Jumbo-Visma DS Merijn Zeeman appreciates neutralization of last kilometers of stage 2: "The organization deserves compliments on the choice they have made"
Cycling
The organization of the Vuelta was still under fire yesterday due to the late time of the team time trial. Today, however, the organization receives compliments. To prevent crashes, the time was measured nine kilometers before the finish.
Sports director of Jumbo-Visma Merijn Zeeman is happy with the choice. "The organization deserves compliments on the choice they have made," he told Eurosport.
"Today's stage indicates that it is important to continue discussing safety in the race together with the UCI and the various teams," Zeeman continues. "How do we behave when these are the circumstances? In general I would like to thank the ASO for setting the time nine kilometers from the finish."
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On the other hand, bonus seconds could still be earned at the top of Montjuïc and at the finish. For the classification men, these seconds could still have been very valuable. Zeeman also recognizes this: "There are some things to improve, but this was a good first step."
During the stage, Jumbo-Visma did not escape unscathed either. For example, Jonas Vingegaard punctured and Primož Roglič crashed. The Dutch formation then tried in vain to push the pace.
"We are getting more and more to a point where riders understand that they have the right to make their own decisions. There is always a stage to win or a jersey to grab, but at what cost? Today the chance of falling was so great that the riders themselves decided to lower the pace."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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