For Jumbo-Visma the last few months have a tumultuous rollercoaster of emotions. The highs of Vuelta a Espana success, the controversy and confusion surrounding a potential merger with Soudal - Quick-Step and the much-talked-about departure from the team of Primoz Roglic.
Dylan van Baarle was in the thick of most of the drama and on the AD podcast In Koers, he discussed his thoughts with Wout Poels. "I think it is nice for everyone that there is now clarity about the merger," he begins. "I wasn't worried about my place, but I was mainly curious to see what would come of this. I think it was more difficult for the boys from Soudal - Quick-Step, because they didn't know whether they would join the new team."
Whilst the rumoured merger now looks to have fallen through, van Baarle that whilst the talk was ongoing, riders weren't fully informed on the updates. "I thought it was only logical that we were not aware of all the conversations," he explains.
"It would have been a special twist if those two teams had gone together. I don't really see the advantage in turning two very strong teams into an even stronger team. A lot of riders and staff would then be left without work. I had the feeling that more riders at Soudal - Quick-Step were stressed than at Jumbo-Visma," adds Poels.
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One man who will leave Jumbo-Visma though is Primoz Roglic. Van Baarle rode alongside the Slovenian at the Vuelta a Espana and although he will sad to see the reigning Giro d'Italia winner depart, he understands the decision. "It's a shame that he's leaving. Roglic has been the starting point of success at Jumbo-Visma. I understand that he wants to do everything he can to win the Tour de France," concludes van Baarle.
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