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- Apr 13, 2025
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That's not true. Matxin gave an interview before that Tour and said that Ayuso was the one who asked to go to the Tour and that he (Matxin) told him the condition for taking him was that he accept Pogacar as the leader and that Ayuso should be domestique.
That was said by Matxin, who was Ayuso's biggest supporter, so there's no question that Ayuso wasn't promised a co-leadership of the Tour.
It was Ayuso who distanced herself by making other statements, and Matxin had to explain again that no, they were going with a single leader and that the condition they set for Ayuso and Almeida was to accept that.
So, It was Ayuso who asked to go to the Tour and the management told him he wouldn't be the leader.
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I dont think he was "promised" anything.
Ayuso wanted to be a part of the Tour team going into 2024. He wanted to ride the Tour. He got that, but most likely told under which premises and that the team still comes first. He must have surely agreed to that or he wouldnt be there, unless he had other motives and just said what everybody wanted to hear from him so he could go.
It feels evidently clear by the reactions from his teammates, that Ayuso did something he wasnt supposed to do. Leading them to be upset with him and them not trusting him anymore. Creating bad vibes within the team in the middle of a GT.
- Apr 13, 2025
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Indeed, they never promised him a co-leadership in that Tour, or any other race with Pogacar.
Matxin:
"His teammates know perfectly well that Tadej Pogacar is the number one in the world; you only have to read the interviews with Almeida and Yates after their various victories in Switzerland. I think it's a very close-knit team. And above all, when I talk to riders about coming here, I'm very clear from the start. Guys like Adam Yates, like Sivakov, like Wellens and Politt, know they'll have their space, but when Tadej is there, we race for him. These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract. I'm not the one who makes them sign, but I only have one word, and that has to be respected. When Almeida and Ayuso asked me to come to the Tour, I told them it was fine, but that we would race with the idea of a single leader, and nothing would be done differently from what we had decided," he concluded.
Are there still doubts? Ayuso was never promised to be a co-leader on that tour.
These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract.
@Berniece
He knew who he was ahead him and that he wouldn't be a co-leader with him. We're not talking about a first contract without knowing what's involved; it was his responsibility to extend it with those conditions. And if he did, it's because he didn't see such mistreatment by the team.
Ayuso's problem is that he had a worse season than Almeida and Del Toro, not the supposed dictatorship of Pogacar under which he wanted to renew his contract.
You always ask for quotes. I've quoted what Matxin said about the contracts and the 2024 Tour.
It would be good if you cited where it says Ayuso would be a co-leader or that his contract included those other conditions.
Isola 2000, con Matxin nei giorni di Pogacar in altura - bici.PRO
Dopo il Giro di Svizzera e il Giro Next Gen, Matxin ha raggiunto Pogacar e il gruppo Tour a Isola 2000, fra allenamenti, scherzi e corse viste in tv
bici.pro
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Assuming you responding to someone else with the quotes thingIndeed, they never promised him a co-leadership in that Tour, or any other race with Pogacar.
Matxin:
"His teammates know perfectly well that Tadej Pogacar is the number one in the world; you only have to read the interviews with Almeida and Yates after their various victories in Switzerland. I think it's a very close-knit team. And above all, when I talk to riders about coming here, I'm very clear from the start. Guys like Adam Yates, like Sivakov, like Wellens and Politt, know they'll have their space, but when Tadej is there, we race for him. These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract. I'm not the one who makes them sign, but I only have one word, and that has to be respected. When Almeida and Ayuso asked me to come to the Tour, I told them it was fine, but that we would race with the idea of a single leader, and nothing would be done differently from what we had decided," he concluded.
Are there still doubts? Ayuso was never promised to be a co-leader on that tour.
These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract.
He knew who he was ahead him and that he wouldn't be a co-leader with him. We're not talking about a first contract without knowing what's involved; it was his responsibility to extend it with those conditions. And if he did, it's because he didn't see such mistreatment by the team.
