20/08/2024

Conversations between Juan Ayuso and Movistar Team: Is it the possible bombshell of the cycling market?

As it has been known since the last Tour de France, where he abandoned by his own decision after contracting COVID, there has seemingly been some tension within UAE Team Emirates and the Spaniard was ultimately not taken to the Vuelta a España. Although unlikely, within the Vuelta bubble the word has been getting around that Movistar is in contact with the youngster.

As reported by Nacho Labarga in MARCA, for this reason there have been conversations between Movistar Team and Ayuso's own entourage regarding the open market. As demonstrated last year by trying to sign Carlos Rodriguez, the team is eager to have a Spanish star in its squad for the long-term future.

However, these talks do not seem likely to come to fruition with respect to the interests of Movistar Team, who currently have only 20 riders signed for 2025 and still need to secure more. Despite the fact that Ayuso's situation in UAE is complicated for him, Joxean Fernández Matxín made it clear in statements to CyclingUpToDate this weekend that the Spaniard "is patrimony" of the UAE team, and that "he has a contract until 2028".

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It is clear that right now there is nothing that can make UAE Team Emirates get rid of a rider of Juan Ayuso's talent in this very cycling market, although there are no impossibilities in a world as changing as the one of cycling at World Tour level. Cian Uijtdebroeks' sudden departure from BORA last year and signing for Visma makes it clear that you can't rule anything out.

This interest of Movistar Team could even be considered "desperate" to try to make an addition to compensate for the drama that is coming to the team with the departures of Alex Aranburu and Oier Lazkano at the end of 2024, another difficult situation for the team that also lost Matteo Jorgenson last year and was unable to have a big signing.

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The situation is not even similar to that of Carlos Rodríguez last year. The rider from Almuñécar was practically a done deal with Movistar Team, and was to become their star signing. But a dramatic last-minute twist (due to his great Tour de France) saw INEOS Grenadiers go all-out to renew him, and the team lost a golden opportunity that it is now trying to emulate with its desire to start negotiations for Juan Ayuso.