“The podium places at the Vuelta already seem to have been taken, but then they also want to steal the stage successes" - Wout Poels laments Jumbo-Visma's suffocation of Vuelta a Espana

Wout Poels has come close a few times at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana without managing to add a stage win to his palmares. Prior to another potential opportunity on stage 16, the Dutchman lamented the suffocation of Jumbo-Visma and the lack of breakaway opportunities.

“Unfortunately there are not many left. In recent weeks, Jumbo-Visma constantly controlled the stages in which I was comfortable, while they let go in the flatter stages," the 35-year-old Dutchman of Bahrain - Victorious tells the podcast AD In Koers. "It doesn't make sense to me. That dominance is sometimes annoying.”

Poels did manage to take a stage win earlier this year at the Tour de France ahead of Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert. His chances aren't totally crushed at this race, although he isn't entirely hopeful. “The podium places at the Vuelta already seem to have been taken, but then they also want to steal the day's successes. That is a bit difficult sometimes," he explains.

"When Dylan van Baarle recently took the lead, Landa said: Oh no, here we go again. If you have that effect on Landa..." Poels concludes. “No, it doesn't make me grumpy. We continue to go first every day. This is also part of it, of course.”