Ayuso's problem is that he had a worse season than Almeida and Del Toro, not the supposed dictatorship of Pogacar under which he wanted to renew his contract.
You always ask for quotes. I've quoted what Matxin said about the contracts and the 2024 Tour.
It would be good if you cited where it says Ayuso would be a co-leader or that his contract included those other conditions.
Isola 2000, con Matxin nei giorni di Pogacar in altura - bici.PRO
Dopo il Giro di Svizzera e il Giro Next Gen, Matxin ha raggiunto Pogacar e il gruppo Tour a Isola 2000, fra allenamenti, scherzi e corse viste in tv
- Apr 13, 2025
- 4,399
- 4,512
- 12,680
The quotes thing are Matxin's words; it was to give continuity to your message and confirm that they had not promised him anything.
The last part was for Berniece because of what he said about the contract terms.
Edit and quoted him.
Talk about co-leadership is completely insane. If Ayuso thought about it, expected it, or hoped for it, he was delusional. And if we haven’t seen the exact wording in the contract (I am sure there was something in the small print), claims about contractual promises are pointless.
Having said that, I actually do not see huge drama here. It is not the first or the last time when teams are stacked and some riders go elsewhere to find better options. Totally fine.
Having said that, I actually do not see huge drama here. It is not the first or the last time when teams are stacked and some riders go elsewhere to find better options. Totally fine.
Considering all the debates and opinions and now especially results, Juan made the correct decision. So there is that.
- Aug 13, 2011
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Ayuso was doing very well for himself in the beginning of the seasons with UAE so this is nothing new. What will be new is his Tour performance and if he gets mad at the team for bringing Pedersen.
He was at the lower end of pecking order at UAE and a scapegoat and at Lidl-Trek he is a leader and winning races, beating UAE at it. So ultimately he was correct at pointing that out. Likely earns more too.
I don't know why some people have so many problems in admitting when they are wrong. In the TdF, Ayuso was clearly wrong, end of story.Indeed, they never promised him a co-leadership in that Tour, or any other race with Pogacar.
Matxin:
"His teammates know perfectly well that Tadej Pogacar is the number one in the world; you only have to read the interviews with Almeida and Yates after their various victories in Switzerland. I think it's a very close-knit team. And above all, when I talk to riders about coming here, I'm very clear from the start. Guys like Adam Yates, like Sivakov, like Wellens and Politt, know they'll have their space, but when Tadej is there, we race for him. These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract. I'm not the one who makes them sign, but I only have one word, and that has to be respected. When Almeida and Ayuso asked me to come to the Tour, I told them it was fine, but that we would race with the idea of a single leader, and nothing would be done differently from what we had decided," he concluded.
Are there still doubts? Ayuso was never promised to be a co-leader on that tour.
These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract.
@Berniece
He knew who he was ahead him and that he wouldn't be a co-leader with him. We're not talking about a first contract without knowing what's involved; it was his responsibility to extend it with those conditions. And if he did, it's because he didn't see such mistreatment by the team.
Ayuso's problem is that he had a worse season than Almeida and Del Toro, not the supposed dictatorship of Pogacar under which he wanted to renew his contract.
You always ask for quotes. I've quoted what Matxin said about the contracts and the 2024 Tour.
It would be good if you cited where it says Ayuso would be a co-leader or that his contract included those other conditions.
Isola 2000, con Matxin nei giorni di Pogacar in altura - bici.PRO
Dopo il Giro di Svizzera e il Giro Next Gen, Matxin ha raggiunto Pogacar e il gruppo Tour a Isola 2000, fra allenamenti, scherzi e corse viste in tv
- Aug 13, 2011
- 8,018
- 12,526
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Ayuso was literally leader or did his own thing in almost every race he rode. Only exception was when Pogacar was present. For years Ayuso was number two of the team and got to pretty much pick his own schedule. Yes, he’s still performing per his usual in the beginning of the season like previously. The only way we’ll see if he made the right choice is by the end of the Tour.
