Matxin clarifies Ayuso situation, and the team commits fully to Almeida: "Time to go big"

Almeida has to find 48 seconds in six stages. “On paper, we have three mountain stages – Tuesday, Wednesday, and the Bola del Mundo – plus the time trial,” Matxin explains to Marca. “The time trial will be very tough because Jonas is a rider who is incredibly good at it in Grand Tours. But, indeed, he didn't do so well in this Tour.”

There, Vingegaard finished 13th to Caen. “He was a minute slower than Tadej, and there were no huge differences with Almeida either.” In fact, the Portuguese rider was 7 seconds faster. “We have to try to take advantage of the opportunities that each day offers. If we don't win this Vuelta, let it be because we tried every day and have no regrets.”

UAE has been hugely successful in the Vuelta, with a staggering seven stage wins so far. “What I want to emphasize is the importance of the GC. We’ve already won stages; we’ve played the small races where we could and had the chance to win through the breakaway, but now it’s time to go for the big one.” The idea seems clear for the final week: all-in on Almeida.

Marc Soler got his chance in stage 14, even though that wasn't the plan. “The idea was to prevent the Visma riders from infiltrating the breakaway, and the best way to do that was to ride with them. That's why he followed Campenaerts. In other stages, the plan went exactly as planned and was executed superbly. If JoãoJoão Vingegaard had been able to break away on La Farrapona, you can be sure we would have stopped Soler.”

Ayuso also had his chances and managed to win twice. The 22-year-old Spaniard will leave the team after this season, following a heated dispute between him and the team. Tempers have calmed down a bit now, and Matxin says he stands behind his rider. “We will treat him with the same respect and dedication until December 31, the day his contract expires.”

After the first rest day, Ayuso said he was furious with the UAE team management, calling it a “dictatorship.” “My relationship with him hasn't changed. Of course, I don't share his opinion, but one thing has nothing to do with the other. We will part ways on December 31. I wish him all the best and hope he doesn't beat us in any races,” Matxin said with a wink.

Ayuso's mediocre form in the Vuelta has to do with his preparation, which he wanted to do himself. “He asked not to do the altitude training and to do his preparation in Jávea instead. He needed a period of concentration at altitude, and he may have missed that. He asked us to train in Jávea, and we approved it. The team agreed, so you can see that there is no such dictatorship,” laughs his compatriot.

The young climber will no longer ride for UAE Team Emirates - XRG after the Vuelta, confirms his sports director. "His program included the Tour of Guangxi, and I told him that if he won a stage, the team time trial, or the GC, he wouldn't have to be there. He has already won two of the three, so he won't be coming."