Juan Ayuso's chances of making the UAE Team Emirates lineup for the 2024 Vuelta a España are over. Although the door had opened again for the Spanish rider, with the UAE team's management seriously considering whether to give him the opportunity despite having left him out in the first instance, the dream is now over.
The exclusive has been advanced by La Gazzetta dello Sport, more specifically by its well respected journalist, Ciro Scognamiglio, who was blunt with the information: "Sources confirmed us that (except changes of last hour) Juan Ayuso won't be in UAE Team Emirates' for La Vuelta 2024 (starting 17/8 from Portugal). Official selection normally is expected to be announced on Monday."
With "last minute changes", Scognamiglio's words speak of the fact that Ayuso will remain the first substitute. That is, if any of the 8 chosen riders fall out of the lineup announced by UAE, either due to injury or illness, the Spanish rider would come in. For example, Sepp Kuss had to withdraw from the Tour de France before the start after contracting Covid when he was already announced for the race.
What is confirmed is that UAE Team Emirates will bring an ambitious team to snatch overall victory from Visma - Lease a Bike. It will be Adam Yates, João Almeida and Isaac del Toro in charge of leading the UAE team's aspirations. Without a clear leader but with several cards to play throughout the three weeks of the race.
The fight will be fierce, because Team Visma | Lease a Bike will bring Wout van Aert and Cian Uijtdebroeks as main domestiques in the defense of the title of Sepp Kuss. In addition, rivals like Movistar Team with Enric Mas or Soudal - Quick-Step with Mikel Landa and Lidl-Trek with Tao Geoghegan Hart cannot be left aside.