Greatest Team Ever? But Was Remco The Key To Kuss’ Success? | GCN Racing News Show

[@gcnracing]

What was your favourite moment from the Vuelta? 🇪🇸

[@rejimol567]

Angliru. And the anger of cycling memers

[@Acyclingfan]

Watching Almdeia get dropped and come back even though nobody talked about it

[@reecedawson6113]

Get ganna a lead please

[@alinapopescu872]

When it was over.

[@chrisstrider]

Tourmalet

[@sarahmathew9634]

100% agree with this take. Jumbo played their cards thinking Remco would be a big threat and then he collapsed leaving them in an awkward situation. Sepp is a delightful winner but I am a little disappointed we didn't get to see all out battles on the Angliru and other later stages

[@peterdorsa4938]

I thought the last 4 km was one of the most gut wrenchingly agonizing moments of the Vuelta, to watch Roglic and Jonas ride away from Sepp in the leaders jersey, uh just killed me.

[@AndrezzSpideyzzz]

@@peterdorsa4938It is very tough, you have the 2 best stage racers in the world and you brought them for a reason, you can't completely shut down their individual ambitions when they have given the team so many victories.

[@ВаликСлавинский-е5г]

i think Sepp's win is the best invistment into team spirit, now he is back into carry his teammates with the tour win in his pocket, great story line

[@stevenmeyer9674]

Roglic is signed through 2025. He isn't going anywhere.

[@DanielSong39]

The motto of the story is if someone gives you a nice gift, take it

[@fanda6122]

​@@OneIssueVoterwho gives a fuck it's the vuelta the giro and tour have prestige the vuelta is chump change either way.

[@trudgin62]

@@stevenmeyer9674oh aye, no one has ever left a team when still under contract?

[@trudgin62]

@@fanda6122TdF is the most over rated race …. Still holds the prestige …. La vuelta is always good because no one really trains for it (except Roglic) and the Giro is the best and most beautiful.. but hey we all have different opinions

[@99xLondon]

I wish Netflix had shot La Vuelta Unchained. Would have been very interesting!

[@edb8120]

As someone that remembers having to wait for cycling new to arrive at the end of the month in order to follow the tours. Being able to follow in real time today is a real luxury.

[@tasty_fish]

Or via Cycling Weekly or monthly through Winning magazine with its brilliant colour photos and insight 😀

[@japphan]

Jumbo Visma never made a single decision that went against their goal of winning the Vuelta. In fact, every decision they made strengthened their position. There was no drama. A team doing what is best for the team. People looking for controversy where there are none, and sadly the sports media, including GCN, was a very big part of it. That being said, I thouroughly enjoyed the Vuelta, as well as the broadcasts.

[@Guzguz28]

👏👏👏 absolutely correct, most of the media liked this friction because it benefited their ratings. ❤❤❤

[@rdklkje13]

This!

[@rdklkje13]

And the worst is that the actual information is widely available, in Dutch at least. I’ve seen Dutch language sources (e.g. Wielerflits and In Het Wiel) quoted in Portuguese, Spanish and Danish media. I.e. some of it, at least, is not that hard to find if you’re genuinely interested in learning about how TJV funcitions, even if you don’t speak Dutch. Plus, I’m pretty sure GCN will have enough contacts of their own to not have to make a whole lot of effort to get a personalised version from TJV directly - one of the most open teams in the WT - and/or from some of the main Dutch commentators, several of whom used to ride in this team, like Tom Dumoulin and Stef Clement. But yeah, I guess it’s easier to give Remco the credit fot TJV’s professionalism 🙃

[@pjgarcia2417]

Thank you! We were really disgusted by all the negative commentary. GCN used to be a positive experience, not anymore.

[@iacobogallus2110]

Nice final commentary on the Vuelta. I liked mostly your conclusion that outsiders' reaction to the hapening was too harsh and too emotional without knowing what was really going on. But Kuss said on Angliru in radio that they should go (his words).

[@pjgarcia2417]

"Outsiders." 😂 That was GCN. They didn't mind when Froome had to give up the red jersey to Wiggins in 2012 when he was the better rider & could have won the Vuelta on his own. None of that "It's disrespectful" "unfair" etc, etc.

[@annabeckman4386]

Oh my word! I never saw Primoz interview where he said maybe sepp could win! 🤣🙊 I LOVED this La Vuelta! This is the first year i have watched! I am so proud of Sepp!! He is my fellow American and i couldn't hold back the tears hearing the national anthem and seeing his lips sing the words. 👏👏👏 Seeing Sepp, Jonas and Primoz on the podium was just more than i could handle! 🤩🥹🥳😆

[@Nordlicht1992]

He even said it before

[@rdklkje13]

He said this several times, in different pre-Vuelta interviews. One of these comments was what got my hopes up of #GCKUSS becoming reality this Vuelta, especially cos he did something similar in 2022. When asked pre-TdF who the real leader was in that squad he said Jonas, and everyone thought he was either joking or being polite to the Danish audience. Which, admittedly, he probably was, but still, this guy knows how to predict a winner!

