We Race The BEST Riders On The Planet…Here’s What Happened

Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss. Grand Tour winners and two of the biggest names in professional cycling. They are amongst the fittest men on the planet, with legs and minds of steel. No one can beat them. Or can they? We have the perfect athlete to challenge the Visma Lease-A-Bike's lead riders. Dan Lloyd. Can the pull-up king push Kuss and Vingegaard out of Zone 2?
In association with @Zwift 👉 gcn.eu/zwift2024
00:00 Intro
02:03 Race route
02:29 Race start
05:44 5 minutes into the race
06:50 Effort level gauge
07:09 Tidepool sprint
12:25 13km into the race
12:52 2km sprint lead out
14:15 Race finish
15:48 Dan's final thoughts
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Let us know in the comments below 💬
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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency
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[@gcn]

Who do you want to see Dan race next? 🚲

[@Flexy1234]

Pogacar or Mohoric they are very fun to listen and watch 😉

[@markpeterson8978]

I would love to see Dan take on Mark Cavendish! Cheers Mate - M

[@kubagornowicz]

Anyone as long as it wont be on turbos.

[@rnedisc]

WvA and MvdP on an actual cyclocross course. But they have to stay behind Dan and whoever has to step off their bikes the fewest amount of times wins!

[@kennyvdh]

kudos to dan, next time with Ollie!!

[@bobbyellis5006]

Props to Dan for getting Jonas to relax a bit. We don't often see him this loose on camera. Both he and Sepp seem like legitimately nice guys.

[@gcn]

Thanks Bobby! He may not have the legs but Dan knows how to get them to open up 🙌

[@jamesf8864]

​@@gcnDan knows how to open up the legs?? I must have missed that part 😂🤪

[@stineagerbk9234]

To be fair he's super chill in most Danish non-mix zone interviews too.

[@ghowell13]

@gcn : Dan, I truly hope you had equally as much fun as you were shattered at the end of that. I'm now 50, and got back into cycling overall 6 years ago, and road cycling about 4. About 8 years ago, I had to give up playing ice hockey due to health concerns (I also had to change careers). I then packed on a lot of weight. As someone who worked in and around pro hockey (minor and major) when I would occasionally play against the pro athletes in scrimmages after quite some time away from it, I know exactly what it's like to be at the top of your abilities now, and have someone not that much younger than you seem to exert little effort for the same return. It's even worse when you're coming back to it after a several year hiatus. It's fun, as long as you don't think about it. If you do, it's disheartening, to say the least. Thank you for one of the most fun uploads to watch in quite some time. And I do hope we're ALL around on 20 years to see the rematch!!!

[@EstebanGamboaDev]

This is the comment, genuine people and great vibes from both. I love these cycling stars, they feel like any other guy in the peloton.

[@stijndoppen1413]

It´s logical that you would have smashed them 15 years ago, they were 11 and 14 in 2009

[@brunorodas79]

I think they win 15 years ago

[@fastfreddy9341]

I also thought about that

[@gcn]

They would still win... 👀

[@tommycheng3423]

LOL! Best comment.

[@cyclistshub]

Dan's level of self-irony is legendary at this point. 🤣Good job!

[@ianross5019]

What a great video. It’s easy to think of the pros like robots with no emotion. But this showed them both in a great light.

[@user-kb7ij6ye8u]

Very English

[@JoelsTastyRide]

Totally!!! I am laughing so many times, this video is amazing!!

[@gcn]

Self-irony... no idea what you're talking out, we sent our best rider 😂

[@annegkst8266]

Jonas looking regularly at Dan with worry in his eyes (will he have a heart attack ??) 😂

[@gcn]

Or is he worried that Dan is bluffing and is about to put in a huge attack 👀

[@thomasaktor6867]

Jonas accidentally dropping people is so true to his character 😂.

[@gcn]

He just can't help himself 😂

[@jorgechang7595]

@@gcn especially when Jonas said he'd do the lead out.. then looked back and thought "I've got a gap" and proceeded to leave Kuss behind and take the win. I think it's happened before. :D

[@__magnusss__]

@@jorgechang7595when?