Per reports he does make around $700-800k more.
Ayuso was never second in command at UAE. He came behind Pogi and Almeida and after even del Toro. He would never be leader at UAE.
P.S. As for your question about Pedersen above, if he will be fit then he is likely one of a few "sprinters" that can actually do some support work for their GC leader at the Tour.
- Aug 13, 2011
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Must be the same universe as Quickstep bringing Merlier and Evenepoel to the Tour a bad idea or Bora taking to the Tour; Roglic, Evenepoel, Lipo, Vlasov, Hindley, Pellizari, and two other climbers.
Pedersen absolutely is, but something will most likely happen (or with Ciccone/Milan in a different race) when the team is supporting them and not Ayuso. Then we shall see if it was Ayuso or UAE being the major problem.
Dunno how big problem Ayuso or UAE both are anyways. It's normal dynamic problems from both point of views. When team is stacked, it's complicated. Just imagine throwing Seixas to UAE 3-4 years ago and put him 'on hold' to work for Pogi or Ayuso. Same problems I guess. Gets frustrated and whatever.
Nah, Pedersen is different type of rider, more similar to van Aert if any. And besides his teammates are already complaining, he is pushing too much watts uphill to follow comfortably. Coming back from injury. As for RBH preliminary PCS start list, look at the names there and you will see taking a climbers orientated team is still a possibility. Ciccone IMHO doesn't represent any issue to Ayuso, they have different goals. There was some media induced friction in regards to Ayuso and Skjelmose and as you could read after that was settled and both are now enlisted for the Tour. Plus Lidl-Trek has real depth, when it comes to climbing support. Not as good as RBH in terms of individual quality but if Lidl-Trek succeeds in building a homogenous team and RBH does not, then all that individual quality wont' mean much for RBH.
Pogi, Almeida and after del Toro, then it was Ayuso. As for UAE it will be interesting to see on how they will manage the appetite of del Toro. I mean at some point del Toro will make a move, it's only natural plus he was always encouraged to do so, contrary to the Ayuso.
- Aug 13, 2011
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The issue between Pedersen and Ayuso will be on stages when Pedersen is supported and Ayuso has less and something potentially occurs to Ayuso. Pedersen can also do domestique duties, but will he go all in like WVA has done at risk of his own success. Ciccone runs the risk of doing to Ayuso what Ayuso did to Almeida in last year’s Vuelta. Good thing we will get to see Skjelmose and Ayuso race together soon. There’s a reason Ayuso was having issues and it’s not all just UAE. He left a team that was very young centric and joined one that is team orientated.
Only thing Bora should look at changing is potentially having Roglic go but that depends a lot on how Evenpoel’s season turns out.
Ayuso stayed second until rumors and the statement came out that he was leaving. Even then he got to do whatever he wanted in the Vuelta.
Correct he never was but Matxin always pushed and backed him as if he was or number 1 in some cases. Eventually that become hard for Matxin to do and back no matter what he said or did as actions, results and performance always proved him and Ayuso wrong.
The talk now of him coming out and winning Algarve is the true Ayuso and Trek is better etc, this however is typical of his early season results even on UAE. He would be storming and the not deliver in major goals like Giro, Tour or Vuelta. No, he did not get voiced at the Tour when he went home, he was sent home due to actions.
- Feb 20, 2012
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Roglic won't depend on how Evenepoel turns out. Their schedules basically say they won't race together, whichever the reason may be. They may offer him a new deal, but very likely another team will make him a better offer.
- Aug 13, 2011
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Not them racing together but as of now Roglic scheduled for Vuelta and Evenepoel the Tour. If Evenepoel keeps performing like he just did in UAE, no way they don’t bring Rogic to Tour.