[@magomez1]

Yeah that was great remembered on old usa days Armstrong era with longer result 4 him that he holds his titles. But since remco collapse vuelta was sadly over but yeah Kuss is a very loyal guy so he earns that win 4 teamspirit unbelievable. Hope uae can beat them last week was relatively booring such Dominance is never good.

[@magomez1]

@@rdklkje13 vingegaard is no.1 roglic 2 kuss 3 if no 1 and 2 didnt get a title before it's the Question if Kuss had win it I think he didnt win that but such loyal he is he earns that hes a great teammate off course.

[@michaelw7438]

Again great coverage by GCN on Vuelta. Breakaway is outstanding - Sean Kelly’s insight is worth its weight in gold. Able refereeeing by Orla. Thanks to all.

[@jedisdad2265]

ONLY improvement possible would be Dan, Robbie and Adam as the LEAD COMMENTATORS for the GT’s

[@pjgarcia2417]

The negativity was a drag. Charlton is the best!

[@justridingalongthewatchtower]

This is quite literally the best grand tour cycling team ever assembled and is now the high water mark in cycling history, without any hyperbole. Giro, Tour and Vuelta winner, Dutch national champ / Flanders winner, Hungarian national champ just to name five of the squad.

[@timbena]

And they just went 1, 2, 3 at the European road championship.

[@samhamfast]

Dan, thank you for your excellent analysis of the seeming drama of Jumbo Visma. With all the chatter on the internet it is helpful to get your thoughtful perspective as a racing commentator and former pro.

[@Relevant_Irrelevance]

All the drama-stoking from the media and all the toxic fans just blindly jeering at Jonas and Primoz was disgusting

[@miche_amico]

Indeed it was

[@rdklkje13]

Definitely. There’s so much actual info about TJV available that shows why this drama was entirely (well, for 99% at least) external to the team, not internal.

[@pjgarcia2417]

Yes! GCN stoked the negativity and we were so disappointed.

[@claudiocampuzano7364]

Thanks, Dan, for giving us a bit more perspective on the drama of the third week. Nicely done.

[@agohoppus]

let`s be honest, Remco didn`t even had a chance on GC against that Jumbo team.

[@sprinkleofthyme]

Yeah, def not with everyone being in the form they were

[@Nangoncrazy]

He wouldn't have a chance if there was no TJV either.

[@ralzalychhoeng7893]

yeah having said that it's still a valiant effort to even go up against a trio of (now) GC riders working together pretty much on your own without any help. I cant even imagine who would be a reliable domestique for evenepoel. Maybe Asgreen or Cattaneo? Not even sure

[@rdklkje13]

Remco saying he lost extra time on purpose in I forget which stage, specifically in order to show Jumbo he wasn’t lying about having dropped GC ambitions for this Vuelta, says it all. After this they let him do his thing, which was nice to see. Amazing that he still finished 12 in GC.

[@judomaster222]

Not only Remco, nobody can beat this Jumbo. That why i am afraid even next tours will be borring.

[@IanEE69]

Best comment about the Kuss victory was from Eduardo Chozas on Spanish Eurosport/GCN - He said in general it's better for the good of the the team for the strongest guy in the team on the day or overall to win. The 'favoured rider' or previous 'team leader' who lost out will take that loss much better than the strongest guy being 'robbed' of his victory. This has been shown over and over again, most notably with Wiggins/Froome in 2012. Great publicity and docu-drama content though it be - the Kuss victory will probably bite Jumbo in the ass sooner of later if Roglic jumps ship and goes to another team as a result, imagine Roglic at UAE being a super domestique to Pogačar...

[@IanEE69]

@@GonzoJohnny That ship's sailed with Jumbo. The Vuelta is one thing but the TdF is too important to any team for it to be gifted. It'll be all for Jonas at the TdF for as long as his form holds. I can't see Roglic ever winning the TDF unless Remco, Jonas and Pogi crash out.

[@imightbebiased9311]

Bob Roll was off his rocker on NBC's broadcast yesterday. First, claiming that Groves had to pull for Remco, because if Remco won all 50 points for the sprint, Groves could finish no worse than 3rd to keep green, then it was 4th, and I'm now learning today that the actual number was 10th.

[@gcnracing]

Maybe he forgot he'd won the intermediate sprint? Dan

[@imightbebiased9311]

@@gcnracing That would be a fair point, but I seem to remember either him or VdV commenting on the fact that the day's intermediate sprint points were not going to be enough to secure the jersey.

[@pedalharder8520]

Dan, I don’t think your giving Sepp enough credit! Will see next year! Love your thoughts and LOVE GCN!❤

[@xander0901]

Sepp Kuss put himself in the position to take the GC with his amazing time trial performance. After the gap was retained at the time trial, Jonas and Primoz should only have orders to follow Remco Evenepoel. Once Evenepoel collapsed, GC Sepp should have been sealed.

[@stevenkerr8965]

Great team victory!! Great win for Sepp!! The Team Management made the decision to support Sepp so that's what happened. No need for complaining it's a team sport. And 3 great wins which is a Huge story for Cycling.

