The victory of Jumbo-Visma in the Vuelta a España 2023 is almost certain. The only question is who will be wearing the red jersey in Madrid. But the way the three main riders of the team behaved on the Angliru is causing a lot of discussion, even in international media.
American podcast “THE MOVE”
Johan Bruyneel is known for not mincing words in his criticisms, and he was harsh on the Dutch team. “It was a [expletive] show from Jumbo-Visma. It was chaos. There’s no captain clearly saying how this should be done. There should be strong team instructions today. Not from the car because the people there don’t have authority. If they really want Kuss to win, it’s not complicated. Just wait for him,” Bruyneel reacted to what happened on Angliru.
Spanish newspaper MARCA
The Spanish sports newspaper Marca also expressed astonishment at the team’s behavior. “At Angliru, the team once again showed how supreme it is, but there is controversy about the team’s tactics. Roglic and Vingegaard attacked their teammate in the 17th stage, leaving Kuss with only eight bonus seconds. It was a questionable move, to say the least.”
The newspaper continues to express its surprise. “The American has always been a key rider for Roglic and Vingegaard in recent years, contributing to their impressive lists of achievements. His rear wheel has saved them on bad days and propelled them on good ones. However, it was Mikel Landa, an opponent, who had to help the American maintain his leadership position.”
American network NBC Sports
The Vuelta a España is getting significant visibility in the United States, and one of the leading American sports networks, NBC Sports, also shared its perspective on what happened. “The Vuelta is now a race between three riders from the same team competing for the overall victory,” the broadcaster says. “Sepp Kuss is still the leader, but with Roglic and Vingegaard, who have won the last two stages, it’s clear that they have individual ambitions rather than prioritizing support for Kuss in his first Grand Tour.”