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Juan Ayuso had little energy and couldn't contribute significantly to the team during the Vuelta a España's Valdezcaray summit finish, as he lost 21 minutes.

Struggling Spaniard may not assist João Almeida in mountainous stages, speculation suggests potential departure from UAE Team Emirates-XRG by 2026.

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2025 September 12 . 1:26 AM

1 min read

Juan Ayuso struggled with fatigue and was unable to contribute significantly during the Valdezcaray... — Juan Ayuso struggled with fatigue and was unable to contribute significantly during the Valdezcaray summit finish of the Vuelta a Espana, losing 21 minutes.

Juan Ayuso had little energy and couldn't contribute significantly to the team during the Vuelta a España's Valdezcaray summit finish, as he lost 21 minutes.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG Suffers Setback in Vuelta a Espana

In the ninth stage of the Vuelta a Espana, Juan Ayuso, co-leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, experienced a significant setback, losing over 21 minutes. This unfortunate performance follows a series of challenges in Ayuso's Grand Tour season.

Ayuso, who started the Vuelta a Espana as a co-leader, has not been able to maintain the pace, and it seems he is not in the fight for the overall win. Speaking after the stage, Ayuso told Marca that pushing for five more minutes makes no sense.

Meanwhile, UAE Team Emirates-XRG's main GC hope, João Almeida, has been holding strong. Although Almeida shed 24 seconds to Jonas Vingegaard in the same stage, he now lies third overall. Vingegaard, the main race favourite, is second, 38 seconds ahead of Almeida.

Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious) currently leads the race, with Almeida 1:15 behind.

Rumours about Ayuso's future with UAE Team Emirates-XRG have been circulating. It is speculated that Ayuso may switch to Lidl-Trek in 2026, a move that has been suggested by Italian publications La Gazzetta dello Sport and AS. However, his next team has not yet been confirmed.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG has still managed to take three stage victories in the Vuelta a Espana, with both Ayuso and Almeida contributing to two victories each. Jay Vine has also been instrumental in securing two wins for the team.

As the race progresses, all eyes will be on Almeida as he fights for a final podium spot in the Vuelta a Espana. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for uninterrupted coverage of the Vuelta a Espana.