[@Dana-gj5hr]

After watching my first three tours, it seems like a TEAM wins the giro / tour / vuelta by working together and the team “gifts” their leader the GC win by working so hard for him/her. Given how hard every rider in any tour team works - it feels like Sepp’s win is a win for every team member who has ever served as a domestique. Rather enjoying the Team Aspect rather than the individual Ego era.

[@alisafa2858]

Watching Dan is as always a pleasure

[@luisfelipetrigo]

As always great content by the whole GCN team. And here I share my theory: Remco knew that he could not beat the JumboVisma trio, on stage 13 he lost (intentionally) a lot of time so that he could ride freely. He then rode stages competitively in an attempt to win them, which he did; or used stages to relax (finishing in the last five positions in one of them) and be ready for the next attack. Remco has his merits but by no means he should be consider the "builder" of Sepp success. Food for tought.

[@imagistatheimagista1870]

Spot on insights and great coverage thanks!

[@kurtg3891]

i saw the final of Wallonie and van der Poel was caught behind a crash and he came to a stop just a couple k`s before they reached the finish climb so he had to chase back to the lead group then go up through the entire field before riding up the to the finish and still ended in 4th pl., so all things considered the fitness was still not too shabby.

[@ynot7262]

Really enjoyed the 3 Tours this year... And the comentary... The Veulta takes the prize imo for the best tour and commentary...

[@vienteflora]

Spot on as always Dan- wonderful vuelta

[@Cycle9568]

More fun to watch as a spectator than the Tour de France! Congrats to TJV!

[@thomasball1933]

"Maybe we were making drama where there was none." -DL Congratulations Sepp!!! TJV DOMINANCE!

[@pjgarcia2417]

That soured the race for us!

[@abikeesclerosada]

I'm loving more and more the Vuelta, what a race!!! JV is something else, cleary a lot better than other teams. Congrats to Sepp Kuss, a well deserved win!!!

[@larshenriksen3850]

Jonas, who went from Judas to Jesus and Kussified First of all I think it is proper to congratulate JUMBO VISMO. This sport is all about making myths, history and victories for the record books and this we most say that Jumbo did The first team ever to take all 3 GTs in same season and then with 3 different raiders and then just to put the nail in the coffin with taking the podium in the Vuelta in what will be known as the best team season in history. Jumbo did the right thing to back Kuss up(Jonas did all along)(from a media perspective) I really think that the world went crazy and bashed Jonas and Roglic without knowing what really went on. I respect Jonas for backing KUSS up and I salute Roglic for being a racer who wants to win and that's what his team management told him to do and pay him for and that's what he did. Shame on all of the haters of Jonas and Roglic. People also forgot that this have never happened in history before. Never have Mercxk, Bernard H, Lance A or indurain ever given a Gt away to a weaker super domestique. Never , never ever has that happened before and it will hopefully never happen again. Plus, its also very rare that 3 guys, from the same team, leads a Gt so comfortably that they could have the luxury to decide between themselves. I think everybody was a little confused about the whole situation. Though I personally think that it would have been the right thing to let the 3 of them race each other and let the strongest win. Well I am Danish and of course a big fan of Jonas and therefore biased, so I would have loved him to win the tour Vuelta double as only the 4th raider in history to do that(if I remember correct), and of course next year try to do it again to be the first one ever to do it twice. For the future legacy of the great champions Roglic, Kuss and Jonas, I really hope that Roglic will move to ineos , so we can have a tour battle between the 3 best GT raiders in the world next year, with extremely talented Remco as an outsider. So 4 teams with 4 super strong raiders against each other tour 24 would be great for all ,who loves pro cycling. Kuss (as much as I love him) has to find out, if he wants to stay as a helper to Jonas, and back him up trying to go after history and records or go for your own merits, as he of course deserves, in another team. If I was Jumbo management I would back Jonas up trying to become one of the Goats of GTs. Jonas has shown in this Vuelta that he has the ability to win the tour and the Vuelta in one season, which means that he has a realistic chance at getting between 8-12 grand tour victories and become one of the all-time goats of GT racing. You can only get to those numbers if you can win 2 GTs a season and don’t have to give to many potential victories away because you are a decent guy and the world think you should give a GT as a gift to a sympathetic domestigue. It is seldom that a raider comes along as Jonas, who has the potential to compete against Anquetil, Merckx and Bernard H. I am not saying he will do it, a lot has to work his way and some luck too. But obviously they have to try and make this a reality or they are nuts. So if Roglic wants more than the giro the next 2 years, he will have to move to another team and the same goes for Sepp. American media already speculating that Kuss and Jonas goes as joint leaders for the next Tour de France. Absolutely mad. It's crazy how Jonas is constantly being underestimated. He is by far the best GT raider in the world right now. Jonas has the 2nd highest vo2max on 97 ever recorded cross all elite athletes. He has made world records with watts/kg over 15 minutes climbs. All experts rant about Pogi being the best raider since Merckx. And he has beaten him the last 2 ½ tour de France, since he took over as captain in midway tour de france 21. No he has not beaten POGI, he has destroyed him, smashing him with over 7 ½ minutes in the tour. 2023 with over 20 minutes lead over top 10 guys. Come on the world is ranting about pogi and Remco. But the fact is Jonas is the most dominant GT raider since Froome. When people discuss the potential and talent of Remco, many people and experts says that he is not on the level of Jonas and POGI. How the hell is Pogi compared to Jonas. Jonas did not beat him, he smashed him, he destroyed POGI in tour 23 with over 7 1/2 minutes with top 10 over 20 minutes behind. Not really a comparison when u look at the clock and final result of the last 2 tours. Even the last 3 tours in the 3rd week. This is my point. IF Jonas was from a big country with a media pron personality, he would have been praised as the new Merxk/lance in GT races. But F..k now we have to hear that KUSS should have the Vuelta, Roglic the Giro and Jonas should be satisfied with the tour. This is absolute bullshit. When u have the best GT raider on your hands, who has shown that he is capable of winning 2 GTs a year, then you should go all inn on trying to beat records and make him the sole captain of the team. If it had been ROG, POGI or Remco with those numbers, records and results, we would have heard about nothing else and that is a fact. Of course I'm biased as I'm danish and a Hugh fan of Jonas. But let's look at the facts. What we really know and no speculations. No matter how good a team you have, you have to climb those high-altitude mountains yourself, no wind breaker here. Same to say about ITT. No team help and the GTs get decided in the mountains and on ITTs. Jonas has not cracked once. Not once has a team mate had to slow down and help him up a mountain, not once has he been dropped severely. The most he has lost is 21 sec to Pogi in the tour 23 , stage 7. And no team mates were there to help him.. Not once when he got dropped did he get help to close the gap. He did it himself. The only time u can say he has had help with a setback is the couples stage tour 22, where WWA saved Jonas for a setback due to a puncture. and the team helping him when he punctured on stage 1 Vuelta TTT. Of course it helps to have a strong time with attacking so your opposition get tied, like tour stage 13 cranon, where Roglic and Jonas attacked POG over and over again. One of the best stages in history in my opinion. Which led to Pog to crack. But facts are that Remco, Roglic and POGI cracks once in a while. And Jonas don't. When the others go down to 90-93% in week 3, Jonas only drops to 95-97%, (these numbers I have from their Watts/kg numbers) which is what makes him superior to the others no matter what team is behind him. He definitely has the potential and talent to make history and this is what Jumbo should try to accomplish over the next 5-6 years with Jonas as the 100% captain on the team. Plus IF KUSS and ROGLIC moves to other teams it will be more equal competition for everybody and more interesting for us spectators. My last point. Jonas is 26 years old. Found his self confidence last in his career. I don't see anybody beating him the next 2 years. Which means he will have 6 GTS when he is 28 Years old. Right now. Merxk is on 11 GT wins, Bernard H 10 and Angetill 8 GT wins. A lot of raiders on 7. If you have a raider that has the potential to go in all-time top 3 GTs, then you should go for it or you are brain dead. Eventually a new young star will come from behind. But let's face it. What is the chance that a new POGI will come along soon. A guy all the expects say is the only one in history who you can compare to Merxk. And he is not even close to beating Jonas But congrats to Jumbo And KUSS. What a fairytale win for Kuss and what a season for the greatest GT team in history

