"A lot of guys are suffering and are a bit fed up" - Jumbo-Visma suffocation getting riders down says Larry Warbasse

Former American national champion Larry Warbasse competed in the tenth Grand Tour of his career at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana. One of the many riders in the peloton unable to take a stage win, the AG2R Citroen Team rider admits the constant suffocation of the racing from Jumbo-Visma has affected morale in the peloton.

"It's difficult for a lot of us because there haven't been many opportunities for a lot of us on this Vuelta," the 33-year-old said on the Eurosport GCN Cycling Show. "I would say normally, the Vuelta is one of the best Grand Tours to come to, to go for your chances in the breakaway, to try and win a stage like that. We knew already before the start, there was such a good start list, not just Jumbo but UAE, Remco and everyone, but Jumbo has been snatching everyone."

As Jumbo-Visma took overall victory through Sepp Kuss, the entirety of the peloton with Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic 2nd and 3rd respectively and taking a total of five stage wins, their dominance of the race was tangible.

"It makes it tough because even on the last days you can try and get in the breakaway, but then the breakaway doesn't go to the line either. It has been a pretty closed race, and it is not easy when you're trying to get something out of the race," Warbasse continues. "A lot of guys are suffering and are a bit fed up, but that is what it is."

"Jumbo are a level above almost everyone else in the race right now and I think it's going to force a lot of teams to go back to the drawing board this winter and try to catch up," he concludes, with an eye on 2024. "I think all of us, all the other teams, have some work to do. Whether we like it or not, they are the best, they have every right to win every stage."