UAE-Team Emirates announces Vuelta squad: No Ayuso and Pogacar, all eyes on Yates and Almeida
Cycling
The decision has been made. Juan Ayuso will not participate in this year's Vuelta a España. The UAE-Team Emirates climber has been a topic of discussion in recent weeks, with the Vuelta organizers themselves even inquiring about his participation. However, on Monday, Ayuso confirmed that participating in the Tour of Spain is no longer an option. Later that morning, the team officially announced their eight-member squad.
Ayuso had to withdraw from the Tour de France due to a COVID-19 infection. "After that, my first thought was, of course, the Vuelta. It’s a race that is close to my heart, and I have special memories of it," he told AS. "But honestly, in the weeks following the Tour, I haven't returned to my previous level, so we decided to focus on the original plan."
"The plan was the Olympics and then the races in Canada. This idea came from both sides and is in my best interest — not only for this year but also for the future," Ayuso explained. "Personally, my main goal now is to get back to my best level before the season ends. It's been a tough year because after months of preparation, everything you’ve worked for disappears in an instant. But I have to accept that and just move forward."
UAE-Team Emirates relies on Almeida and Yates
Sporting director Joxean Matxin Fernandez added: "It’s obviously disappointing for Juan that he couldn’t finish the Tour and didn’t get to show himself after all the preparation he did. The Paris Olympics showed that he hasn’t fully recovered, and we don’t want to push him when he’s not fully fit. That’s also not good for his future."
João Almeida and Adam Yates will be the leaders of UAE-Team Emirates in the Vuelta a España. Tadej Pogacar will also skip the Spanish tour after winning both the Giro and the Tour. "The Vuelta España is a very important race for us. We have a top-class team with the likes of Joao Almeida who will be racing on home soil at the start in Portugal alongside co-leader Adam Yates. We all saw the partnership they had at the Tour of Switzerland and the work they did for the team at the Tour de France so we are confident they can do a great race," said Matxin.
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"We also have the likes of Brandon McNulty who is a grand tour stage winner, Isaac Del Toro and Filippo Baroncini who both make their debut at a grand tour. Marc Soler is one of the most combative riders in the World Tour. Pavel Sivakov comes into the race in great form as we saw last weekend in San Sebastian. Also Jay Vine has bravely fought back from a serious injury to complete the selection and is in good form also as he showed in Burgos."
Almeida will start the race in his home country. "To begin a grand tour in Portugal is a dream. I am super happy to start at Lisbon and pass my hometown. Having the support from home crowds and my family and friends will be special and maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity. Now at the Vuelta I’m stepping into a leaders role alongside Adam and given the good understanding between us and all the teammates I think it’s going to be a super race for us. I’m really excited to get going."
Yates wrapped up the team’s statement: "Obviously the Tour went perfectly to plan, personally and as a team I think we rode it really well and got the result we wanted. I’ve taken a bit of rest since then and built up for the Vuelta which was one of the big goals for the latter part of the year. Myself and Joao had a good partnership going in Switzerland and I think if we’re both in top shape or either one of us is in contention we’ll be ready to make the best of it. The team we have here is quality and I think and hope we’ll be fighting for big results over the next weeks," said the Brit.
UAE-Team Emirates selection Vuelta a Espana 2024
Adam Yates
Joao Almeida
Brandon McNulty
Marc Soler
Isaac del Toro
Jay Vine
Pavel Sivakov
Filippo Baroncini
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024