[@prestachuck2867]

TLDR

[@pjgarcia2417]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! GCN created so much hate for these riders. We were disgusted. They pay Wiggins, who took the red from Froome in 2012 when Froome could have won the Vuelta, finishing 2nd to Wiggins 3rd. No team ever gives a grand tour to their domestique. Sepp is the greatest super domestique in the world and I'm glad he won but Jonas could have taken a double and moved up to 2nd in UCI rankings. He wanted Sepp to win. Jonas will go down in history as one of the greatest champions the sport has ever seen, due to his work ethic, natural gifts and great sportsmanship. And GCN just bashed him & Primoz mercilessly. It was horrible to hear them. When they could have been building up, they were tearing down.

[@God1stForever]

That was a awesome photo with Primoz, Jonas & Sepp in their jerseys from their Grand Tour GC wins in 2023, it was kind of like Thanos uniting the Infinity Stones

[@JSC131]

We will have to wait for Sepps book to really know his thoughts on Roglic and JV.

[@Swoxx]

Dan with the brilliant takes as always. Great breakdown of the vuelta. So happy for Sepp!🎉

[@DanielSong39]

So this is how I see it - Sepp Kuss was allowed to go in an early breakaway in Stage 6 to chase a stage win and/or assist Roglic/Vingegaard if they went on a late attack and got clear - No late attack so Kuss wins stage and remains in GC contention - Stage 13, Evenepoel loses 27 minutes and the only serious threat to Jumbo Visma 1-2-3 disappears - Stages 14 and 16, Vingegaard and Roglic go on the offensive to kill off Ayuso/Mas/Soler and end any possible hope for non-Jumbo Visma riders in GC - After stage 16, Jumbo Visma is 1-2-3 and Sepp Kuss has the race lead so the team decides that Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta, GC race ends Please let me know if I got anything wrong

[@markdwelchforcongress4456]

I would only add that Sepp's surprise performance in the TT also contributed to Jumbo getting fully behind him.

[@dylan-5287]

​​@@markdwelchforcongress4456Exactly! That time trial is what truly gave him the chance. Despite all odds he had the TT result of his life and that's when people really started thinking he could win the whole thing. Amazing race and so excited for Sepp.