[@rasmusmuller4549]

​@@jorgechang7595are you really gonna continue to cry over that, the rest of your life 😅

[@zladam9445]

literally happened in the Criterium last year after the Carapaz attack

[@frodebechnielsen150]

Kudos, it is not everyday you Can get Jonas to be in a KZbin video

[@a1white]

Yes! GCN’s best and undoubtedly most professional presenter back on the bike, that’s what we’re all here for. Go Lloydy! 😅

[@gcn]

Hopefully, he had a nice mineral water to rehydrate after this epic battle!

[@daniellloyd100]

I'm doing dry January, so it was an actual mineral water!

[@urbanjungle9600]

Dan is such a class act. Humble, funny and a great presenter

[@budbud2509]

@@daniellloyd100 I'm ready to see another series of Dan Lloyd vids of getting fitter especially now u are well into Vet's territory Come on Dan we know u want to.... I wonder what the average age of a GCN viewer is ?

[@JohnButler-iq8rl]

​@@urbanjungle9600and I wish I had his palmares 😊.

[@kain12343]

This is the type of thing Jonas needs more of. Already a huge fan, but he seems like such a likable guy here.

[@stevedouglas3975]

Love it. Fair play to Dan for being such a good sport and kudos to Jonas and Sepp.

[@gcn]

It was amazing to get to know the riders a little better 🙌

[@samhamfast]

Jonas and Sepp are amazing sports and seem to be genuinely great people. And it’s always great to see Dan on a bike; I hope to see more of him in 2024.

[@gcn]

Keep your eyes peeled for more of Dan soon 👀

[@AndrewTabbel]

Yes, my thoughts exactly!

[@padmanabhaprasannasimha5385]

Zone 1 efforts for these guys is like my threshold.

[@gcn]

It's crazy isn't it! The pace of these two 🤯

[@marvmininger1835]

Sepp and Jonas are such class acts, and so is Dan!

[@streamingpandora]

That was excellent. I had expected Dan to be going up against a virtual version of Sepp and Jonas, not them in actual person. We would definitely like to see more of Dan on the bike, it's so rare these days, so I'd say it was pretty well-timed. Great content.

[@gcn]

We go the real deal 🙌 Was a great opportunity and thanks to Sep and Jonas for not going to har on Dan 😂

[@niceracleous9999]

I am 58 now, and am way better than I was at 43. There’s hope for you yet Dan 💪🏼

[@yokaidigital3033]

I am same age as Dan and I never competed professionally but seeing him do this encouraged me to push myself and perhaps I will do an event sometime this year.

[@gcn]

We'll see what we can convince Dan to do ... 👀

[@JonCannings]

Lloydy has got those Chris Frome elbows going on! 08:39

[@jonm8423]

Not sure about the knees though..🤔

[@Ron-ei5eh]

looking at his stem too

[@JonCannings]

@@Ron-ei5eh he told me he was seeing stars, not his stem 😂 Onwards and upwards!

[@MrAljo9]

"Oh i dropped everybody", can totally imagine Jonas saying that to the team radio lol

[@dannyjensen2123]

Jonas is a pretty land back guy. Media portraits him as a machine. This is. Media problem, not a Jonas problem. Nice ride.

[@kvloover]

another 'how fit can dan get' series would be awesome :)

[@peterthomas8053]

It was great to see two of the top, current, professional cyclists engaging in a 'tongue in cheek' race, Top kudos to them, and to the team for allowing it to happen.

[@gcn]

It was a pleasure to get to hang out with these two legends! Now they have beaten Dan, they are well prepped for the 2024 season 🙌

[@matt_acton-varian]

It was great to see Dan back on a bike for once, and whilst the lack of riding hasn't been the kindest to him, to have a higher max heart rate for your age is still impressive. Your performance ceiling is still pretty high Dan, well done.

[@stevesteve-ei8zu]

I suspect that max heart rate has as much to do with genetics as it does with fitness. My max hr, on my last ride (a couple of days ago) was 173, and I am 65.

[@streamingpandora]

@@stevesteve-ei8zu Mine is 192 at age 51. I take those things with a shovel full of salt.

[@gcn]

Bit of training and we'll have him back racing 🙌

[@mamaymay8259]

That was fun! Quite enjoyed Jonas in this video. Hope to see more stuff like this, both with these guys and maybe other riders.

