"They are incredibly versatile. They can hold their own both on the flat and in the mountains" - Marc Reef praises varied qualities of Jumbo-Visma's Vuelta lineup

Jumbo-Visma have officially announced their lineup for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana. Although the two-pronged attack of Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard understandably garners much of the attention, sports director Marc Reef has lavished praise on the star duo's support riders.

Alongside the reigning Giro d'Italia and Tour de France champions, the likes of Sepp Kuss and Wilco Kelderman are expected to be the luxury, super domestiques for the mountains. "Both were very important during the Giro and the Tour,” Reef says to Jumbo-Visma's official website. "We followed them up well after the Tour. Kuss crashed in the final of the Tour de France, but he recovered quicker than expected. After a period of rest, both Kuss and Kelderman have been able to resume training, and we think they are ready. Their role will be similar to their role in the Tour.”

Also involved for Jumbo-Visma and key to any Red Jersey bid will be the remaining four riders, Robert Gesink, Attila Valter, Dylan van Baarle and Jan Tratnik. "All four of them have their specific qualities, but above all, they are incredibly versatile," Reef says in a glowing endorsement of his team's riders. "They can hold their own both on the flat and in the mountains. They will be essential throughout the Tour, starting with the team time trial in Barcelona.”

"It is an ambitious goal that we dare to declare and for which we can field a very versatile and strong eight-man squad in Spain,” says the sports director on Jumbo-Visma's goal to take all three Grand Tours in a calendar year. "We are ready for anything with this team, and I look forward to starting in Barcelona with these riders.”

"Vingegaard and Roglic will start the race both as our leaders," he confirms. "Roglic had an excellent preparation with a rest after the Giro and then altitude training followed by the Tour of Burgos. Vingegaard took a break after winning the Tour but then started training again, and the signals we got from him are also very good. The big goal is for one of them to reach Madrid in the red jersey.”