Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Cassirer]

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).

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?

 

[Peyroteo94]

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?

Of course. But maybe it wasn't me who started this.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Did Pogi demanded for Remco to leave SOQ?

 

[SafeBet]

Time to bag that second stage win today.

 

[James M]

We should be careful here and show we learned a lesson. That is now when Ayuso is resigning from his position as being a scapegoat for UAE, self sustained narrative that suited UAE, sports media and fandom, now there is a big void involved and IMHO pinning everything on Pogi, that would be crazy.

Even if Pogi had something to do with it each and everybody of the involved bunch needs first to eat their piece of the pie before even thinking about doing something else.

Abi, Ayuso comes across as an entitled brat whose performances simply dont justify his position in this team over time, its very easy to acknowledge. Hes shown zero interest in being a team player at any level, so he’s a net negative there as well. Hes frankly overrated (though maybe that’s not so important in this case, nvm that).

He was a huge talent, which seem to led him to become delusional to evidently large proportions. Thats clear from his repeated actions, theres no if and buts. At the same time, some of your points are valid he has been overly scrutinized at times too. Both things can be true. But make no mistake: it’s Ayuso’s own actions that obviously led to this. Actions have consequences that’s how life works.

This is welcome news for everyone. For UAE, it’s good riddance to a net negative whose performances no longer justifies the spot he held on that team at any levels. For Ayuso, it’s a fresh start with more freedom in a lesser team. Win-win

 

[CyclistAbi]

@James M

We'll see, obviously Ayuso and UAE weren't the best fit, lets see on what happens in his new team. Another thing to consider is Pogi could IMHO just as easily find himself in such position at the start of his career. I doubt he would settle for what some of you argue Ayuso should have settle for in this team. In the end he gave the middle finger to UAE and i guess one has to respect that. Now it's up to him to show it was justified.

 

[Berniece]

Of course. But maybe it wasn't me who started this.

Started what? Maybe you don't need to be so insecure and feel the need to immediately defend Pogacar by attacking riders that have nothing to do with the discussion, which you purely do to offend the users trying to have an active discussion about Pogacar's role in Ayuso's leaving.

 

[James M]

@James M

We'll see, obviously Ayuso and UAE weren't the best fit, lets see on what happens in his new team. Another thing to consider is Pogi could IMHO just as easily find himself in such position at the start of his career. I doubt he would settle for what some of you argue Ayuso should have settle for in this team. In the end he gave the middle finger to UAE and i guess one has to respect that. Now it's up to him to show it was justified.

He could but I don’t think so. Too many variables at play, though I cant deny it. It calls for speculation, your honor. Anyway, winning the Tour at age 20 on Stage 20 if you recall that stage certainly made sure that wasn’t an option. It instantly marked the birth of the chosen one.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@James M

It could easily go either way. Anyway, true or not, Ayuso doesn't want to ride for the chosen one, fine, most of the peloton doesn't either. They will hence go on separate ways. It's life.

 

[CyclistAbi]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmMinSOWKQk

 

[James M]

@James M

It could easily go either way. Anyway, true or not, Ayuso doesn't want to ride for the chosen one, fine, most of the peloton doesn't either. They will hence go on separate ways. It's life.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmMinSOWKQk

I dont nag or criticize he has his own ambitions never done that, thats fair, its competitors, you want that but at the same time expect him to fullfill his job simulatiously at times is the bare minimum, if he cant do that, criticisme is also justified, thats my point and nothing new.

Indeed , not a good fit with the team anymore, hence romantically going their seperate ways its life. As I said, welcome news and good for all parties especially for Ayuso. A fresh start with more freedom. Win-win.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I dont nag or criticize he has his own ambitions never done that, thats fair, its competitors, you want that but at the same time expect him to fullfill his job simulatiously at times is the bare minimum, if he cant do that, criticisme is also justified, thats my point and nothing new.

Still if we take this at face value we see it constantly, on why Ayuso was under so much scrutiny, that is not normal.

P.S. On an unrelated note Giorgio Armani died. RIP.

 

[James M]

P.S. On an unrelated note Giorgio Armani died. RIP.

I saw that too. RIP.

 

[Cycling111]

The mistreatment of Ayuso continues to be strange. He has left the team, but Jay Vine worked for him the other day, and Soler works for him today.
There´ll still be people who say that he is mistreated.

 

[Berniece]

The mistreatment of Ayuso continues to be strange. He has left the team, but Jay Vine worked for him the other day, and Soler works for him today.
There´ll still be people who say that he is mistreated.

There are also people that say his teammates don’t like him, clearly they do

 

[Brullnux]

Another huge win for Ayuso. Him and Vine saving the Vuelta for UAE given the lack of sting in their GC challenger

 

[Red Rick]

Good win, but he should not go an be finessing too much or do a lot of hand gestures telling someone to take pulls now. With his current reputation he would be smart to avoid making more enemies.

 

[HashRouge]

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.