- Feb 20, 2012
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I'm 90% sure they will anyway. It's not like Evenepoel was flying at any point before the Tour de France in 2024.
- Sep 12, 2022
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It's not like he had a chance to show that. The race he could finally show it, Basque, he crashed out
Went from being dropped by 7-8 riders in Dauphine to at least climb with Vinge here and there in the Tour
- Sep 12, 2022
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This is what I heard.Indeed, they never promised him a co-leadership in that Tour, or any other race with Pogacar.
Matxin:
"His teammates know perfectly well that Tadej Pogacar is the number one in the world; you only have to read the interviews with Almeida and Yates after their various victories in Switzerland. I think it's a very close-knit team. And above all, when I talk to riders about coming here, I'm very clear from the start. Guys like Adam Yates, like Sivakov, like Wellens and Politt, know they'll have their space, but when Tadej is there, we race for him. These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract. I'm not the one who makes them sign, but I only have one word, and that has to be respected. When Almeida and Ayuso asked me to come to the Tour, I told them it was fine, but that we would race with the idea of a single leader, and nothing would be done differently from what we had decided," he concluded.
Are there still doubts? Ayuso was never promised to be a co-leader on that tour.
These are the conditions we set even before signing the contract.
@Berniece
He knew who he was ahead him and that he wouldn't be a co-leader with him. We're not talking about a first contract without knowing what's involved; it was his responsibility to extend it with those conditions. And if he did, it's because he didn't see such mistreatment by the team.
Ayuso's problem is that he had a worse season than Almeida and Del Toro, not the supposed dictatorship of Pogacar under which he wanted to renew his contract.
You always ask for quotes. I've quoted what Matxin said about the contracts and the 2024 Tour.
It would be good if you cited where it says Ayuso would be a co-leader or that his contract included those other conditions.
Isola 2000, con Matxin nei giorni di Pogacar in altura - bici.PRO
Dopo il Giro di Svizzera e il Giro Next Gen, Matxin ha raggiunto Pogacar e il gruppo Tour a Isola 2000, fra allenamenti, scherzi e corse viste in tv
"It goes so far that during contract negotiations, it is mentioned that Ayuso has to ride one Grand Tour a year without Pogacar so that he is the lead rider."
Not completely as I remembered it, because I thought it was 1 GT per year as leader. But apparently it's 1 GT per year as leader as long as Pogacar isn't riding it. Now you know where I was coming from.
Zonneveld questions UAE's strategy in gravel stage: "They know Ayuso will leave one day"
Monday is a rest day in the Giro d'Italia, so there is plenty of time to discuss what has happened so far in the Tour of Italy. Especially after Wout van Aert won the ninth stage, it was not difficult...
www.idlprocycling.com
IMHO you do want Pedersen in the team, he is a big personality and i don't perceive him as all that selfish, he can even climb. I like Ciccone but i don't feel he will go for GC at the Tour 2026, he is more of a specialist for winning a stage. On what kind of relationship they will have with Skjelmose, that remains to be seen. Likely they will simply ride for themself until one comes on top. In terms of the Tour 2026. After the other can prove to be a valuable weapon for the team. All in all, worst case, they will be fighting on who is the favourite child and not the second favourite one, tough life.
As for Rogla and Remco i feel they will manage just fine. Currently it seems they chose separate schedules but at some point i feel that symbiosis has so many potential that even if there is currently some fear involved they can overcome that. If they will rather choose not to then individually they can both still win some. Lets not forget Rogla was offered support role and stage hunting for the Tour, that IMHO is an offer to decline, Remco wouldn't accept it either. So management need to do their part better also, support excellence.
At UAE Ayuso was a perfect scapegoat and majority just went with it as it suited them. At Lidl-Trek they are not good enough, to play such games in the first place. All in all they will be fine. At UAE it will be interesting to see on what happens when del Toro makes his move. It's bound to happen, appetite is too high not to do so.
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