After brutal crash, Juan Ayuso abandons Criterium du Dauphine not to jeopardize Tour de France
Cycling
Although they won the Giro d'Italia as the first of their objectives for Tadej Pogacar's potential double, UAE Team Emirates is aware of their status as favorites for a Tour de France that is undeniably the Emirati team's ultimate aspiration this season. Decisions such as the one just taken with Juan Ayuso in the Criterium du Dauphiné are proof of this, as the Spaniard abandoned the race following yesterday's mass crash. A tough hit for the Spaniard.
The Spanish rider has abandoned the race just before the start of stage 6, which was to be the first high mountain stage and where he could test himself in the true general classification. The decision was announced just a few minutes before the start of a stage where Ayuso, in principle, had been scheduled to start. However, taking into account the injuries of the UAE rider after the accident caused by a massive crash in stage 5, which also led to the suspension of the day, it has been considered that the most prudent thing to do is to withdraw from the Dauphiné.
It's a pity because Juan Ayuso is coming from a great performance in stage-races this season. In Tirreno-Adriatico he was 2nd only behind Jonas Vingegaard. Later, he took the biggest victory of his short career by winning Itzulia Basque Country, and then was 5th in a Tour de Romandie won by compatriot Carlos Rodriguez.
At the Criterium du Dauphiné, Ayuso was 8th overall, 1 minute and 27 seconds behind the yellow jersey. Although finishing the race with a Top 5 was more than attainable, the Spaniard is aware that he will play a crucial role in the Tour de France winning aspirations of Tadej Pogacar, who has become one of the Slovenian's super domestiques to duel against Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel.
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SteelFrame07-06-20243
Wise move
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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Juan Ayuso DNS to today’s stage after the yesterday’s crash. But there should be no problem for him to be at the startline of the Tour de France. #Dauphiné
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