"Very sad to see him go" - Tadej Pogacar addresses Juan Ayuso's UAE fallout for first time

After months of mounting speculation and behind-the-scenes tension, it’s official: Juan Ayuso will leave UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the end of the 2025 season. In what has been one of the most turbulent intra-team narratives in recent memory, the 22-year-old Spanish prodigy is set to part ways with the squad that launched his World Tour career.

And now, for the first time, world champion and undisputed UAE leader Tadej Pogacar has publicly addressed the situation. Speaking from Canada, where he is preparing to race the GP de Québec, the Slovenian Grand Tour superstar was both diplomatic and visibly affected by the news of his young teammate’s departure.

“It’s very sad to see him go, but I understand his decision,” said Pogacar during a press conference. “He wants a change in his environment. It’s hard to say much without knowing all the details. The best thing is to have inside information and talk to him personally.”

Pogacar’s words strike a measured tone, but they hint at a broader uncertainty within the UAE Team Emirates - XRG team camp — a team that has increasingly struggled to manage the egos and ambitions of its rising talents as it continues to double down on Pogacar as its undisputed GC leader.

Ayuso’s performances at this year’s Vuelta — including two impressive stage wins despite being well down in the overall classification — have so far shown flashes of his undeniable talent, but also underscored the disconnect between rider and team. For example, he drew criticism for failing to support João Almeida in a key mountain stage, prompting more questions about whether Ayuso still sees himself as a team player.

“I was pretty tired — there’s no point in pushing for the sake of it,” Ayuso responded to media questions at the time, further fanning the flames of discontent.

UAE Team Emirates, in an official statement, tried to strike a tone of closure and mutual respect: “Juan has been a valuable talent and we are grateful for what we have built together... but our sporting project is based on continuity and team harmony,” said Gianetti. “We believe this decision is the most consistent with our values. We wish Juan every success in the future.”

Pogacar, ever the professional, has rarely been drawn into off-bike drama. But his comments in Canada show that even he cannot remain entirely detached from the shifting sands within his team. “It’s difficult to comment... the best thing is to talk to him personally,” he said — suggesting perhaps that he, too, has been caught off guard by the depth of the fallout.

As Pogacar continues his late-season campaign — targeting the Québec and Montréal GPs, before heading to the World Time Trial and Road Race Championships — the Slovenian remains the centrepiece of UAE's long-term strategy.

But Ayuso's departure is a reminder that even the most dominant squads must walk a fine line between nurturing talent and maintaining order. In this case, it appears that balance has finally tipped — and the team will be watching closely to see what kind of rider, and rival, Ayuso becomes once he's wearing a different jersey.