"Hard to say if he’s done the right thing or not" – Tim Wellens assesses Ayuso's UAE exit, friendship with Pogacar and ponders future plans

Tim Wellens has wrapped up a standout 2025 season with UAE Team Emirates - XRG, a year that saw him play a pivotal role in Tadej Pogacar’s Tour de France victory while also celebrating a milestone of his own. His stage win at the Tour not only capped a brilliant campaign but also secured his place in the elite club of riders who have won stages in all three Grand Tours.

Speaking to AS, the Belgian opened up on UAE’s dominant year, his evolving role within the team, his bond with Pogacar and, inevitably, the shock departure of Juan Ayuso.

Wellens didn’t hold back when asked about UAE’s rise to the top of the sport. “It’s impressive. I remember HTC, in 2009, when they won so many races and everyone said they were the best team in the world. Now that’s us. The 2024 season was a good one, and I thought it would be difficult to improve, but we managed it. I don’t know what 2026 will be like, but the bar is high.”

His own transition into a dedicated support role has been smooth — and, in his view, liberating. “For me it’s ten times easier to work for someone, because you don’t have pressure. If you do well or super well, people won’t see the difference. And doing it in the best team in the world is a luxury.”

Wellens confirmed that he signed his contract extension long before it was publicly announced. “Yes. I signed a while ago, even though it was announced later. This isn’t because I won at the Tour, it’s because I really want to be here.”

But he’s also conscious of the generational shift reshaping the peloton. “I don’t know. I hope to stay with UAE after this contract, but I’m aware of the young talents coming through. What matters to me is that I really enjoy what I do: training, going to altitude camps… I don’t know when I’ll stop. Now there are riders who win races at 18 or 19. Everything is changing.”

Looking ahead to 2026, his ambitions remain familiar. “Similar to this year. To ride a Grand Tour — I still don’t know which one — but to be there. We obviously have a very strong team, but what I’d really like is to go back to the Tour. And then the Flemish Classics. Hopefully I can win some of them.”

Few inside UAE expected Juan Ayuso to force his way out of the team, and Wellens didn’t hide his surprise. “It’s strange that now, in professional cycling, contracts can be broken. For me it’s a bit new to see all this, but I’m sure Juan is doing it because he believes it’s a good choice.”

Pressed on whether he thought Ayuso had made the right decision, Wellens refused to take a stance. “It’s hard for me to say whether he’s done the right thing or not, but one thing is certain: Juan is a rider with a lot of confidence and he’ll keep winning races. I don’t know if it’s a good change, but he’ll definitely win races.”

Wellens was also keen to highlight the connection within the squad — particularly with its biggest star. “Yes, a good friend — but not just Tadej. It’s nice to see the enthusiasm with which each of us goes to races, and the overall impression is of a happy team.”

As he heads into 2026, Wellens may no longer be the out-and-out leader he once was, but he’s thriving in a role that suits him — and in a team where, contract departures or not, the mood remains buoyant.