Controversial Rumors of Jumbo-Visma Soudal-QuickStep Merger Rock Cycling

The renowned cycling website WielerFlits dropped a bombshell on Sunday evening with a breaking report that Soudal-QuickStep is working on a merger deal with Jumbo-Visma to create a new cycling superteam.

Talks between the teams have been ongoing since mid-July, with Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-QuickStep being combined for the start of the 2024 season under the name Soudal-Visma or Visma-Soudal.

The Jumbo-Visma Juggernaut: Secrets Behind The 2023 Clean Sweep

Jumbo-Visma managed to win all three Grand Tours in the same year, with three different riders claiming victory in the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España. Not even the dominant Team Sky achieved such a feat back in their heyday.

So, what exactly drives their consistent success?

Sepp Kuss: America’s New Cycling Idol

It’s been a full ten years, but America can finally celebrate having a Grand Tour champion once more.

This past Sunday, Sepp Kuss clinched victory at the Vuelta a España, earning the honor of being the first American to win such a prestigious cycling race since Chris Horner’s win in 2013.

Vuelta a España 2023: Sepp Kuss Protected as Evenepoel Shines in Stage 18 Solo Win

A resilient and determined Remco Evenepoel dominated the day, conquering each summit as it arose, sealing the KOM competition atop La Cruz de Linares.

However, the biggest question hanging over the day after the Stage 17 drama was whether Sepp Kuss’ red jersey would be attacked by his Jumbo-Visma teammates, Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič.

Vuelta a España 2023, Stage 17: Angliru Delivers High Drama as Kuss Clings to Red Jersey by a Thread

Sepp Kuss clawed his way back to defend his red jersey by seconds after being dropped by Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič on the savage gradients and swirling fog of the Altu de L’Angliru.

Vuelta A España 2023: Vingegaard’s Win on Stage 16 Throws Red Jersey Battle Wide Open

Stage 16 of the Vuelta a España was characterized by blistering speeds, strategic decisions, and emotionally charged moments.

As the riders embarked on the route, they were met with varying weather conditions – from torrential downpours to brief spells of dryness. All eyes were on Jumbo-Visma’s trio and the UAE Team’s tactics for their General Classification contenders.

Vuelta A España 2023: Jonas Vingegaard Reigns Supreme In Jumbo-Visma Stage 13 Masterclass

Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line in first, laying down a dazzling performance in his favorite playing ground, the high mountains. It seems rather fitting that the champion of the Tour de France won an emphatic victory on a day that the Vuelta a España climbed an iconic French climb, the Col du Tourmalet. Shortly after … Read more

Vuelta a España 2023: Remco Evenepoel Injured in Freak Crash After Brilliant Stage 3 Win

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) launched a blistering attack on the final hairpin of the mighty Arinsal, fighting off a determined Jonas Vingegaard, who was in hot pursuit. The first mountain stage of Vuelta a España 2023 lived up to expectations as the GC favorites battled up steep slopes. Remco was involved in a collision after the … Read more

Vuelta a España Favorites: Who Will Win the Red Jersey in 2023?

With the Vuelta a España 2023 just weeks away, attention is inevitably turning to the red-hot favorites for the maillot rojo (red jersey).

The Vuelta may be considered the least prestigious of the cycling calendar’s three Grand Tours, but there’s a whispered sense among cycling insiders that it’s set to shrug off that position to be the most thrilling General Classification battle of the season.

Tour de France 2023: The Story of the Race, Stage by Stage

With Jonas Vingegaard’s second Tour de France victory confirmed, it’s time to look back on the drama provided by three weeks of scarcely-believable action in the great race’s 110th edition.

Join us as we run back through all the action, sub-plots, and headline-making drama of the 2023 Tour de France.

Tour de France 2023: Vingegaard Retains Title as Meeus Wins Champs-Élysées Photo Finish

Stage 21 of the 2023 Tour de France saw a thrilling conclusion in Paris as Jordi Meeus of Bora emerged victorious in a razor-thin sprint finish.

The final stage of the race started off as a relaxed procession toward the French capital, with riders enjoying the tradition of champagne toasts and photo opportunities.

However, once the peloton entered Paris, the atmosphere shifted from casual to competitive.

Tour de France 2023: Pogačar Punches Through Competition to Win Spectacular Stage 20

The penultimate stage of the 2023 Tour de France turned into a tense, tactically charged race with Tadej Pogacar delivering a stunning performance to win the stage.

Beginning the day, the spotlight was on Thibaut Pinot, the French rider attempting to seize the opportunity for a home victory.

Tour De France 2023: Pogačar Capitulates as Felix Gall Claims “Queen” Stage 17 Victory

AG2R Citroën’s Felix Gall launched an impressive solo attack with 6 km to go of the toughest climb of this year’s Tour – the Col de Loze – and held his lead to the finish despite the efforts of Simon Yates and Jonas Vingegaard.

