Visma DS admits cruel reality about their race without Wout Van Aert: "We simply weren't good enough to compete today"
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike was unable to get involved in the battle for the stage win in the final regular stage of the Vuelta a España. Sepp Kuss crossed the line in 25th place which puts him into 13th in the overall standings ahead of the final time trial.
"We had the plan to go for the stage win," said sports director Grischa Niermann after the race. "That could have been possible either through the breakaway or with a strong Sepp. But unfortunately, we have to admit that we weren't good enough today. Sepp had to drop back on the penultimate climb. It is what it is for now. The guys certainly fought and did what they could, but we simply weren't good enough to compete today."
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Overall classification of the Vuelta a Espana 2024 after stage 20:
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
| 01 | Roglic Primoz | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | 81:22:19 |
| 02 | O'Connor Ben | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale | + 02:02 |
| 03 | Mas Enric | Movistar Team | + 02:11 |
| 04 | Carapaz Richard | EF Education-EasyPost | + 03:00 |
| 05 | Gaudu David | Groupama - FDJ | + 04:48 |
| 06 | Skjelmose Mattias | Lidl-Trek | + 05:18 |
| 07 | Lipowitz Florian | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | + 06:26 |
| 08 | Landa Mikel | Soudal - Quick-Step | + 06:57 |
| 09 | Sivakov Pavel | UAE Team Emirates | + 08:50 |
| 10 | Rodriguez Carlos | INEOS Grenadiers | + 10:31 |
| 11 | Dunbar Edward | Team Jayco AlUla | + 13:15 |
| 12 | Yates Adam | UAE Team Emirates | + 14:06 |
| 13 | Kuss Sepp | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 17:49 |
| 14 | Rodriguez Cristian | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 18:24 |
| 15 | Martin Guillaume | Cofidis | + 28:50 |
| 16 | Fortunato Lorenzo | Astana Qazaqstan Team | + 37:28 |
| 17 | Parra José Félix | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 48:14 |
| 18 | Vlasov Aleksandr | Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | + 53:22 |
| 19 | Kruijswijk Steven | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 59:39 |
| 20 | Berthet Clément | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale | + 01:01:57 |
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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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Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
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