- 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 tvbici.pro
"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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- Apr 8, 2023
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If Ayuso wants to be taken seriously as a GT guy then now he has the opportunity to prove it.
- Apr 13, 2025
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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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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
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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
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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
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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.
@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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