- Apr 8, 2023
- 6,044
- 6,951
- 16,180
If Ayuso wants to be taken seriously as a GT guy then now he has the opportunity to prove it.
- Apr 13, 2025
- 4,399
- 4,514
- 12,680
While beating Vingegaard would be important, Ayuso's problems have come on tougher climbs and accumulated fatigue.
Jorgenson has won two Paris-Nice and seems far from winning a GT.
It would be an important victory, but the doubt for the GT will remain.
- Apr 8, 2023
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- 6,951
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Sure but Jorgenson was always number 2 to Vingegaard. If Ayuso does well then it's a steppping stone to the Tour which must be his main goal. Otherwise Trek might as well just send Milan and Pedersen.
- Feb 20, 2012
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The fact that he even tried to get back on makes one hope it's not a season ender.
- Sep 20, 2017
- 13,010
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Considering that we've seen riders try to continue racing with anything up to and including fatal injuries, it's not really a reliable indicator.
- Jul 7, 2013
- 8,882
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- 23,180
You have multiple examples that knock the legs out from under your position. At Visma and Trek there was obvious, public insubordination, or maybe the teams owners and directors don't mind things like your riders criticizing your strategy at the TDF.
Maybe frustrated riders just venting. UAE is different, they had laid out what they wanted from Juan Ayuso, he didn't follow the rules and was emotional and temperamental and created a management problem.
Isaac Del Toro was( is) a dedicated soldier working towards team goals. Ayuso fell off his bike, was attacked by insects and UAE went with plan B, which was Del Toro. Fast forward, Del Toro has seized every opportunity and created others.
Isaac , humble, polite, soft spoken, loyal takes every opportunity to express teamwork and dedication towards the UAE goals, which are primarily to have strong, positive showing in every race, male or female.
UAE also doing everything possible to cement the legacy of Tadej Pogacar while wearing the team kit. You don't hear any UAE rider voice disagreement, discontent with UAE ..doesn't happen.
Juan Ayuso was never a scapegoat, he had long period to play as a teammate, good employee, but instead he voiced his opinions rather than team messaging.
Del Toro is somewhat unique , unlike Paul Seixas, Del Toro has a contract until 2029 with the team that is perceived to have financial headroom to sign elite ( expensive) riders.
Seixas is the hottest commodity in the sport and most observers, just assume that there is no bidding war, because few teams have money to make a lucrative offer. Ineos is rumored to have increased funding, Visma said to be fragile, Decathlon already playing the loyalty card, saying that they want Paul to stay if he believes in the vision, other teams like EF don't have money.
So the UCI has created the most bizarre situation , beyond comprehension. Riders sign contracts and if another team with more money comes and does a hostile takeover of a desired rider. UCI has created contracts worth toilet paper.
The idea that Del Toro could be approached by another team while obligated to UAE, is wrong on many levels,
UCI is creating a new norm and rider transfers will create another problem and the UCI can't solve any of the problems on their to do list.
Ayuso and Remco, Cian all moved to other teams with mutual agreement. If Decathlon or Israel Premier Tech want to honor the contract, there should be a mechanism at the UCI, not kick the issue to the court system in some country.. Ridiculous that rider contracts are worthless..
Your post is a perfect example, you write that things can happen based on the premise that the contract is not really legally binding and that teams with money make the rules.
Seixas is a bit different, his obligation to Decathlon is only until after 2027 ..will UAE wait a year? You see many comments about lopsided UAE with concentration of talent because of money, if UAE with the UCI blessing nab Paul Seixas away from another emerging team it sends a terrible message to everyone. If you are Van Rysel, Decathlon and your plan can be turned upside down on a whim ..ouch. Chilling message to sponsors, team owners, riders and race organizations.. If UAE signs Seixas, that means that someone will be left out of your race, UAE is not sending Seixas, Pogacar, Del Toro and Almedia to the same race.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,073
- 46,035
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It's still better than a guy who is immobilized immediately or a guy who's knocked out getting loaded into the back of an ambulance.
@Unchained
They are buddies now but ultimately both will want to win, same races, Seixas joining the team doesn't help. Ayuso would have to wait till Pogi, del Toro and after i guess Almeida to phase out, before getting a proper chance to lead. Seixas joining the team likely pushing him back again. At Lidl-Trek in worst case he is ATM second favourite and as it was said he gets paid more. IMHO he would be stupid not to switch teams and by doing that saying no to UAE and to what they had installed for him. Ayuso saw it differently.
They are buddies now but ultimately both will want to win, same races, Seixas joining the team doesn't help. Ayuso would have to wait till Pogi, del Toro and after i guess Almeida to phase out, before getting a proper chance to lead. Seixas joining the team likely pushing him back again. At Lidl-Trek in worst case he is ATM second favourite and as it was said he gets paid more. IMHO he would be stupid not to switch teams and by doing that saying no to UAE and to what they had installed for him. Ayuso saw it differently.
No broken bones for Ayuso but in severe pain in the hip, hopefully just a bad bang.
I guess we all can learn from history, Ayuso was the leader of UAE and Giro favorite, oops on the deck, out of the race and ultimately out of a job. Ayuso on the favorite list, ooops on the deck out of the race, laying on the ground in pain, again driven away in a car..
And remember, UAE has 2 guys laying in a ditch here and if you are paying attention UAE has guys crashing out since January, heavy, heavy tolls.
And keep in mind that Del Toro got caught in traffic and was jammed up, some guys dodging bullets, Jorgenson down but not out.. All these accidents can go either way.. Complete luck.
- Apr 30, 2011
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@Unchained
All riders crash extensively in this sport and get injured frequently, regardless of the team. UAE leader crashed today too and has abandon the race.
You have to understand that Ayuso didn't accept what was offered to him at UAE and has since move on. No need to cry about it, Ayuso for sure doesn't.
All riders crash extensively in this sport and get injured frequently, regardless of the team. UAE leader crashed today too and has abandon the race.
You have to understand that Ayuso didn't accept what was offered to him at UAE and has since move on. No need to cry about it, Ayuso for sure doesn't.
Ayuso was tossed, that was his offer, he did nothing but moan and act moody until they could find a place for him..guy almost acting like he would race if he felt like it.
Many different takes on the same story, guy got his feelings hurt and quit on team and teammates
It's there if you want it, he wasn't a scapegoat, wasn't a fallguy, wasn't misunderstood.. He reacted to hard, hurt feelings and didn't have maturity or support group to guide him away from burning bridges, guys do it..like breaking up, getting a divorce, quitting a job..think about it tell someone on maybe a Wednesday and sleep on it until the upcoming Monday. Then pull the trigger if you still feel the same. And if you ask a 20+ year old ...is there a way to work it out, they often say no because you maybe don't have an alternative in your skill set at that point in life
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- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,073
- 46,035
- 28,180
- Nov 16, 2013
- 27,176
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I'm relieved to read that.
- Jul 7, 2013
- 8,882
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I think that this version of an offer as part of negotiating, shaking hands, move on to Trek is easier to digest because UAE didn't take any of the bait.. None,
no rider from UAE chimed in with an opinion. Everyone followed the plan, isolated Ayuso as the outlier who couldn't get along.
It's maybe not part of UAE evaluation procedures to allow dogs to judge the rider's character.. But I don't know for sure. Cute dog anyway.
I think they named him Juanito..
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