Spanish cycling legend doesn’t understand Ayuso’s behavior in UAE dispute: "Why add fuel to the fire?"
CyclingWednesday, 03 September 2025 at 10:30
The soap opera between Juan Ayuso and UAE Emirates-XRG seemed all but over with the announcement of a split on Monday evening, but that turned out not to be the case. The Spaniard poured even more fuel on the fire, much to the displeasure of Pedro Delgado. The Spanish cycling legend is critical of his compatriot, didn’t he already get what he wanted?
It was on the evening of the rest day that UAE dropped the bombshell. “Ayuso will now remain with the team until the end of 2025, following a decision made due to differing views on development plans and alignment with the team’s sporting philosophy,” the team from the Emirates announced on its online channels.
Mauro Gianetti, CEO of UAE Emirates-XRG, provided further explanation. “Juan is a valuable talent, and we are grateful for what we’ve built together. At the same time, our sports project has always been focused on continuity, team harmony, and building a winning squad. We believe that this decision, in the interest of both parties, best aligns with the values that define our organization,” he stated.
Not long after, Ayuso published a statement on his own channels. But that wasn’t the whole story, as the Spaniard was furious with his team ahead of stage 10. “I don’t understand why UAE released the statement without any warning,” he said on Tuesday morning.
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Ayuso called UAE "a dictatorship": "They did it to damage my image again"
Ayuso was furious about how things unfolded. “Yesterday, up until 6:30 PM, I knew nothing,” he said, “and suddenly it was agreed that the statement would only be released after the Vuelta, so it wouldn’t affect me or my teammates. Now I know that everything was handled yesterday within half an hour without any prior notice. I said I didn’t agree with what was in the statement. The response? That the first version of the statement was much worse, and that I should be satisfied with this one.”
“They did it to damage my image again,” he said about the statement. “They talk about values and unity, and I fully agree with those. Of course, yesterday they also took advantage of a few unfortunate words from Almeida, whom I’ve spoken with. He apologized, because he somewhat agrees with what happened.”
Ayuso was still determined to help the team during this Vuelta, but added: “If it’s one act of disrespect after another from team management, then it becomes difficult to want to be part of it. We tried to make things right during the negotiations, but sometimes it felt impossible, because it resembled more of a dictatorship and a one-sided power struggle.”
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Delgado doesn’t understand Ayuso’s choices: "Why add fuel to the fire if it’s not necessary?"
Spanish cycling legend Delgado looks on with astonishment at the conflict between Ayuso and UAE. “I don’t understand it at all,” he said on Spanish broadcaster RTVE. “He wanted the freedom to leave, and they gave it to him, so I don’t understand his comments. If he got what he wanted, why talk about it? Whether it’s today or tomorrow, it doesn’t matter,” the two-time Vuelta winner added, sharing his view.
Delgado points out that Ayuso simply got his way. “What he was fighting for was to leave. Why add fuel to the fire if it’s not necessary? Last year he had offers but didn’t leave because he had a contract. He switched managers and achieved what seemed difficult beforehand. Now that he has that freedom, why come back and protest?” the Spaniard concluded critically about his compatriot.
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