Is a breakup between Ayuso and UAE avoidable? Spaniard appeals to team, leaving door open for Vuelta

They placed 13th and 22nd, yet no journalist after the Olympic road race seemed interested in how the Paris circuit felt for Tom Pidcock and Juan Ayuso. Both riders have been in the media spotlight recently due to swirling transfer rumors, and they addressed these after the race.

Pidcock is under contract with INEOS Grenadiers until the end of 2027, but the usually well-informed cycling journalist Daniel Benson suddenly reported that the now two-time Olympic mountain biking champion might be allowed to leave. In an interview with Cycling Weekly, the conversation quickly turned in that direction. "I didn’t have that extra punch and didn’t really feel like myself. I had to take it easy all week to freshen up and mentally, I was already exhausted from the mountain biking and everything else that’s been going on."

The 25-year-old Brit acknowledged the rumors about INEOS potentially letting him go. Two WorldTour teams were reported to have said that Pidcock would be hitting the transfer market. Was this weighing on him during Saturday’s road race? "Yes, that's why I'm a bit mentally exhausted," he admitted. His agent, Andrew McQuaid, in conversation with the same Benson, also made no effort to dispel transfer rumors. "Long contracts can change. Tom has met all the targets set at his 2022 contract renewal, but he still has many more goals. We are constantly in touch about what’s best for him. If a point comes where the team’s goals and Tom’s diverge, we will sit down as adults with INEOS."

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Ayuso can still hold hope for a spot in the Vuelta

And then there’s Ayuso, someone with a contract until the end of 2028 with UAE-Team Emirates, but the Spaniard also appears to be on the verge of departure. This could partly be due to Ayuso’s early exit from the Tour de France, caused by a COVID infection. Additionally, his reserve role for the Vuelta a España seems to be another point of contention. After the Olympic road race, the Spanish climber emphasized once again his desire to compete in the Tour of Spain. "I couldn’t cycle for three weeks because of COVID, so today I was bursting with joy. 22nd place is nothing special, but I will cherish this experience. I thought I wouldn’t finish, but instead, I fought for a medal. That makes me proud," Ayuso told the Spanish media.

"Now I would like to do the Vuelta; I need to discuss this with the team. After the Tour de France, I struggled, but if my body responds well and improves, I would like to start in Lisbon." Noted. On Tuesday morning, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Ayuso can continue to dream of a spot in the Vuelta lineup. The door appears to be open, and a decision is expected to be made within a few days.