Jumbo-Visma sporting director Merijn Zeeman says 'there was no more teamwork' on Angliru climb at Vuelta a Espana
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Published 27/10/2023 at 10:41 GMT
Jumbo-Visma team director Merijn Zeeman has addressed the confusion and controversy that was caused when Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard distanced Sepp Kuss on Stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana. Kuss was top of the general classification but saw his advantage cut by his two team-mates, which led to talk of tension in the ranks before the American eventually went on to win the Grand Tour.
Stage 17 highlights: Jumbo-Visma drama as Roglic wins after dropping Kuss
Jumbo-Visma sporting director Merijn Zeeman has admitted to a lack of "teamwork" on the Alto de L’Angliru stage of the Vuelta a Espana, as Sepp Kuss found himself cut off from Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard on the brutal climb.
On a day that triggered fallout and intrigue from riders and cycling fans alike, Kuss lost time to his team-mates on Stage 17 as Roglic and Vingegaard crossed the line first and second respectively.
Kuss outsprinted Mikel Landa of Bahrain Victorious to snatch third and limit his losses, but the result meant his lead over Vingegaard in the general classification dropped to just eight seconds, while it also led to talk of intra-team tension between the three riders.
And Zeeman now says it was wrong of Roglic and Vingegaard to “start attacking” their team-mate and race leader.
“Everything went the way we wanted again. There were three of us left and that was actually the moment when things didn't go well,” Zeeman said on the Met open vizier podcast, in quotes carried by WielerFlits.
“Sepp couldn't keep up with Primoz and Jonas at one point. Then there was no more teamwork.
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'They're not waiting!' - Kuss dropped by Jumbo-Visma team-mates
“Everything that happened up to that point had been teamwork but on the Angliru they should have stayed together.
“Attacking to make other riders have to work is something different to when you start attacking each other.
“I should add right away that when you ride uphill on gradients of up to 20% you race with a heart rate of 200, so you can't expect those guys to think clearly.”
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Roglic says 'the road will tell who is the best' after dropping Kuss to win Stage 17
Kuss would go on to clinch his first Grand Tour victory but only after an agreement was made to back the American at a team meeting following the controversy of the finish of the Angliru stage.
Roglic, who will race for Bora-hansgrohe next year, was against the decision initially but eventually fell in line with his team-mates and backed Kuss for the title.
“The way we built the whole team is that you ask people from the bottom up – how do you look at it?” Zeeman added. “Give your opinion and talk to each other instead of about each other.
“We started this in 2016 or 2017 and a strong foundation has rolled out from there, a culture. That's essentially what our team has been built on.
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“Cycling for us is a team sport not an individual one. That evening I put all the men together around one table. I spoke to Jonas, Sepp, and Primoz beforehand and heard their views.
“But then I got eight grown men together and said: 'Guys, this is what happened today. I have my thoughts on this, but I think it's much more important what you think’.
“What do we stand for now? Who are we actually? Seven riders agreed that [Kuss winning] must be the final result.
“Primoz had a more difficult time with this, but he agreed to it. That was also because his team-mates indicated it so forcefully. In the end he said: 'Sepp has to win and you can count on me’.”
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