Juan Ayuso is under contract with UAE Emirates XRG until the end of 2028, but according to Het Laatste Nieuws, he wants to leave the team from the Emirates. The Belgian newspaper reports that Ayuso has enlisted the help of a manager, Giovanni Lombardi, for this reason.
Ayuso turned professional with UAE Emirates in mid-2021. A year later, the Spaniard, who had relied on his parents to manage his affairs until Lombardi arrived, extended his contract with the team through 2028. He then finished third in the 2022 Vuelta a España and placed fourth in his home race in 2023.
In 2024, Ayuso started the Tour de France alongside Tadej Pogačar but abandoned due to COVID-19. Afterwards, rumors circulated about tensions between Ayuso and Pogačar, with claims that the Spaniard was unwilling to fully support the Slovenian leader.
It’s clear in any case that the two have not raced together since the 2024 Tour. Ayuso did not return to the Tour de France this year and is also barred from starting in his beloved Vuelta, where Pogačar will take on team leadership for UAE.
