"Solidarity is not up for discussion" - Movistar boss warns Juan Ayuso after controversial statements

There is no doubt that the topic of the moment in cycling is the departure of Juan Ayuso from UAE Team Emirates - XRG. Under normal conditions, it would not give for more debate than the departure of Remco Evenepoel from Soudal - Quick-Step, for example. But all the controversy generated in recent months, with the Spaniard's inflammatory statements before the stage 10 of the Vuelta a Espana as icing on the cake, have generated opinions from different figures in the sport. One of these cases has been that of Eusebio Unzué, Movistar's boss.

The director of Movistar Team has not hesitated to comment on everything that has happened around Juan Ayuso in recent days. The most serious has been the rider's words, directly attacking UAE Team Emirates - XRG for the dissatisfaction provoked in his person after the official announcement of his departure.

"I obviously know why they have done it, to try to damage my image again, as in the communiqué, with which I do not agree. They talk about values and union and these are things that I also agree with (...). I would have liked to end well with the team, but it seems that there are times when you can't, when it is more like a dictatorship and a unilateral thing of power over you," said Ayuso.

For Unzué, Juan Ayuso should face these problems in a different way, not riding on his own without helping Joao Almeida in the Vuelta a España (although he did do it in stage 10, for the first time). He is still a team rider, and solidarity should be the flag.

"He has made great displays like the one the other day (Vuelta a España stage 7 win). Only the greats can achieve triumphs like that. That's a reality. But this is a sport that is raced as a team, even if you win individually," Eusebio Unzué began by pointing out.

"We must demand from a rider, and he must be very clear, that the principles of solidarity are 100% essential, whether it's your turn or another rider's turn another day," added the Movistar team leader.

However, he also did not want to delve any further into a subject that is already hot enough. For that reason, Unzué decided to conclude his words by returning to praise the figure of Juan Ayuso:

"I'm not going to make value judgments, but what is clear is that Juan Ayuso is a great rider and is leaving details of how he achieves things. Then there are other things that, maybe there are many people who do not like," said the head of Movistar Team on the situation of Ayuso, his level and his departure from UAE.