One key element is missing from the picture. If all four pieces aligned perfectly, the quartet would occupy the top four spots in the overall standings today. It’s not luck or improvisation; it’s the result of solid planning, a strong current account, smart transfers, a robust infrastructure, and a team assembled with experts who leave nothing to chance.
The current showdown features Jumbo against the best cycling outfit in the world, UAE Team Emirates. UAE surges on the strength of its numbers, yet there is a dependence on specific moves or players that can shape the result. Tadej Pogacar remains a central figure, while the rival team Ineos—formerly Sky—doesn’t seem to be at its sporting peak, especially after Egan Bernal suffered a life-threatening accident in Colombia. The Vuelta also reflects the same pattern: Remco Evenepoel appears as a standout, recalling his 2019 Tour de France form, yet he faces a difficult path alongside others who can influence the race when the pace intensifies and strategic accelerations hit.
Van Aert is not there
From the outset, the fourth piece of Jumbo seems missing in this Vuelta. The absence is noticeable, yet the team hasn’t flagged the gap publicly. Wout van Aert currently sits as a potential fifth rider in the general classification and could be seen as the first of the non-Jumbo contenders who may shape the competition. If the Vuelta had to echo a historic moment, it might resemble the 1952 Tour when Fausto Coppi inspired special prizes to motivate a strong competitor, underscoring the tactical edge an overruling leader can command.
Jumbo spares no effort. They invest substantial time in preparing for the Tour, seeking allies and expertise from other sports to understand what drives group morale and performance. The same thorough approach is evident in their preparation for the Vuelta and the Giro, always applying the right strategy: topple Evenepoel in the Spanish race, give the Spaniards a degree of control, and disrupt the rhythm of rivals as soon as opportunities arise, all while staying several pedal strokes ahead.
Giro and Tour plans
At the Giro, the plan unfolded differently due to a route that did not invite optimism about navigation. Primoz Roglic remained calm before the challenge, supporting Evenepoel after the Belgian’s covid-related departure, keeping a low profile with his batteries fully charged, and pouncing only in the final time trial. The result was a decisive, all-in move when it mattered most, and it paid off remarkably well.
Leading into the Tour, the team pushed Pogacar forward, though the Slovenian faced a rough day the eve of the Alps descent—a difficult moment that briefly tarnished the confidence of his team and his own exhibit. The episode in Courchevel stands as a poignant memory—one of the sport’s hardest days, but it also framed the resilience that followed and the continued push toward the podium.
Vidilla and a sharp initiative
In the present Vuelta, the plan was to assemble the strongest possible lineup. Sepp Kuss committed to the race after proving his mountain prowess in the tours of Italy and France, while Roglic and Vingegaard navigated their routes in Spain to seize the red jersey. The strategy was to exploit the terrain and the escape opportunities, building a lead that could withstand the final mountain showdown in Asturias, scheduled for the decisive stage this Thursday, precisely as the campaign shaped itself.
Van Aert’s absence on specific climbs did not derail the plan. When he does show his form, he climbs with the face of a climber, can ride a time trial with precision, and demonstrates his sprinting capacity in mass finishes. His absence, ironically, helped hold the line for those pursuing the overall, preserving the cohesion needed to challenge the day’s pressure from rivals.
In this narrative, Jumbo’s approach emphasizes preparation, psychology, and a keen sense of tempo throughout the grand tours. The team’s method remains a study in how to align multiple talents toward a shared objective, rather than relying on a single star to carry the load across every stage. The attitude is clear: control the race when possible, respond decisively to threats, and let the season’s early successes inform the strategy that drives the chase for the final victories.