[@BreakawayB]

That was one of the *best* GCN intros 😂 and the friendly banter was great!

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@hicky62]

Brilliant, one of the best videos in years. Well done Dan for doing it and Jonas and Sepp for joining in the fun.

[@gcn]

We loved having Jonas and Sepp on the ride 🙌Should we try and set up some more challenges with these two?

[@graaspurvstrand5988]

Yes!

[@thomassciaroni6942]

Thats the most we all are going to see of those two, really special. Cycling stars who are very generous and no rockstar pretense. It was a MUST to go all in, Dan, top shelf!!

[@MechaNick767]

Great job by Dan. That must have been a fun race. I totally understand why he volunteered. Having Jonas and Sepp, two awesome cyclists, being kind and participate after training must have been something else. :)

[@gcn]

He's pulled a blinder on us here 👀 Work trip to ride with Jonas!

[@MechaNick767]

@@gcn Enough to drive you green with envy isn’t it? 😆

[@AlexRochette]

Finished 3rd behind Kuss & Vingegaard: well done, Lloyd! 🎉

[@emiljarengrim2536]

Fantastic work by the editor to edit out all of the Cervelo test team stories I'm certain Dan told during this ride!

[@budbud2509]

😂😂🤣🤣

[@gcn]

Hahahaha should we release the directors cut? 🎬

[@nmcelroy3540]

@GCN YES PLEASE!!!!!!

[@FlyingGravelMan]

Great suprise that you actually got Jonas and Sepp there! Good to have Dan back on the bike🚲

[@les2u2]

Jonas and Sepp look so relaxed. I love it! Looking good boys. Can't wait for you guys to start your racing season.

[@kevin._.farren]

I think Dan should do a 12-month fitness challenge to see how fit he can get on the bike and race them again next year.

[@gcn]

Oooo we like the sound of this 👀 Sep and Jonas are shaking in their boots 😬

[@kevin._.farren]

@@gcnit can be Dan’s swan song for cycling.

[@kurre_kallkvist]

Just do a 12-month fitness challenge every year for the next 15 years and Dan will be ready for the sequel!

[@markpeterson8978]

Well good Dan! Cheers Sir. You did quite well but this episode was a winner. I love the concept of you blokes riding with pro fellas on trainers. This gives you the ability to talk with them as they are crushing you. I Love it! More Please. - M

[@chipperollie]

Cracking job Dan and team. Really enjoyed this style of interview. Getting them talking between themselves and sharing tid-bits of pro tour life. Nice one, thanks.

[@gcn]

We loved hanging out with these legends for a while 🙌Would you like to see them back on the channel soon?

[@adamcurpier]

Loved this! Great to see Jonas and Sepp relaxed + Great job Dan!

[@robinsonpp010]

Good job Dan. Really enjoyed the video. Thanks GCN for the episode

[@julianvalencia6315]

What an awesome video! Loved all of it!

[@d.reid.triathlon]

World Class riders and humans, World Class Presenter and a World Class video. This was such a well put together video. Great job Dan and GCN team!

[@gcn]

Thanks! We loved getting the opportunity to shoot this one, great to hear that you love it as much as we do 🙌

[@mantelles]

Awesome vid, loved it!!! And definitely need to see more of Dan on GCN this year, he totally rocks.

[@SIvers-or2ke]

Absolutely loved that. Cheers, Dan for giving us all some perspective. I think you’re a champion mate. 👍

[@hartstrengthendurance9643]

This is fantastic! Thanks for this!

[@kameibe-iy8ib]

This made my day in so many ways! Pure fun to watch, great humor and positivity.

[@XxxxTxTxxxX]

Thanks for the great vid!

[@jrh1704]

Cool vid, I'm glad these guys came out for a quick ride with GCN. Both genuinely seem like really cool guys

[@fourlakes]

Love these videos that are both entertaining, educational (they truly are athletic freaks) and show that these elite athletes are also just people too…

[@joerossa1112]

What Amazing Guests. 2 grand tour winners. Sepp is a very entertaining guest. I’m really ext to see these two throw down this Season. I hope Sepp gets another grand tour win. He deserves it.

