, when explaining how Steiner's Law spelled disaster for Visma at TDF, t...
Did your forget Yates's post stage interview? Or it is convenient to your narrative, the problem was only Almeida?Nothing in this Giro particularly stood out unless we're supposed to believe Ayuso dropped on purpose while still riding for his own GC.
It's really only this gigantic thing because he failed to pull for Pogacar once in the Tour de France, and Almeida made a huge deal about it. Ironically enough, Almeida failed to pull for Pogacar in that exact same way several times throughout the Tour.
I don't remember a Yates post interview, but he was very useful in that Giro.Did your forget Yates's post stage interview? Or it is convenient to your narrative, the problem was only Almeida?
Did he drop on purpose or not in this Vuelta (I think stage 9)? He was dropped before the climb. Or this doesn't fit your narrative too?
Why was he hampering Del Toro's Giro, if he was injured and knew he would not be relevant for the GC? Specially after seeing Del Toro respecting Ayuso's leadership (the stage Ayuso won).
Ayuso is the only one to blame. But I would love to see him in Bora. This agenda would end in a second.
Sure not that bad in isolation. But is he more worthy of support than Almeida or A.Yates? Not seeing it. Also he was given his chance to lead UAE this Vuelta but cracked on stage 9. Thing is, if I recall, Ayuso was re signed by UAE at a huge fee I doubt other teams would be willing to match? So now he publicly lashes out after he failed? Poor IMO.
A couple of us guys have been saying this about Ayuso long time ago only to be met with exuces finally people are now realizing, better late than never. UAE are good with Almeida and Toro as secondary GC riders.
1987 Giro Roche and Eddy Schepers vs Visentini and the rest of the team (Carrera). Roche said "I did not attack Visentini, I followed the breaks". At the start of Stage 15, Visentini led Roche by 2 mins 42 secs. Roche put nearly 7 minutes into Visentini in the stage by following the breaks. Roche won the giro and Visentini ended up abandoning. It's known as the great betrayal and was the most dramatic inter-team rivalry.1986 TDF LeMond V. Hinault was the best (or worst) example ever of teams within a team. La Vie Claire came down to basically LeMond, Bauer, and Hampsten V. Hinault and the other French riders on the team.
Hey man, one request: I like to roll my eyes whenever remco fans talk about remco derangement syndrom, I would like to keep doing that, could you by any chance please not prove them right?Yeah, Pogacar is the new Armstrong for some. Always funny to see how Armstrong seemed to behave in the eyes of users who never saw him racing. Always funny.
Other thing, Pogacar decides his own schedule and rules the team This is different from other riders? Let's take a look to Remco.
1 - Quickstep changed his identity to please Remco. Tried to become a GT team, losing assets on classics and what they got? A Vuelta win and failure after failure in other years (in GTs).
2 - Wasn't Lefevre who said many times Remco should race RVV? Did anyone see how many times Remco raced RVV? Yes, zero. I can assure you, Pogacar raced UAE Tour a couple of times.
3 - How many times, Remco decided to quit a race because he is egocentric and decided to quit racing in the middle of a race?
The difference is the Golden Boy in major races for his team (WC and OC he raced for Belgium), won:
LBL 2x
Vuelta
Pogacar:
TdF 4x
Giro
GdL 4x
LBL 3x
RVV 2x
I know it's painful to see but Remco's run in GTs has been a total failure for what Quickstep invested on him during these 5 years. Thankfully, they are focusing on classics again (in 2026).
Oh the other hand, Pogacar is totally delivering in his team, they are very happy with him because he is a good ambassador, a good role model and guess what? He is the only one there who wins big races! So if Pogacar wants to race PR, he will race PR because like you could see this year, he is the only one who can win PR from UAE team.
Ayuso had his opportunity this year in the Giro, the team rode for him, not for Del Toro. Who don't remember when Del Toro went in a break with Ayuso behind, and UAE decided to pursuit the break with Del Toro? Facts are there to see, but some folks want to keep their narrative because "Pogacar is better than my boy and I don't want to. But I will speak bad things about him, eventually someone is on the same boat with me and I can vent my frustrations." Unfortunately, reality will strike again and like Remco said one time, "I only see your @ss 500 m ahead".
So, the anti Pogacar agenda can continue but don't forget actual facts and not those rumours invented by someone who wants a spotlight (don't know where this rumour came from).