"A dictatorship at UAE? That seems exaggerated to me" - UAE teammate surprises to see Juan Ayuso 'rampage'

Florian Vermeersch has joined UAE Team Emirates - XRG this year but he never actually raced with Juan Ayuso, and most likely will not until the end of the season. The Belgian says he was very surprised with the Spaniard's public outburst against the team management and use of the word 'dictatorship'.

"I don't know Juan very well. We never race together; I only saw him during the training camp in December. But this situation is a shame. I think it's always better to discuss matters internally. Fighting something out in the media is never good," Vermeersch said in words to Sporza.

Ayuso was not happy with the team's choice to reveal he was leaving the team mid-Vuelta a Espana, instead of after the race as had been previously agreed on. In the middle of his interview he used strong terms against the team management - one that Vermeersch does not agree with.

"Of course, everyone has the right to their own opinion, but I don't think it's smart to go on a rampage like that in the media. That there's a dictatorship at UAE? That seems exaggerated to me," he argues. "I don't experience it that way at all."

Building up to the World Championships and late season goals, Vermeersch is at the Tour of Britain this week, most likely not with personal ambitions but helping the likes of António Morgado and Pavel Sivakov for the overall classification. "It won't be easy, because the field here is very strong. I'm not the fastest to the finish line either, so I have to try a different approach."

"I've ridden a lot of finals in recent years, but winning is something else entirely. The races that suit me best in the Classics are also the hardest to win. A lot of riders are eligible. And I also have to learn to race a bit smarter, because sometimes I get a bit too enthusiastic."

"It was on my bucket list, so I'm happy to have the national coach's confidence. It's great that I can be there. That's another thing to check off," Vermeersch said. He will be one of the men that will make the trip to Rwanda as the Belgians look to support Remco Evenepoel in an expected battle against Tadej Pogacar.

"My work will mainly be the first few hours. And we're the Belgian team, so we're working for Remco. He's our leader. It'll be a Herculean task, but I'm up for it. I'm a naturally fast rider, so that suits me."