Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge on Vuelta a Espana winner decision: Picking a winner is like choosing between your own children
Cycling
There wasn't an order given to the Jumbo-Visma riders on who was to win the Vuelta a Espana. Merijn Zeeman has revealed that. Richard Plugge, team CEO, shares the same opinion and says that it was not possible to make a fair choice.
"It was a great situation that we found ourselves in but at the same time one that never happened before and for which there was no textbook solution," Richard Plugge told Het Laatste Nieuws. "We had good discussions with all parties involved. We listened to everyone's opinion, put everything on the table, drew up a plan based on that, and asked if everyone was OK with it. As a team, we were true to our values and racing philosophy: winning together."
Maybe there has never been a case of "winning together" as sharp as what the Dutch team did during these three weeks, dominating with comfort the overall classification right from the first multi-mountain stage. Soon enough it had become clear the winner would come from Jumbo-Visma, however who would take the title was uncertain as Sepp Kuss had a headstart after stage 6, but Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic looked superior in the mountains.
Picking a winner "is like choosing between your own children. We just wanted to win the Vuelta. With whom it made no difference," he says. Eventually, after the Alto de l'Angliru the choice was made (likely between the riders themselves) that Kuss was to take the victory if nothing went wrong. "It's great that two great people, based on their personal leadership, allowed him to do it. Though Kuss has, of course, earned it himself. Deserved is another bizarre word. In top sport, you don't deserve anything, you go and get it yourself."
To improve on a result, and a Grand Tour campaign such as this year's, is basically impossible. Performance wise however the Dutch team - as all teams - can change and improve slight details. "Merijn Zeeman and I are evaluating what we can learn from this Vuelta to do even better next year. We owe it to ourselves to look in the mirror because before you know it you will be overtaken."
"Our only objective that we didn't achieve this year was winning the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. There's still a lot to be done. This is a very nice 'crown' on a decade of hard work, but I'm not going to sit back now. We have drawn up a major plan towards 2030. There's room for even more crowns."
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 3visitors 3
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Pidcock finished 9th place, 29 minutes down. he is a helluva rider, so gutsy. and he is amazing at all disciplines. but this headline is . . .mij09-11-2026
- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
Loading
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta23 You can feel the 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞. ❤️ Sepp’s mom and girlfriend, they must be proud. 🥰 #colouringhistory
Write a comment