Will Juan Ayuso sign with Movistar?

Rumors about the situation of Juan Ayuso within UAE Team Emirates and a possible signing by Movistar Team have become the talk of the cycling world after the Alicante cyclist was not included in his team's lineup for La Vuelta a España 2024, which, in principle, should have been one of his main objectives of the season.

The summer cycling soap opera is called Juan Ayuso

Rumors continue about the future of Juan Ayuso, which, as is usual when a relevant cyclist is in a position to change teams and especially being Spanish, leads to Movistar Team being mentioned in all bets as a possible destination, although it may not go beyond the usual rumors and, most likely, it may not happen given the limited economic capacity of Eusebio Unzue's team.

Let's recap a bit. The story begins during the first week of the 2024 Tour de France, in the stage that ended in Valloire after crossing the Galibier where Ayuso was at the back of the group, apparently without the strength to do his work for Tadej Pogacar. However, while many cyclists were dropping off due to the strong pace set by his teammate Joao Almeida, Ayuso continued to hold on, which earned him a reprimand from the Portuguese during the race. An action that teams usually take great care not to show in public.

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In the following stages, Ayuso was suffering more and more until his positive test for covid was confirmed and he abandoned the race. In any case, the Alicante cyclist reappeared as a member of the Spanish team participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but only in the road race after his participation in the time trial was initially planned. A race in which, like the rest of the team, he had a tremendously discreet role. After the race, the cyclist stated that his next goal would be La Vuelta.

And this is where all the rumors about Ayuso's situation in his team explode when UAE Team Emirates decides not to select him to be part of the team participating in La Vuelta 2024. A reasoned decision, as, due to the aftermath of covid, he had not managed to arrive at this event in the appropriate form.

A reason that fits perfectly but sounds like an excuse if we base ourselves on everything that has been said behind the scenes. There were those who mentioned that Pocagar did not want him on the team due to his individualistic attitude, like other teammates such as Adam Yates and Joao Almeida himself, the leader of the Emirati squad in La Vuelta 2024. It has also been heard the opposite version that talks about Ayuso being frustrated by the ceiling that Pogacar represents for his progression and that he would be looking to force his way out of UAE Team Emirates. In any case, we know little about what is mere gossip and what is real in all this matter.

And in all this noise, it was inevitable that Movistar Team would appear, a bit like last year when there was the possibility of signing Carlos Rodríguez, although the previous agreement he had signed with the telephonic team did not materialize. In Ayuso's case, things seem much more complicated since he has a valid contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2028, having to pay, in case of rescinding it, a clause that amounts to around 100 million euros, and, despite everything, the team counts on him.

All this is also supported by the need for Movistar Team to renew its roster, mainly after the confirmed departure of two of its mainstays, Oier Lazkano, who will join Red Bull-BORA-hansgroe, and Alex Aranburu, whose destination is the French Cofidis. So far, few rumors have emerged about the movements in the market of Movistar Team, barely the interest in the Eritrean from Lidl-Trek Natnael Tesfatsion, which obviously is far from being the top-level cyclist that the team is looking for, especially when the possibility of Enric Mas winning a grand tour victory seems increasingly distant.