The Vuelta home games were a complete success for the Dutch
By Kevin Kemp
Mike Teunissen (Jumbo – Visma) in the red jersey leads his teammates. | Photo: Cor Vos
08/22/2022 | (rsn) – The home game of the Dutch team Jumbo – Visma at the Vuelta a Espana lasts three days. On the first day of rest, the team of the overall leader Edoardo Affini can look back with satisfaction at the start of the tour on the trip to Spain. The team won the time trial of the team, the leader Primoz Roglic is placed as the best of the favorites and the three assistants were awarded with the red leader’s jersey for their services.
In the first three days, the red shirt has become a prize change within the ranks of Jumbo – Vismas. First Robert Gesink was allowed to run, although before the race it was discussed within the team that the Dutchman should cross the finish line first. In 2007, the 36-year-old turned sponsor at Rabobank, the predecessor of today’s jumbo team. Before that, he also drove for a year in the Dutch development team. Despite his fifth place in the Tour de France in 2010 and sixth place five years later, he was unable to achieve his great hopes in the Tour, so wearing the leader’s jersey was the highlight of his career.
The next day, as planned, he had to hand it over to Mike Teunissen. “It’s okay, I had a good day. I rode 150 kilometers with a real smile on my face,” the veteran told Dutch TV channel NOS after finishing the second stage. Teunissen finished this second session in fourth place in the sprint, and he took the red jersey as the best driver in his team. But instead of taking part in the sprint on the third day to reach the top position, Teunissen rode more in the wind in the last few kilometers and finished 150th.
According to the Dutch, Affini is also allowed to wear red.
As agreed, Affini is the best jumbo professional in the 20th place. Since his increased stage layout makes the smallest number of jumbo riders at the same time, the time trial specialist takes the jersey. “This is really great. It is something special that we can share this moment together. you To receive the shirt now has a very special feeling. I thank my teammates,” said the Italian happily at the microphone of the Dutch cycling gate Wielerflits.
His sports director Grischa Niermann is also happy. The German told Wielerflits that “Edo just had a really big engine, especially on the flats,”. “He is also one of the engines in the time trial of the team along with Rohan Dennis. Edoardo has earned this shirt himself. He always gives his best for the team and the captain, so he really deserves it.”
It is questionable whether the hiking award can be passed among the assistants in the team, because the fourth stage from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia is already tough. The main focus in Spain is again on large destinations. “Tonight we fly there and then we try to win the Vuelta with Primoz,” said Teunissen. The stage destination in Laguardia is on the mountain, in addition to Roglic, the good climbers Sam Oomen and Sepp Kuss are still at the time of Affini. So it is possible that another jumbo assistant will slide into the red shirt. If not, Roglic himself is the favorite to take over the position. Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) was the first runner 13 seconds behind the team time trial winner.