"Jumbo-Visma manages a setback extremely well" - Analysts discuss where Soudal Quick-Step need to improve
Cycling
Jumbo-Visma have been the all conquering, dynamic, dominant force in the peloton so far this season, everything Soudal - Quick-Step haven't been. Tom Boonen and fellow Wielerclub Wattage pundits discuss where Quick-Step are going wrong.
Although Jumbo-Visma are now the undoubted top dogs in terms of the Classics so far this season, it's not so long ago that Soudal - Quick-Step held that title. "In the winter, no investments were made in the core for the Flemish classics," Boonen criticises. "No new riders have been added, so that the riders for the Flemish races are sure of their place and are not challenged."
"If you were to bring in a rider who is better than the current one, it will immediately start to bubble again," Boonen suggests. "Alaphilippe has fallen ill and is constantly fighting to get to a level that is unattainable. That is bad luck. Asgreen is also not good. If the leaders are not up to standard, the pyramid collapses."
Compare that to Jumbo-Visma and it's like night and day Boonen believes. "Jumbo-Visma manages to manage a setback extremely well. They keep the sick/injured rider calm," he explains. "Continue to support him in terms of nutrition and training and make him believe in the project that will make him better."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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