Johan Bruyneel on Ayuso and Mas' lack of ambition: "They were happy to follow the wheel: it's frustrating but what can you do?"
Cycling
Johan Bruyneel spoke on the Lance Armstrong The Move YouTube podcast about Jumbo-Visma's Vuelta a Espana finish, with Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic working for Sepp Kuss, and the null chances of riders like Juan Ayuso or Enric Mas to do anything significant in the race.
The former US Postal sport director believes that Jumbo has closed the wounds in these last stages by clearly controlling the race for Sepp Kuss to win the Vuelta a España: "There was criticism after stages 16 and 17, especially after the Angliru, yesterday we talked about Primoz's statements and I think before the penultimate stage he put things in order by stating that he is happy for Kuss, that he is a good friend and that he agrees with the team's strategy."
"The photo with the 3 of them entering the finish line hand in hand shows what this has meant to them. I think it's clear now that we were speculating from the outside, but we didn't know what was going on inside. The other day it was Jonas who set the pace for Kuss on the last climb and today (yesterday) it was Primoz who intentionally controlled the race in El Escorial".
The success of the Dutch team is resounding and sometimes from the outside we don't see things the way they are happening inside: "I think we criticize from the outside sometimes but in the end these are riders who ride to win and some situations are difficult to accept, but beyond everything they are professionals. It's incredible what they have done winning the 3 grand tours and finishing with the 3 of them on the podium of the Vuelta".
Interesting circumstance is that it was Jumbo itself that created the chaos: "There are many articles that talked about Jonas saying after the second rest day that the race was for Kuss and it was the team that kept leaving it open, something Roglic agreed with. I think the criticism on social media had an impact on the issue, but in the end everything has ended in the best possible way.
Is it embarrassing for the other teams to see what has happened? "It's clear seeing what happened in Angliru that the 3 strongest riders got away and nobody could follow them. Ayuso couldn't, Mas couldn't and Landa only at the start. It's something unique, but really the only surprise is Kuss, I think we all believed that Jonas and Primoz were going to be on the top step of podium.
On whether something could have happened with Alberto Contador that did not happen with Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas:
"They were happy to be there. Ayuso tried a couple of times, Enric said it was empty. They haven't had the legs. The reality is hard. But Primoz and Jonas are two of the three strongest tour riders and Pogacar wasn't here. It's frustrating but what can you do? It can't be very motivating to see the Jumbo-Visma roster in Barcelona and wonder what you're going to do."
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Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- I said looking at the photo it doesn’t appear she deviated. Chill out, not stating my word is the final judgement. Just commenting that based on the photo I don’t see it. And BTW the Dutch coach even said she didn’t impede her.mij08-11-2026
- Blah Blah Blah !frieders308-11-2026
- MS said she was changing gears so that caused her slight deviation. Nothing was intentional.frieders308-11-2026
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