Can Juan Ayuso still race Vuelta a Espana? 'Decision will be taken in next days'

One of the soap operas of the post-Tour de France summer is undoubtedly the controversy generated between Juan Ayuso, UAE Team Emirates and the Vuelta a España. When it seemed that the rider was already out of the lineup and was going to be the first substitute in the lineup of the Emirati team, it is reported that the door is still very much open and that this will only be decided in upcoming days.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist, Ciro Scognamiglio, the door for Ayuso to race the last Grand Tour of the season is still open. He has previously been termed the first reserve for the team in the race that starts within 11 days in Lisbon, Portugal, but Ayuso could still race his third consecutive Vuelta.

Although UAE has reiterated the decision that the Spaniard will be the first substitute in the lineup (which will not race unless there is an injury or illness of any of the 8 chosen), by Joxean Fernandez Matxin, this information revealed by La Gazzetta dello Sport catches some off guard. At the Tour de France, both Adam Yates and João Almeida were evidently unsatisfied with their teammate on the Col du Galibier as he looked to protect his own GC ambitions. The duo is set to lead UAE at the Vuelta and it is unsure how this could go if they now become a trio.

Will there continue to be tension between Juan Ayuso and UAE?

Has the decision been reconsidered, has the tension generated between Ayuso and UAE disappeared, and has the pressure from La Vuelta director Javier Guillén worked? What is clear is that there is still a chance that the 21-year-old rider could compete in the Spanish event.

Euskaltel - Euskadi is the only team that has so far announced their lineup for the Vuelta but more are expected in the upcoming week. Likely the most anticipated will be exactly UAE. Ayuso abandoned the Tour de France due to a Covid-19 infection that saw him in very bad shape, and team DS Mauro Gianetti had said at the time he would not race the Vuelta. However, a good recovery and performance at the Olympic Games brought a good argument for the Spaniard to make a comeback.