[@melbexdeleon8951]

I love how Sepp instinctively did a bike throw at the finish lol

[@tmelendezmia]

THANK YOU @GCN and @ZWIFT for this‼️‼️ LOVED it!! Now when I go up that Temple KOM, I won't feel bad!!😊

[@romeandcurry6915]

Great video - shows how insanely fit these pros are.

[@markholder4054]

Fantastic! For a Visma fan this was great fun. Thank you.

[@jimgraves665]

Jonas is admirable!

[@billmontgomerie9526]

i loved this one . i always enjoy Dan segments . great piece thanks

[@michaelstoops9922]

One of the best cycling videos I've ever seen, frankly! Dan is a hero for getting out there with arguably two of the greatest cyclists currently racing professionally. I'm 64 years old and that 220 minus my age is pretty close for my max HR, just as it was back in my early 30's when I was racing on an amateur level here in Southern California. Back then we didn't have power meters, Zwift/Rouvy/et al (or even the Internet for that matter to see this sort of thing, obviously) but knowing how some of the climbs in our local mountains compare to those in the Grand Tours, and knowing the times the pros were doing on those climbs, we just couldn't wrap our heads around how they could possibly do that. I was a pretty decent climber back then, relatively speaking of course. Watching Dan at a 10 while Jonas and Sepp were at a "high 2" just confirms how incredibly strong and talented the best pros are. Truly amazing.

[@KimiTheCat09]

Way to go, Lloydie, for holding your own in a race that most cycling fans can only dream of riding! 🎉 Jonas and Sepp chatting along throughout the whole ride gave me the tickles. I'll be watching this on repeat all week, thanks! 😁

[@gcn]

Enjoy it! Like Dan... this video only gets better with age 😂

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Pleasure to see Dan back on a bike. I hope this doesn‘t remain the last video this year. „…cardiac drift“ -„what is that?“ is a dialogue line to print out and hang it over my indoor trainer 😂

[@Back2Basics1871]

Thanks for the refreshing video Dan. Something different and welcome. As someone who often struggles comparing themselves to others, seeing an ex-pro go through the same is certainly helpful. Keep it up Dan

[@waywardchildcyclist]

Great to see the two boys getting involved. Well done Dan great video.

[@6SpeedsGood]

This was great on so many levels. Dan, a guy who would smash 99.99% of your group ride buddies, getting humored by 2 of the best in the world at a 2/10. I’m 48 and a fraction of what I was 15 years ago, and still a fraction of Dan today, but it is fascinating to see the various levels. But the satisfaction is being the best self you can be, not in the final speed. And to see Jonas and Sepp humanized in this environment, it helps me appreciate them more as people and not just machines on my TV. They just picked better parents is all 😀. Great video GCN!

[@alvargs]

Did you see his power and HR numbers in the video? I don’t think he’s ridden a bike in many months…He’s not smashing anyone

[@6SpeedsGood]

He’s finished 3 grand tours and has been off the bike for some time apparently, I don’t know that backstory. With a few months under his belt, he’d lay waste to a club ride.

[@user-nt8dy4xw9r]

This is surreal. Nice job GCN!!

[@evancoleman1164]

I loved that video, I find comfort in Dan’s summary because I too need that incentive to get into better fitness.

[@lorikendrick1705]

Great fun with SEPP and JONAS.... and great sports all of you. 🌟 🌟 🌟

[@RedleafUs]

Three class act gentlemen right there. Nicely done!

[@mopedvieh]

Very nice to see Dan back on the bike. Hopefully, we will get some more videos in which he is actually riding. Maybe some sort series like "back to above average fitness - a guide for eldery cyclists" 😊

[@gcn]

Don't you worry! We'll be pushing Dan to ride more for sure 🙌

[@LennartvonEssen]

Jonas 😍

[@stephaniedannenberg901]

I normally am a GTN follower, but this video was amazing. Great content. More!!

[@ryuujinusa]

Well done! Very cool video.

[@hernanhernandez3861]

This is great. Thank you!

[@2901609]

Really enjoyable to watch. Well done Dan great effort!

[@Chris-13]

Great video Dan 👍👍

[@christiandethurah]

Love it! :) good work

[@DavidMackenzie]

Loved this video, and what great sports Sepp and Jonas were. And great intro Dan - really made us laugh 😂

[@rosie7152]

Loved this!

