Juan Ayuso breaks long-term contract to leave UAE Team Emirates-XRG early over 'differences in vision'

After a lot hypothesis, UAE Crew Emirates-XRG have confirmed that Juan Ayuso will go away the workforce on the finish of 2025, breaking a long-term and high-value contract that was set to run till the tip of 2028.

He’ll full the season with UAE Crew Emirates-XRG, with whom he’s at present racing the Vuelta a España.

The Spaniard’s vacation spot isn’t but confirmed, with a number of groups fascinated by his signature.

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UAE Crew Emirates-XRG introduced Ayuso’s departure late on Monday, the Vuelta’s relaxation day, after the 2 events mutually agreed to finish his contract early.

The Spanish rider was initially set to be underneath contract till 2028, having prolonged again in August 2022, however felt this was the best time to go away and look to proceed his growth elsewhere.

Ayuso is at present racing on the Vuelta a España, however after hypothesis surrounding his future and a possible transfer resurfaced, with Lidl-Trek rumoured as a possible touchdown spot, UAE have confirmed that he will likely be leaving.

UAE’s announcement mentioned the choice got here “following variations within the imaginative and prescient of growth plans and within the alignment with the workforce’s sporting philosophy”.

“I want to thank the workforce for the assist and alternatives they’ve given me over these years,” mentioned Ayuso within the press launch.

“I’ve had the possibility to develop and to compete alongside the easiest, and I do know that what I’ve realized will all the time stay a part of my skilled background.I now really feel it’s time for me to take a distinct path, with the identical enthusiasm and I want UAE Crew Emirates – XRG success for the long run.”

Ayuso has raced the whole thing of his WorldTour profession on UAE, having joined as a young person halfway via the 2021 season from Italian Continental workforce Colpack.

“Juan has been a helpful expertise and we’re grateful for what we have now constructed collectively,” mentioned workforce CEO Mauro Gianetti.

“On the identical time, our sporting undertaking has all the time been targeted on continuity, group concord, and constructing a successful workforce. We imagine that, in the perfect pursuits of each events, this resolution is probably the most in step with the values that outline our group.

“UAE Crew Emirates – XRG will proceed on its path of progress and growth, assured that the workforce’s id and power stay our basis. We want Juan each success sooner or later.”

Ayuso initially emerged as one of many subsequent tremendous skills on UAE, having completed third and fourth at his house Grand Tour, the Vuelta, on his debut and second look. However he is seemingly fallen down the pecking order as a GC chief, with Tadej Pogačar being the workforce’s foremost focus and João Almeida and Isaac del Toro thriving because the secondary and tertiary choices in 2025.

The Spanish rider has confronted criticism internally and externally throughout his time at UAE, together with as lately as yesterday, when Almeida complained about his lack of assist up the ultimate climb on stage 9 of the Vuelta – the place he ceded time to Jonas Vingegaard whereas the likes of Ayuso provided no assist.

Ayuso, regardless of successful a mountain stage two days prior from the breakaway, misplaced 21 minutes on GC and rolled as much as the ski station in Valdezcaray, as his workforce chief battled away solo earlier than making his refined jab. He cited being “fairly drained” as the explanation he “could not assist the workforce a lot”. when he spoke on the end.

At nonetheless solely 22, Ayuso has a number of room to develop and discover his approach as a pacesetter on a brand new workforce, however he’ll want a giant reset in 2026 after ending his contract early and failing to make the deliberate long-term partnership with UAE work out.