"Obviously I don't share the opinion at all" - Joxean Matxin defends UAE management against Juan Ayuso's sharp words

Juan Ayuso launched quite harsh criticism of UAE Team Emirates - XRG's management in his pre-stage 10 interview and used the word dictatorship. This obviously did not fall well and Joxean Matxin, who is handling the team at the Vuelta a Espana, was asked about it this morning.

Juan Ayuso came out to speak to the media before stage 10 last Tuesday, where he accused UAE Team Emirates XRG of exercising a "dictatorship", among other words. The Spanish rider said it had been agreed not to release the statement until after the Vuelta a España, but this request was ignored.

Joxean Fernández Matxín, head of UAE and the scout of Ayuso before the team signed him spoke out on Wednesday, during stage 11 of the Vuelta a España, about the words of the rider, still with the UAE team until the end of the year.

"I simply believe that it is an opinion, and we have to respect all of them. I have already made my statements. I maintain my respect for Juan Ayuso. I have my admiration for him as a cyclist for what he has given us, is giving us and will give us from now until the end of the Vuelta a España," Matxín began.

However, as was to be expected, Matxín himself declared that he does not agree at all with the words of Juan Ayuso, which may have even hurt him taking into consideration the context.

"Obviously I don't share the opinion at all. I will never do anything negative against cyclists, I will always defend them. But as I said, if he has that opinion, it's respectable," added the UAE Team Emirates XRG boss.

"I am neither saddened nor frustrated by his words. He is someone I have appreciated and continue to appreciate. He is undoubtedly a pure talent, but it is clear that there are times when professional circumstances separate, and the time has come."

Finally, Joxean Matxín wanted to focus more on the Vuelta a España, where he wants to finish on a high, with Juan Ayuso fighting stages and helping João Almeida when necessary.

"I wish him all the best. Right now I'm obviously focused on the professional side, and I hope that in this Vuelta he can find space on the days he has it, and on the other hand on the days he has to be with João Almeida, as he did yesterday, that he does that too," concluded UAE's Spanish boss.