Vuelta a España director Javier Guigen has asked UAE Team Emirates to include Juan Ayuso in the lineup for the race, which opens in Lisbon on August 17.

Ayuso was not initially scheduled to compete in this year's Vuelta and has not raced since he abandoned during stage 13 of the Tour de France after testing positive for COVID-19. Later, UAE Team Emirates manager Mauro Gianetti reiterated that Ayuso will not be included in the Vuelta lineup led by Adam Yates and Joao Almeida.

"As of today, we have no confirmation of Ayuso. The players are finishing their preparation and I don't think it would be easy to remove a player from the team and bring in another."

"Nevertheless, as the Spanish race, I ask the team to bring Ayuso. But I ask with love, I ask with sincerity, and with an understanding of the situation. Indeed, the athletes, the race, and the country need Ayuso."

When he finished third in the 2022 Vuelta, Ayuso was five days shy of his 20th birthday. In his return last year, he finished fourth overall, and earlier this season he won in Iturria-Basque.

However, Ayuso's fall in his Tour debut, as well as tensions with Almeida in Galibier, has led to speculation that he may leave the UAE this winter, despite a contract that runs through 2028. Ayuso will represent Spain in the Olympic road race in Paris on Saturday.

Ayuso's teammate Tadei Pogachal, who has already won the Giro and Tour, has made it clear that he will not be aiming for the historic triple Grand Tour crown at the Vuelta, while Jonas Binegaard (Visma-Lease-a-Bike) and 2022 winner Remco Evenpoel (Sudar Quick Step) also announced that they would miss the Spanish race.

Defending champion Sepp Kuss (Visma-Ries-a-Bike), who was forced to miss the Tour by COVID-19, is expected to compete in the Vuelta.

"We have confidence in Roglic. We're counting on him, but it's clear he won't come unless he's fit enough to race." We know Bora will lead the team to support him, the UAE will be serious about winning and Adam Yates will be one of the contenders."

Guillen also suggested that Richard Kalapas (EF Education-Easy Post) will be in the Vuelta, and expressed hope that Ineos will use both Carlos Rodriguez and Eoghan Bernal.

"I am optimistic based on the way Rodriguez finished the Tour and what he said afterwards.

"I've heard that (Wout) Van Aert might be coming because he was originally going to run the Giro and the Vuelta. But we don't know because we don't have Bisma listed yet. I think Bernal will be there, but I haven't heard from him either. I think we will have more certainty next week than we have now."

Guillén admitted that Pogachar's decision not to compete in this year's Vuelta will not be swayed, but the Slovenian strongly hinted during the Tour that he may return to the race in 2025. Pogachar finished third overall in the 2019 Vuelta, his Grand Tour debut.

"I believe that one day he will come and run," Guillén said. Said Guillén: "There are obviously very few clubs that are winners of all three Grand Tours, and he's going to want to win one day."