"I want to address, once and for all, what happened last September" - Juan Ayuso buries the hatchet with UAE
Cycling
Juan Ayuso left UAE Team Emirates - XRG on very bad terms, especially during the Vuelta a Espana, where there was an ugly exchange of statements.
Now, at the presentation with his new team, Lidl-Trek, he has wanted to apologize to his former squad and especially to Mauro Gianetti. CyclingUpToDate were present and these were his words before giving his regular press conference announcing that he would be going to the 2026 Tour de France:
"I have a prepared statement I would like to read. First of all, I want to take this opportunity at the press conference to thank the entire team and structure of UAE Team Emirates. My time as part of the team has shaped me, and it will always remain an essential part of my sporting career.
During these formative years, I learned professionalism, discipline and vision. The people within the team contributed greatly to my development and helped me become the rider I am today. I also want to address, once and for all, what happened last September. In that moment, I said something that did not reflect my true feelings. I was under pressure and nervous, and I consider the matter fully closed.
I want to end this chapter on good terms with everyone at the team. Thank you all for the support I received during my time there. I can only wish them the very best for the future.
I will not be answering any more questions about my time at UAE Team Emirates. Thank you."
The words that sparked discord
UAE made public during the Vuelta that Ayuso was going to leave the team, and this did not sit well with the Valencian, who went so far as to label Matxin and Gianetti’s squad a 'dictatorship':
"I think my relationship with my teammates, including Almeida no matter what people say, is good, and he deserves all the support I can give him. Also, all the work of the other six members besides Almeida deserves that I contribute what I can, and that’s what I’ll try to do. I would have liked to finish well with the team; that’s what we tried with the negotiation before the Vuelta, to leave on good terms, but it seems that sometimes you can’t, when it’s more like a dictatorship and a unilateral exercise of power over you."
Now, at last, it seems this chapter is closed.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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