[@DanielSong39]

@@dylan-5287 I mean if Sepp lost 10+ minutes in a rando mountain stage or lost 3+ minutes in the time trial then yeah he probably finishes off the podium

[@dylan-5287]

@@DanielSong39 definitely. He was on a razor edge the whole time. If he cracked once he would have been done. One of the best GTs I've seen in a long time.

[@notreally2406]

Yeah, you got the stage 14 and 16 part wrong. They were just riding selfishly. It was already over, and they knew it.

[@Perry_Roobay]

Best commentary in television these days. Kudos GCN on your efforts this year! Looking forward to more.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

While Sepp's win was obviously not expected, I thought JV sent Jonas to ride the Vuelta because they didn't trust Roglic to finish the tour without crashing out. Above all, JV wanted the triple crown over everything else. Having Jonas as a backup to Roglic was their way of giving them a sure thing for a team win.

[@Peter-hz3vs]

Come on! Roglic rode the Giro by himself and won multiple Vuelta before. They probably sent Jonas because Jonas wanted to do this more than the other race.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

@@Peter-hz3vs How many tours has Roglic crashed out on?

[@stevenmeyer9674]

@@Peter-hz3vs Jonas wasn't even scheduled to do the Vuelta. it was a last minute thing. they sent Jonas because they wanted insurance in case Rogic crashed out as he has been prone to do.

[@sylvettetachet4761]

Ou bien Jonas voulait savoir s'il était capable de faire deux tours d'affilée

[@peterfireflylund]

@@stevenmeyer9674yes, he was. It was announced right after the Tour but it was planned before the season.

[@OutsideLands77]

2:05 Best GCN editing yet.

[@ryanphelan6861]

gino bartali and fausto coppi just those two because teams were by nation then will always be most incredible to me 2 of top 5 or 6 all time greats. Best modern team no doubt and they are doing it with 8 sky train were 9 strong at first and porte or henao, kwiato, pouls, even landa short stint were never the threat that to win race they had singular leader these guys have two incredible leaders and Kuss might be smoothest climber ive seen since lucho herrera. He since 2019 vuelta has just been incredible to watch climb ! Congrats and they do it in spring and week long races they havent had best luck in monuments but losing to tadej and mathieu isnt anything to be ashamed of the way they approached it get best rouleurs to control stages, breaks and set pace that deter attacks from more explosive GC contenders was brilliant strategy starting back getting DVB, benoot, laporte, nathan, and obviously. Wout its like haing sean kelly as your domestique team is so dynamic. Granon was blueprint they still struggle to beat tadej in monuments or one days but strength of team just shines more and more longer race goes by 3rd week they have strangle hold.

[@robbchastain3036]

It is a winning combo, world champion jersey and white shorts, the disco kit. 😂

[@Ray-e7b]

Want to see Jonas, Primoz, Sepp and Wout in one team for grand tours next year. They got 4 cards to play. Hope Ineos and UAE teams start to invest more for super team.

[@vanessawitcher8996]

Looking forward to 2024 TDF with Jonas, Primoz,Sepp,Wout (JV) against Tadaj(he is team UAE)!!!

[@pinjaliina]

Roglič the seer. Now seeing that was maybe the best moment of them all!

[@andrasszabo1570]

I don't know why you doubt Schrempf Dan. It clearly makes sense to take your hands off the bars when you're still in front just meters from the line. And at 14:46 that's clearly a disappointment-face, not the biggest smile of her life!

[@phillippitts6294]

Glad you’re back Dan !

[@dilligaf2818]

Its why I keep signing up ,entertainment is great like the commentators. Luv you all .great super 8 with 'Jose Been and Brian Smith.

[@magomez1]

By the way great evenepoel attacking Style since day 1 after his however this happened awful tourmalet day I love that remembered me on great champions like purito Rodriguez valverde or Contador

[@francisrizon2149]

TJV and GCN ❤ Great Team, Great Athletes and Great People 👍

[@Ray-e7b]

Greatest moment in history of cycling for Jumbo Wisma.

[@IncorrigibleBigotry]

"Maybe we made too much of it" you think?!

[@ethangodridge6833]

Thanks GCN+. I think Sivakov could be a dark horse for Lombardia after his recent form. I think Ineos will regret letting him go.

[@Jds422]

Remco's strategy worked for him. Letting go of the championship, win stages to be significant.

[@kasperrieberg3495]

Let’s be real here, that was Remco’s plan b, not plan a !

[@robertrafford6068]

New to the channel. Thank you. Great stuff.

[@suneliengaard]

Jonas gave Kuss the race. Its so obvious, he could have won it any day, if he had not decided to give it to kuss.

[@pjgarcia2417]

100%! Jonas could have taken the double & moved up to 2nd in UCI rankings.

