Jumbo-Visma manager confirms that "winning the Tour de France is still our goal" and is keen on UAE's vulnerability
Cycling
Jumbo-Visma find themselves in a similar position to 2020 where they are actively fighting for the Tour de France victory, however team manager Richard Plugge is keen on pointing out the differences in mentality, strategy and assets that the Dutch team have to battle Tadej Pogacar.
“I think we can be half satisfied. We had hoped in the first week to strike a blow and not lose a blow. We can already see Tadej Pogačar riding in the yellow jersey. The bad luck that Primož Roglič had in the cobblestone stage is unfortunate," Plugge told Wielerflits. The chaotic stage into Arenberg proved costly for Primoz Roglic, however Jonas Vingegaard's GC ambitions remained intact after strong collective work. The Slovenian though dislocated his shoulder in a late crash, and suffered a time loss of around two minutes.
"The fact that he is more than two minutes away is a disappointment. For the rest, I think we can look back positively," he added. "Wout van Aert is in very good shape in the green jersey. We won two stages and had the yellow jersey for four days. And Jonas Vingegaard is still in good shape in second place. Winning the Tour de France is still our goal.”
As for how the team will eye the coming stages, Plugge offers some inside perspective: "The fact that Vingegaard is still less than a minute behind offers perspective. And Primož is a fighter, a warrior. Of course we would have preferred to see him closer in the standings, but to have him in this position also opens up a lot of opportunities. If necessary, he can attack early in a mountain stage."
Jumbo-Visma have shown depth in all terrains and are seemingly in superiority for the high mountains - also benefiting from inferior workload in comparison to UAE Team Emirates. He senses that Pogacar is under pressure. “Pogačar's team is vulnerable. He himself is super strong. Indeed, the fact that he is fighting for every second indicates that he realizes that he may need that lead someday," he said.
Sure enough with most of the race's decisive stages ahead, the Tour is yet to reach it's crucial phase. "In 2020 we got the lid on our noses, but this was also an important lesson. In recent years we have developed very well as a team in this area. We are a lot further ahead strategically, tactically and in keeping the peace. Now we know what to do and especially what not to do," Plugge concluded.
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.
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- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
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