La Vuelta: 'They're annoying me now!' - Adam Blythe compares Jumbo-Visma to Ineos after latest star signings

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 19/08/2022 at 17:26 GMT

Jumbo-Visma are already a dominant force in cycling, so Adam Blythe summed up the feeling of many fans of the sport when he gave his reaction to the team snapping up both Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle on day one of the 2022 Vuelta a Espana. Blythe could not believe that they were able to sign the duo and add to what is already a very impressive roster of talent.

Adam Blythe joked about being annoyed at how dominant Jumbo-Visma are threatening to be after the team signed Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle for 2023 and beyond.

Kelderman finished fifth in the 2021 Tour de France and third in the 2020 Giro d'Italia, while Van Baarle secured stunning victories at Paris-Roubaix this year and at Dwars door Vlaanderen in the last campaign.

Jumbo-Visma's impressive additions came on the same day it was announced that Richard Carapaz would leave the Ineos Grenadiers to join EF Education for the 2023 season.

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Speaking on Eurosport prior to the start of the Stage 1 team time trial at La Vuelta, Blythe gave his reaction to the pair of signings and said with a smile that the Dutch team were "annoying" him with how good they are and the riders they continue to add.

"I think the pressure is going to be on from start to finish no matter where they are," Blythe said of Jumbo-Visma.

"But definitely, being here [the Netherlands], they will want to just win everything, as much as they possibly can.

"They will just want to clean up. But the way that team have been going since the start of the year, they will just want to carry that all the way now until they get to the end of the season.

"If they can do this [win La Vuelta] with Primoz, it has got to be one of the best seasons of any team ever, really.

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"I love Jumbo-Visma, but they are annoying me now with how good the riders have been in that team!" Blythe joked.

"Do you know what I mean? You have got Dylan van Baarle, you have got Wout van Aert in there as well.

"It is just getting stronger and stronger now. It is like Ineos in 2014 when they just got all the best riders in."

Dan Lloyd added: "There have been three announcements in one day with Richard Carapaz leaving Ineos and Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle going to Jumbo-Visma.

"It is very interesting all three announcements being made at the start of La Vuelta and all three riders are competing for their current teams."

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Stream La Vuelta live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.

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