[@USUG0]

I would say the key to Kuss' success was coming away from the TT with still a minute over his team mates. At that point, it became almost impossible to displace him from the top by JV, PR without looking like jerks

[@rickiovine2170]

Yes, with Remco out of the picture for GC things changed dramatically. One of the 3 favorites to win is gone, and the other two are Sepp’s teammates. That’s all true, but is a silly “would if”. If you are a GC favorite for a grand tour you do not have a bad day; one so bad that you have absolutely no chance to get back the lost time. Being no threat in the GC battle so early in the tour means that you did not deserve to be considered a threat. When you become free to go into the break you have become just another rider. Of course Remco Evenepoel is not just another rider. He is still one of the top 5 cyclists in the world, and, one of the 3 top cyclists of the one day classics.

[@Nordlicht1992]

We should not forget: If there would have been an open race between Jonas, Primoz and Sepp, it would have been definitely Jonas who would have won. So there is no reason for Primoz to be sour because he would not have win anyway. The race would have gifted to him as it had been gifted to Jonas. Primoz was not very strong in the first and second week, he would have not taken back the time from Jonas and Sepp. So it was pretty much Jonas decision at the end who will win it. At the end, yes, the Vuelta was a big big present from the whole team, but Sepp is also probably the greatest domestique of all time. There has never been a greater domestique in my mind, who by now would not have been Co-Captain at least. So the gift actually is adequat. I am very interested how they approach the next GTs. I do not think Sepp will go back to become a domestique solely but they will probably use him more as an additional weapon. With him, they have another candidate for the podium at least, and one more their rivals can't let attack anymore. Kuss won't get another GT gifted but he would be certainly able to get a place on the podium next to Jonas and/or Primoz. He at the moment belongs to the Top 5 GT riders, together with Remco and Pogacar.

[@magomez1]

Yeah Vingegaard is no 1 roglic 2 Kuss 3 and if kuss had win when first 2 didnt get a title this year I think not. Off all time no I dont think that also not a big fan of this at thing it give Heras 4 armstrong floyd landis vinou 4 ullrich kloeden what's about Frank 4 his brother andy that was best domestique in the mountains off course they both fight alone vs Contador etc. Landa 4 froome froome 4 wiggins etc. it gives many many good domestiques and that's only few of them in last 20 years. Top 5 normally with Bernal in his past accident form otherwise yeah Top 10 I agree top 5 not so sure and yeah in the mountains top 6-8

[@kinghari808]

It was because of Sepp's good performance period. He put himself in that position with the help of his team. So why would any rival's poor performance be the reason? Could you say the same if someone outside Jumbo Visma won the GC?

[@thiemerpeltenburg4836]

I think the Angliru was the decider for TJV and after that team battle they backed Sepp. And yeah Evenepoel made it possible for Sepp but still for me Remco is the rider of the Vuelta (a bit van Aert/ van der Poel’esce) without that time loss we totally had a different race.

[@frankchan5547]

But he was aiming for GC. Don't you measure success by reference to goals? For any other rider with focus on stage wins or KOM, a very successful tour

[@thiemerpeltenburg4836]

@@frankchan5547 after he had to give up the GC he made the course

[@kang0o]

I'm looking forward to the Sepp Kuss "How I won the Vuelta" book when it's released

[@DarrenBates]

Love this show. Can't wait for the Lombardia now.

[@dennisdevelin]

It sure was!!! Kuss had never won without Remco boy collapsing! Let’s not forget what really happend here! Kuss was ”handed” 3 minutes on stage 6 because both Jonas and Primoz sent him away in a breakawy. That was done for of tactical reasons, because no one could know that Remco would just explode that much later in the race! Remember Jumbo saw Remco as the biggest threat to them in this Grand Tour! (Why they put Kuss in break-away on stage 3 to play that hand later out on Remco.) Make no mistake here. Kuss is a nice guy and a pretty good rider, but he is in no way on the same level as a Pogacar and Vingegaard or Roglic as a Grand Tour rider! Imagine Kuss riding as the captain for anothere team in this race, then Vingegaard (and Roglic) would have rode all out and we all know what would have happend then! There would still have been a Vuaelte winner..... but his name wouldn't start with K!!! So conclusion is this then ........If you are one of these strange people who is all for the best man to win? ....... Better go follow something else! On the other hand do love show - riding and hand outs..... Now you have something other than WWE to follow!

[@sardendibs]

You’re absolutely right in your analysis, except there is nothing strange about wanting the best man to win. This is sports, after all, and cycling isn’t a team sport like, say, football or basketball. Only one man stands at the top of the podium. Only one name goes into the history books. It’s the battle to be that man that makes sports what it is and that fascinates. Without it, why should spectators care? If Kuss hadn’t been American and a nice guy, the social media narrative would have been very different.

[@Tilemason1]

Yes Remco's mistake lettig Sepp up there helped him win. This being said if it had been any other team that benefited from the break mistake, Jumbo would just ride them down and the race finish would have been Primoz and Jonas and possibly Sepp for 3rd. It wouldn't have changed the overall outcome other than if Jonas raced against Primoz. I think they did what they could and the dmg was done.

[@svpearlsailacapegeorgesail4758]

I know you guys can’t say this , but like Lemond I will say “unbelievable”. But of course I was so happy Sep won!

[@laurencetilley9194]

Excellent review of the Vuelta. GCN and SBS are by far the best when it comes to cycling events world wide. SD WORX is the female team of the season.

