"I'm getting a bit tired of all that bullsh*t" - Robert Gesink fumes at criticism of Jumbo-Visma tactics

Robert Gesink is heading Jumbo-Visma into an historic Vuelta a Espana, where Jumbo-Visma is winning their third Grand Tour of the season and finishing with the entire podium. Unheard success in cycling history, but despite this the team has been heavily criticized for apparent attitudes towards race leader Sepp Kuss. Gesink was not happy when asked about team tactics.

“If we had made our tactical plan based on social media, we would not have been in such a good position. We are still at 1, 2 and 3 and Sepp is in the red, so I'm getting a bit tired of all that bullshit,” Gesink said in an interview with GCN. “We win five stages, I'm working hard and I don't feel like I have to explain what our tactical plan is. Sepp is in the lead and is one of my best friends. I hope he holds out until Madrid.”

Over the course of the past few weeks many fans, as well as a few analysts and riders, have come out against the attacks of Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta, whilst Kuss led the race. A fan favourite and hard working domestique, his possible Grand Tour win became desired by many, and emotions have since been very high. They hit a climax at the Alto de l'Angliru as Kuss was dropped by his two teammates. Yesterday at the Cruz de Linares however the team rode to preserve the overall classification as it was.

“I'm getting a bit tired of all those questions. We all know what is happening and I don't think the criticism is fair. We are all doing a good job and have already won five stage victories. The other two are just behind Sepp," he continues. "Above all, I think we put in the best performance in the Vuelta that anyone has ever seen. I'm not going to explain our tactical ideas, especially not based on what people on social media think.”

Kuss now, on the third Grand Tour of his season, and after having assisted both Roglic and Vingegaard to victories at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France - as well as several other Grand Tours in the past - is set to become the newest Grand Tour winner, as long as he does not crash or crack until Madrid.

“We went into this race with two clear leaders, and Sepp did a great job within our tactical plan. A plan that we came up with ourselves," he says. "That put him in this position in the first place. Now it is easy to complain about our tactics, while Sepp is in the red because of our tactics. That is a circle.”