Some of the takes on this thread, honestly.

I'm sure Pogacar has a significant say in his own schedule, and probably gets a say in who rides with him at particular races too. That seems fairly normal for the top rider on a team, and I'd imagine that's probably similar for riders like Vingegaard and MdvP. But you seem to think Pogacar is deciding exactly who rides which race, which is such a wild take I can't even cope. Do you really think he cares who rides the Circuito Getxo? He also doesn't have complete control over his own schedule, as shown by the fact that he was at the UAE Tour this year, and can't get out of the Tour, when it seems he wouldn't mind a year off.

As for your ideas about the Giro...you seem to have decided this based on one congratulatory Instagram post Pogacar made about del Toro. I may be misremembering, but my recollection is that UAE were committed to Ayuso past the point at which many spectators thought they ought to be riding for del Toro. On stage 15, they even chased down an attack containing del Toro to support Ayuso, no? It's a wild take to suggest that Pogacar somehow ruined Ayuso's chances in the Giro by making a nice Instagram post about del Toro.

I genuinely understand that some posters don't like certain riders for various reasons, but some of the stuff I see on here is just made up nonsense.... "I don't like this rider therefore I have decided he must be responsible for all these things". For what it's worth, I do think Pogacar is part of the reason Ayuso has ended up leaving UAE, but not because there is particular animosity between them. It's simply that when you're on the same team as someone like Pogacar, you will never have your first pick of opportunities. Ayuso obviously came to find that restrictive, which is fair enough, and hopefully he'll find his new team to be a good fit.

 

[Cycling111]

How can you complain about congratulations when the one who looks bad is Ayuso? Ayuso is the one who looks bad. Pogacar congratulated him after a stage, months after Ayuso failed to congratulate him for a World Championship, and even failed to do so for the 2024 Tour, which he briefly participated in. Ayuso couldn't even rejoice at a teammate's victory in a Tour he was in.
But Pogacar is a bad teammate because he congratulated him, but he doesn't do it the way you want? LOL It's incredible.

By the way, you're forgetting that when Ayuso was being heavily questioned about the Tour, Urska and Pogacar uploaded a photo to Instagram training with Ayuso and one of Urska's teammates, who was with Jayco at the time. Pogacar did him a favor to calm the criticism to Ayuso.

Despite all that, he hasn't congratulated him on the 2025 Tour either. But are you complaining about congratulations???

Getting along with some people is a fact of life. Remco gets along better with some people, yes, that's why he takes a teammate to Bora. How bad person and teammate is Remco that he doesn't take everyone to Bora and prefers one 🤣. In more than one interview, Remco has said he has friends in Soudal, and no one says he mistreats those he doesn't name as friends, doesn't congratulate them, or doesn't take them to Bora with him.

This discussion about congratulations is ridiculous and childish. But what's more, because Ayuso is the one didn't congratulate.
It's incredible how you twist everything around to criticize Pogacar for something he didn't do wrong, and you justify everything to Ayuso by criticizing Pogacar even for races he's not in.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Solid performance, everything under control despite not being that dominant on the last climb. Or maybe Romo is just a lot stornger than I expected. Plenty of opportunities for a 3rd win, but GC group will win on Angliru and I think Vine grabs Somiedo. My guess would be Ayuso winning either stage 16 or 17

 

[Berniece]

Some of the takes on this thread, honestly.

I'm sure Pogacar has a significant say in his own schedule, and probably gets a say in who rides with him at particular races too. That seems fairly normal for the top rider on a team, and I'd imagine that's probably similar for riders like Vingegaard and MdvP. But you seem to think Pogacar is deciding exactly who rides which race, which is such a wild take I can't even cope. Do you really think he cares who rides the Circuito Getxo? He also doesn't have complete control over his own schedule, as shown by the fact that he was at the UAE Tour this year, and can't get out of the Tour, when it seems he wouldn't mind a year off.

As for your ideas about the Giro...you seem to have decided this based on one congratulatory Instagram post Pogacar made about del Toro. I may be misremembering, but my recollection is that UAE were committed to Ayuso past the point at which many spectators thought they ought to be riding for del Toro. On stage 15, they even chased down an attack containing del Toro to support Ayuso, no? It's a wild take to suggest that Pogacar somehow ruined Ayuso's chances in the Giro by making a nice Instagram post about del Toro.

That can be your take. I’ve followed cycling long enough and went through the Armstrong era to understand what this is.

 

[Lequack]

How can UAE be mad at him, when he keeps winning them stages.

 

[Cycling111]

How can UAE be mad at him, when he keeps winning them stages.

He's the one who's angry because he says he's being harmed. Having two teammates working for him is harming to him

 

[Krzysztof_O]

How can UAE be mad at him, when he keeps winning them stages.

Depends on what happens on Mozqueta tomorrow.

 

[Lequack]

Depends on what happens on Mozqueta tomorrow.

He will be tired from today.