[@rustyschimelpfening3899]

Sepp rode all 3 no one deserved a win more than Sepp

[@notreally2406]

He deserved it because got the lead and defended against all other teams.

[@Nordlicht1992]

I think the tactics for next year should be pretty clear. Jonas will want to try out to ride all three GTs, Sepp will also ride all three again because he just likes it. For Roglic it might be a bit different, he is already 35 then and will try to win one more GT. So what I think is the following: Sepp will help Vingegaard to win the Giro and even is planned as a back up, maybe with a podium place as well. Then all three will ride the Tour, with Vingegaard as captain because he is just the strongest. If he might not be in shape, because of the Giro before, Roglic and Kuss will ve planned as backups, but otherwise Roglic will use the tour pretty much as preparation for the Vuelta. If Jonas wins Giro and Tour with Kuss and/or Roglic finishing 2nd or 3rd, they will try to give the Vuelta to Roglic to make him a record Champion in the Vuelta. If Roglic fails, Jonas will go for the ultimate triple if he has still the strength. Sepp will work his ass off for both of them and will be probably satisfied next year with one or two podiums. And then we will see what will happen after next year. Maybe Roglic will be satisfied after winning his 4th vuelta or even the Tour and retireor looking for a different challenge, leaving Jonas and Sepp after this year as the remaining two captains, which might give Sepp the chance in the future to take another GT. Anyhow, they will deal it in a way to give all three the chances to take the best out for themselves.

[@МаргаритаСтоянова-з7з]

Dude, you are delusional! Your plan has nothing to do with the reality, just calm down and watch!

[@sureno1]

Remco is a beast of a rider but tbh i dnt see him as a threat to that Jumbo Visma line up at vuelta

[@jedisdad2265]

Taking a page from Jumbo Visma, perhaps GCN/Eurosport should put a SUPER TEAM in as the lead commentators for next year. Adam, Robbie and Dan! With color by Sean Kelly!!!

[@wingtip76]

Jumbo has a very good doctor....

[@jimjr4432]

Dan, you are awesome! GCN is too!

[@peterdorsa4938]

While I love the coverage of the races as a self admitted espresso junkie I can't help but notice an espresso machine on the shelf behind Dan. I do hope it is being put to good use and not just a decoration. Now as to the Vuelta - I do think Remco's melt down helped JV and Sepp a lot. The other thing I cannot get out of my head was Remco saying he considered Sepp as an "outsider" - well that IMO is about as arrogant and ignorant a statement coming from a brash 23 year old. While I haven't watched last years Vuelta, I'm wondering if that is a one time performance? I don't know, however based on this year I have to wonder if Remco has the base training for a GC rider. As for Sepp, he has a lot of grand tour experience and as a super domestique leading out Primoz or Jonas on those steep climbs, countering attacks etc - going all in day after day does one of two things, makes a rider crack or contributes to a level of fitness that only occurs from these types of intervals, kind of race day H.I.I.T. work outs while racing back to back mountain stages. Wout Van Aert is another rider that has similar characteristics that maybe attributed to pulling at the front on climbs not too mention he is just a powerhouse!

[@philipbrackpool-bk1bm]

Considering wout van aert also rides for jumbo , I don’t know if an all conquering team is good for cycling.

[@automat8]

I hear you D.

[@homerunhomeshow7201]

Yes, Sepp Kuss, after racing all 3 grand tours, the Giro and TDF in the service of his 2 teammate Captains deserves the great Win! Having said that, I think he owes a small part of his Title good fortune to 2 rival team leaders - Remco of Soudal QS, for his overconfidence in 'letting" the Stage 6 break gain close to 3 minutes before the final summit of the stage, which Kuss won and grabbed about 2:30 of buffer time, and the other is Mikel Landa of BV who paced Kuss in the final kilometer of the AngliRu climb to close the gap to Vingegaard and retain the red jersey by just 8 seconds. Without these 2 events happening as they unfolded, Sepp would have been doing his usual mountain pacing for the other 2 Captains. Not to take anything away from his Vuelta victory which is historic, just making an observation on how race tactics can yield unforseen results. In this case, it gave us GC KUSS.

[@Steve.M]

The US CX picture quality was quite poor. It made the races hard to watch. Can you have a word? 😉

[@trdi]

Two problems: 1. Best two riders didn't win the race because they were not allowed to. 2. Jonas following Roglic on Angliru was the only really bad moment. Roglic was always staying with Kuss when Jonas was attacking, so Jonas should let Roglic go. Roglic must change the team, this is unacceptable.

[@aapddd]

It isn’t always about Remco guys. He lost fair and square!

[@lexistential]

the match cut at 11:09 made me laugh

[@ShimmyD-u7g]

I still remember watching The Highlander back in the 80's and thinking how cool all those match cuts were in that film. It's a pretty standard thing nowadays in film. This one, probably unintentional but funny indeed.

[@tasty_fish]

With all said and done I still have no idea what a Jumbo Visma product is! 🤣

[@hughjanus7354]

Watching Tour de Romandie last week was an eye opener. I don't know who's coaching these rideress but they are doing a great job at making sure that nobody will take it seriously. Great lead out all the way to the line by Niewiadoma, it's a shame that the rider she dragged all the way up was from a different team. And the sprint by that Austrian lady was epic, her idol must be manlike Lulu.