[@CazzaJen]

Loved this and how great of Visma riders to get involved. 😊

[@fastfreddy9341]

This was fun to watch...three great athletes

[@Tex735]

Now THAT was a GREAT video!!!

[@SamGrayPlus]

Love this approach to the video, sep and jonas loose and chilled and production, hosting etc. all on point.

[@JonCannings]

Sep & Jonas chilled, Dan roasting! 😉

[@matskelton9589]

Fab! What great sports and once again highlights the vast divide between the fitness of pro (and ex-pro) riders and us amateur riders 😢

[@budbud2509]

Did u see that GCN vid with Richie Porte going up that hill in Aus ? That was good as well , as he had been retired for a short time

[@alexisbehindyou5858]

really fun video, fair play Dan!

[@Millicente]

This just oozes awesome. Pity we couldn't get others in the gang here too but seeing Dan on the bike is a treat!

[@lisacameron1386]

Great video!

[@fredsirvalo1904]

Dan, I am so glad you hopped back on the bike and are enjoying the ride. I rediscovered being active around your age. I ran my first marathon at 42 and first ultra at 45. At 54, I am training for a 300K one day ride. Who knows what you'll find on your journey. Hopefully health and happiness. Cheers!

[@jdwyer2685]

Nice work Lloydy, great to see you back on a bike. Hopefully see you for a ride at some point. 🙌🏼

[@jikemenkins7098]

Great effort Dan. Composed the whole time. Well done sir.

[@GroundedForLifeBBOYS]

This was a privilege to watch! I loved the subjective level of effort among the three of them.

[@Greg41982]

Kudos man. Whenever I have to take time away from anything, I think back to when I started skiing as a kid and having the learning curve just be so very enjoyable. I feel that getting back into anything can really renew the fun factor. Or maybe I'm just telling myself that because I had hernia surgery on Wednesday and have to take at least 4 weeks off of hard effort... Anyway, this video couldn't have come at a better time for me! Keep on truckin', Dan!

[@JonCannings]

Speedy recovery!

[@Nick-rz6vq]

great seeing jonas and seb

[@chriscole4149]

That would have been so much fun to hang out with them. Great display of fitness for the tour winners.

[@ianstewart8301]

So stoked to see Dan hosting a video again! It’s been too long! And to see him on a bike, even though it’s Zwift, was great! Plus Sepp! Just great! Chapeau Dan.

[@robertneild3772]

super entertaining video!

[@jasonbusch8356]

Nice one Dan great to see you back mixing it up. I’ll join you in 2024 with some more kms in the bike too!

[@rbonn3880]

Loved this! Dan, you are still a stud at 43. But Jonas and Sepp are on another planet. Bravo!

[@theniceoyster]

Enjoyed this video so much!!! Dan is such a star hahaha

[@user-ws2jw6wg7f]

Lovely weather, great location, fabulous bikes and you are on Zwift 🤪🤪🤔

[@johnlieto8906]

Hey Dan, your doing great! I’m 60 rode that same route and did fine, just keep riding. Your power numbers are still good by the way

[@jensisbak]

Loved it 🙌

[@essex9]

Dan breathing from every orifice and making weird sounds , Sepp and Jonas smiling and hardly breathing lol

[@Cyclonut96]

Love these Pro's interactions on GCN!

[@redauwg911]

thank you for the video

[@glennstokes9504]

Really good to see Dan riding again..

[@lukeluke1418]

Couple of years ago Dan had a clip '''from zero to hero'' explaining how/why his cycling fitness decreased over the years and the new training scheme to get back on track. l liked that clip. Hopefully this time he will get back on track in a more consistant basis. l believe it is a good lesson for all of us.

[@gcn]

Would you like to see some more videos of Dans journey to fitness?

[@lukeluke1418]

At 45 years old l started my journey to road cycling fitness, played basketball for many years and commuted by bike (city/trekking). l am with you Dan and wish you every success to your new year resolution and maybe see you back with the peloton racing them for real.@@gcn

[@tarajones-legros3661]

That was fun! Love you guys! Pretty sure Jonas’ legs have doubled in size since last year. 😊