Juan Ayuso waves goodbye to UAE after dramatic Vuelta campaign: "We did everything in our power to help Joao Almeida"

Juan Ayuso’s 2025 Vuelta a España was the ultimate sub story of the grand tour, due to his fallout with UAE Team Emirates - XRG. The Spanish rider began the race sharing leadership with João Almeida, filling the gap left by Tadej Pogacar, who opted to save his strength for the end of the season. Over the three weeks, Ayuso picked up two stage victories, faced criticism for not offering enough support to his Portuguese teammate, and saw his upcoming departure from the Emirati squad become official. By the time the race reached its climax on the Bola del Mundo in stage 20, Ayuso reflected on the journey and the effort behind Almeida’s overall podium finish.

"I think as a team we did everything in our power to be able to put Joao in a position to cut the 45-second gap he was missing and in sport sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't," Ayuso explained after the penultimate stage. For him, the collective effort had been beyond question. "I think as a team all my teammates and I have done a very good job, everything in our power to put Joao in that position to try to finish him off. In the end he couldn't finish him off, but we have to be happy."

The tactical plan was clear from the outset: make Jonas Vingegaard uncomfortable and create opportunities for Almeida. Ayuso described the approach in detail, knowing the challenge they faced against the Danish champion. "The idea was to try to make the race as hard as possible, to have the breakaway controlled also to be able to have the bonuses and that if Joao could win the stage he would get seconds and then in this stage, although it is very hard, to be able to release a rider like Vingegaard you had to wait for the right turn in the last 3 and a half kilometers."

That strategy demanded relentless pressure throughout the day, and Ayuso believed they succeeded in draining the peloton. "For that we had to try to make the race as hard as possible all day and that's what we tried to do. I think we succeeded, people were very tired, the group was very small and there was a lot of headwind when I was pulling at least."

When the dust settled, Almeida secured second place overall, the best Grand Tour finish of his career. Ayuso was quick to praise his teammate, acknowledging both the sporting achievement and their partnership through a turbulent race. "I think Joao has to be proud of the Vuelta he has done."

Their relationship had been scrutinized throughout the event, with speculation about internal friction in the team. Almeida himself admitted there had been highs and lows, but stressed that their common goal remained intact. In the end, the outcome followed the script many expected: Vingegaard in red, Almeida runner-up, and Ayuso leaving his mark both on and off the bike.