[@whatwelearned]

This might be news to you but plenty of people take women's cycling seriously.

[@hughjanus7354]

@@whatwelearned leave your flag behind and try reading what I wrote at 0.5 speed.

[@ВиолетаСтоянова-п1п]

If you expect Demi to take turns, you have to wait too long for it. 😂 It's so ugly, to drag her behind all day long, without one pull from her(just few meters for the cameras) and than she jumps and win! What a "big" champion she is! It's disgusting..

[@jonathanzappala]

Could be the last time a grand tour is won with stock aerobars on a tt bike.

[@automat8]

Like the t shirt D.

[@kazehana877]

TJV, is way too strong right now Pog, Remco these guys maybe stronger individual riders, but the Team Jumbo Visma us too strong

[@SergioCristancho]

4:26 Is a BIG ... HUGE... MASIVE reach say that hypotesis yes theory not proven ... even said then water under the bridge... facts talk louder and backup better how and why kuss won... Stage 6 Sepp made an attack and dare and bet and won time and distance that give him and the team 'space' and relax to manage and I mean manage his own stamina to hold day by day in the way true GC does like few can... you can say TT stage or point angliru stage ... na na na ... you can lose any day you need edge Kuss had the edge and GC stamina and +++ proven NOW to make of him a PROVEN GC ... but then here we are still thinking was because someone else... remco rog jonas ayuso landa ... the guy did it all. can we agree he step up to a new level this seasson?

[@jedisdad2265]

This year’s Vuelta was my favorite race of the year, and I am a diehard Tadej Pogacar fan. Of course NATIONAL PRIDE might have something to do with my favoring La Vuelta. Congratulations SEPP!!!! 🇺🇸

[@chrisj5443]

It turned out the Jumbo 3 were the 3 best riders in the GC, so once one of them (Sepp) went into red, and he held it through the TT, it was too late for JV and PR, since attacking Sepp was the only way they could have won GC.

[@dadedraak]

Evenepoel was no challange to Sepp

[@Erdnav27]

From what I've seen, most other teams don't even have a drawing board.

[@candacereynolds1723]

@1:26 FYI "Kaden Groves" won stage 21 NOT Remco (-:

[@jonbrown853]

Best team since US Postal

[@NeoPayneHK]

this is FATE of Kuss!!!

[@bobabout256]

Was the lack of team support on the Angrilu by JV and PR because they were bidding for their place in next years TdF and disregarding Sepp for their own ends 🤔

[@markhill9275]

Greatest tem ever? without doubt, 110%.... MOLTENI!

[@ExplorinDoranRBrown]

Kuss, Kuss, Kuss!

[@StevenHadfield]

Great teams don't buckle under pressure from twitter.

[@daveandrew589]

Never a more deserving champion than Sepp Kuss. Who else has done more work for his team over the last several years? How many have ever ridden all three grand tours in a year and won one of them? Surely a very short list, especially in the modern era.

[@noptimized]

Here's your list: Gastone Nencini, 1957.

[@DanielSong39]

Merry Christmas Sepp

[@jvk415]

Umm, Jonas Vingegaard is an example. He was actually the one winning the last two TdF. Roglic is also an example, as he has given TJV four extra GT wins. There are so many, really! Don’t get me wrong, he has worked really hard for TJV, but so has all the other domestiques😊

[@dylan-5287]

Sepp is simply an amazing rider and absolutely deserved this. So happy for the dude. Team Jumbo Visma is unstoppable.

[@DanielSong39]

@@dylan-5287 Every year is different so I expect UAE and Ineos to fight back Cycling would be more fun with more competition

[@noahkohn9350]

You may call it a hat trick, but I call it a grand tour of the grand tours.

[@magomez1]

4 sure he was only 1 opponent jumbo has with his awful tourmalet day vuelta was sadly ower 4 him and the crowd. Kuss was crazy and why no 1 can really fight vs them is a question no 1 has a bad day by Roglic o,k, Vingegaard was at the tour little questionable last time we know what happened when Tdf Winner wins vuelta, it was Froome by the way and he was + 👹by Kuss big surprise 3 GT and win last little scary to me how that go from body health etc. We will see if everyone of the 3 can hold his History place, normally I don't talk much about that thing but the results are questionable I can reach that with pcm on easy mode maybe but not really on 2 or 3 difficult level (3 I play) 1 is possible but 3 it's scary it never happens before or ? So before volta I agree with 1 2 under Top 5 but not 3 guys from team on podium but the other teams especially sad volta ineos team must be Question themselves very critically of course that was a very bad volta when we know their € value. Sky was way better now Jumbo 1 and UAE 2 ineos maybe third maybe looser and that's crazy when we know how good Sky was.

[@stevenpike7530]

No chance the strongest rider got the biscuit…JV& PR were…Nonetheless no doubt the most deserved.

[@petersonmalayan2748]

Greatest team in a no contest race!

[@FormostPanda]

Has it ever happened before?

[@menelek16bc]

"He was dropped by his own team mates who he help unselfishly so often"