Tour de France 2023: Wout Poels Takes Superb Stage 15 Victory as Vingegaard Foils Pogačar

Wout Poels claimed a superb first Tour de France win on Stage 15 in Saint-Gervais de Mont-Blanc, as Tadej Pogačar failed to land a hammer blow against Jonas Vingegaard in the battle for yellow. Poels dropped Wout van Aert decisively on the final climb, pushing on to the line with an advantage of over two … Read more

Tour de France 2023: Vingegaard and Pogačar Fireworks End In Stalemate as Rodriguez Poaches Stage 14 Victory

Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed a brilliant victory on Stage 14 with a nerveless descent into Morzine as the electrifying duel between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard ultimately ended in a stalemate.

The final climb up the hors catégorie Col de Joux Plane delivered high drama as anticipated, but neither Pogačar nor Vingegaard could land a knockout blow in what became a cagey, tactical contest.

Tour de France 2023: Kwiatkowski Takes Brilliant Stage 13 Victory on Grand Colombier, Pogačar Intensifies GC Contest

In what turned out to be an electrifying Stage 13 of the 2023 Tour de France, Michał Kwiatkowski of Ineos Grenadiers broke away from the pack to achieve a well-deserved victory atop the Grand Colombier.

The battle commenced right from the start at Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, with the peloton showcasing an impressive average speed of over 50km/h.

Tour de France 2023: Jasper Philipsen Clinches Fourth Win of the Tour on Stage 11

Stage 11 of the Tour de France 2023 saw Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck secure his fourth win of the Tour in a thrilling sprint finish in Moulins.

The stage, stretching from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins over 179.8 kilometers, was a relatively flat affair, making it a prime opportunity for the sprinters to shine.

Tour de France 2023: Philipsen Strikes Again to Snatch Third Victory in Stage 7

In a gripping finale to the Stage 7 of the 110th Tour de France, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) clinched his third win of the 2023 edition, defeating Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) in a heart-stopping sprint finish.

When Cavendish, seeking to break the record for the most stage wins in Tour history, took a flyer and hit out for glory, Philipsen had to react swiftly.

Tour de France 2023: Pogačar Delivers Devastating Response With Statement Stage 6 Victory

Tadej Pogačar delivered the perfect response to his Stage 5 struggles with a destructive late attack to drop Jonas Vingegaard and claim an epic victory on Stage 6 of the 2023 Tour de France.

Even more important than the psychological victory of decisively dropping Vingegaard for the first time in his career – just a day after many were questioning his chances of recovering any kind of title push – was the 28 seconds Pogačar took out of his Danish rival, reducing the GC deficit by half.

Tour de France 2023: Jai Hindley Wins Stage 5 After An Impressive Solo Attack In The Mountains

Bora – Hansgrohe’s Jai Hindley showed his General Classification intentions by sustaining a powerful solo attack for almost 20 km to take the first mountain stage of this year’s Tour.

It was the Australian’s first stage win in his debut Tour de France, after winning the Giro d’Italia last year. Hindley snatched the yellow jersey from UAE’s Adam Yates, on what was a poor day for UAE.

Riding Through Time: History of Le Tour Told in 15 Iconic Tour de France Bikes

Fasten your helmets and prepare to embark on a riveting journey that cycles through over a century of pedal-pushing evolution, exploring the transformation and innovation of historic Tour de France bikes.

We’ll explore the nuances of each epoch, focusing on the innovations and adaptations that have transformed the face of professional cycling.

Tour de France Tactics Masterclass: Insider’s Guide to the Strategies Used by Top Teams

The Tour de France isn’t just a test of physical talent and endurance; it is a chess game on wheels, a spectacle of strategy where every decision could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

In this article, I’ll be drawing on my experience of elite-level road racing to demystify the fascinating tactics and intricate strategies that shape the outcomes of this iconic race.

The Hautacam Climb: Ultimate Cyclist’s Guide

The Hautacam is a sensational climb and one on the bucket list of many cyclists due to its infamous history and testing gradients.

Although it is not as long as nearby behemoths such as the Col du Tourmalet, it still packs a punch. It is well known for boasting an abundance of steep gradients, which are littered at random points throughout the climb.

Jonas Vingegaard: Everything You Need To Know About The Tour de France Champion

Seemingly from nowhere, Jonas Vingegaard has risen to the pinnacle of world cycling, taking the yellow jersey in the most recent Tour de France. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past two years, you might not have even heard of Jonas Vingegaard. Having entered his first Grand Tour in 2020, he has … Read more

Prize Money For The Tour de France: How Much Do Pro Cyclists Earn?

The Tour de France is one of the most iconic events in world sport. Famous winners include the likes of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, and Bernard Hinault. In the modern era, cyclists like Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins have won eternal glory at Le Tour. And while competition winners can expect to see their names … Read more