Thor Hushovd wrote:
Personally I think Vingegaard is ok with Kuss winning, but he really doesn't want Roglic to win. I wish he had stayed with Kuss yesterday, but I get that he has a champion's mentality and all the drama online is way overblown imo. But maybe I'm biased.
I actually think it's the other way around. Vingegaard is the one that wants to win at all costs. Roglic did not seem happy to tow Vingegaard away from Kuss... especially since Kuss was in no danger of cracking and had basically already killed the rest of the field and wasn't going to lose time.
Jumbo leadership are probably forcing Roglic and Kus here to ensure Vingegaard wins....which only makes sense as Vingegaard is the rider you absolutely HAVE to keep. I doubt one of either Roglic or Kus' will stay for the next years...and Jumbo will probably be picking which they want to woo here on the road.
I respect your opinion, but the way Vingegaard looked yesterday and the last few days I think he could have dropped Roglic fairly easily. Further backed by what they've said after the stages (you should look it up). Roglic is unhappy he's no longer #1 in the team and tbh he hasn't been for almost two years now. Kuss will stay/re-sign when the time comes. No idea if Roglic remains until his contract expires, but I'm pretty sure he'll never win another GT where Vingegaard, Pogacar and whomever from the next generation (Ayuso, Evenepoel etc.) take part.
Edit: Today's finish backs up my point.
Edited by Thor Hushovd on 14-09-2023 16:56
Best scenario in the end. Had some excitement in the mountain stages. Some drama and at the end Sepp has this, if nothing bad happens in the last 3 days.
Had they rode like this from the very moment Sepp took red, we would have had some pretty boring mountain stages.
Conspiracy theory: did Jumbo manufactured the drama to make us forget they easily took the top 3 in the GC and the guy who rides his third GT of the year takes the victory?
Fun Vuelta, other teams really need to start poaching the docs from Jumbo, theyre so far ahead in terms of doping its not even fun to watch anymore, not even UAE can keep it
Very nice gesture from Vingegaard to ride a domestic role on the last climb, giving Kuss a few symbolic seconds near the top. It may not be the correct “sports spirit” but I’m sure most fans think it was the best outcome in this case. I definitely do. He has been a major part of Jumbo success, he deserves to get this special credit.
Tamijo wrote:
Very nice gesture from Vingegaard to ride a domestic role on the last climb, giving Kuss a few symbolic seconds near the top. It may not be the correct “sports spirit” but I’m sure most fans think it was the best outcome in this case. I definitely do. He has been a major part of Jumbo success, he deserves to get this special credit.
I agree that was the right thing to do. Attacking their team mate in the leader's jersey the day before definitely was a very bad look for Jumbo.
In my opinion it's also not against the "sport spirit" at all, since cycling is a team sport after all.
In the end, it couldn't have been a hard choice, they picked the one where everyone is happy with:
- Kuss is happy cause he wins
- The fans are happy because Kuss really deserves it
- Roglic is happy because Vingegaard didn't win
- Vingegaard is happy because Roglic didn't win
