The management of Australian sprinter Caleb Yuan, who abandoned the Tour de France on Friday, blasted criticism from Lotto Destney as "dumbfounding" and "disgusting."

Yuan retired on stage 13 of the Tour, and Lotto Destney later cited fatigue in a brief statement.

Signature Sports director Jason Bakker told Cycling News on Saturday morning that the immediate concern is not Ewan's future with Lotto-Destney, where he is under contract until the end of 2024, but rather his health, and recently appointed team CEO Stefan Heurot questioned what the 29-year-old's motives were for publicly kicking in when he was already depressed.

"It's very unpleasant to hunt someone down, even your own rider, in that way," Bakker said from Australia.

"I am stunned that he thinks it is the right thing to make those comments publicly at this time without speaking to myself and, as far as I know, to Caleb. My focus now is to make sure Caleb is safe."

The 29-year-old rider did not speak to the media in the team paddock after Friday's race, but Hui Lo was quoted by several European news organizations as questioning the character and determination of the five-time Tour stage winner who made his racing debut with the team four years ago.

"He knows what the Tour means to him physically, but mentally he wasn't in very good shape. The Tour confirmed his image from this spring and last year." The first sprint was still satisfying, but the other chances were not.

"Caleb wanted to give up yesterday [stage 12], but [teammate] Jasper [De Baist] supported him. We wanted to see him in Paris. A rider has not only rights but also obligations. We have the right to ask for another commitment."

Bakker condemned Huyraud's commentary, adding that it was dangerous and did not take into account the challenges Ewan faced in preparation for and during the 110th competition, which devastated his leadout in the first week.

"I want to make sure he's okay, mentally okay. That doesn't seem to be that important to the team, but that's what we're focused on right now. I'm not thinking about where he's going to ride or what he's going to do.

"Caleb, he's in a bad way. He abandoned the Tour and is not feeling well. At a time like this, it would be dangerous to talk lightly about his mental state and mental approach to the race. It's a dangerous and outdated path for anyone in this kind of role, in the role of general manager.

"It is an outdated and insensitive way to comment about the riders on the team. And he's been there for four years and is a dedicated rider. The last 12-18 months have not been his highest point on the team, but he has certainly done great things for the team."

Bakker recommended that Hoylott call him.

"Frankly, I'm pretty fed up. I look forward to hearing from him and discussing it with him rather than discussing it publicly with the media."

Ewan, whose wife is pregnant and soon to have their third child, was eager to return to the Tour.

According to Bakker, Ewan traveled to Australia at his own expense to compete with the national team in the Tour Down Under in January. The team also passed on the Giro d'Italia, which Ewan was supposed to compete in before the Tour.

Ewan claimed that he asked the team if he could compete in the Criterium du Dauphiné, the traditional litmus test for the Tour in June, but was denied without reason.

"The Tour is probably the only race of the year that excites me. I like the big stages because the pressure is on and it's a big event. I like that much better than riding the smaller races in Belgium, and to be honest, I don't get too excited about them."

A team official told Cycling News that riders like Ewan should be competing in big events like the Dauphiné, not small stage races like the Tour de Belgium.

Asked if there was simmering tension between the team and Ewan, Bakker replied: "When asked if there was simmering tension between the team and Ewan, Bakker said: 'I don't think so.

"As an athlete, I find it very difficult to perform if I don't feel the support and belief of the team."

Ewan, meanwhile, did not publicly criticize his team and said he was satisfied with his preparation going into the Tour.

Bakker defended his client, noting that two of Ewan's lead-out men were injured during the first four days of racing in the Tour. De Baist suffered a wrist injury in a crash on stage 2 and did not participate in Euan's leadout for the next two days, finishing third and second behind a very strong Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Desseuninck).

"I think everyone knew that in the first two sprint stages he was the one who threatened Jasper Philipsen the most," Bakker said.

"Certainly, without Jasper leading [Mathieu] van der Pol, I think he put in a great performance in the sprint. But instead of being encouraged, excited, and seizing that momentum, I don't think the team was.

"I think the pressure was on Caleb not to win.

Jacopo Guarnieri then broke his collarbone in a stage 4 crash and had to abandon the race.

On stage 13, when Ewan retired, he added one man to the breakaway group won by Lotto Destony, a tactic Bakker described as "interesting."

"He could have gone to any team. He had a lot of opportunities and chose Lott four years ago. The last year or two didn't go as planned, but it wasn't the most stable environment either," Bakker said.

"There have been three management changes in four years. Mark Serge, John Lelangue, and this guy [Hui Lo]. Not very stable. And if you look at this tour: ...... Basically, his lead-out has gone away in one fell swoop."

Bakker defended his work ethic, describing Ewan as "beloved by his teammates and the entire peloton."

"I don't think anyone would say he takes shortcuts or is inconsistent in his training. He's an incredibly dedicated guy. He's not a quitter like some have said or suggested."

"He's not a quitter like some have said or suggested. Caleb is a tough guy. He is coming back from a horrible crash. He has had two close losses in Milan-San Remo and some devastating and disappointing losses like the one that happened at the Tour a few years ago. But he has never wavered in his desire to get back to his best. He's not there yet, but he's not blaming anyone or pointing fingers.

"So we make sure he is safe, we wrap him up and show him love. And when the dust settles, it makes a mountain.