> Team manager Richard Plugge doesn't mince his words in the latest WielerFlits Podcast and former rider Nathan Van Hooydonck underlines that. When both riders are in top form, Plugge's Danish leader is the better of the two. "Due to circumstances, Jonas was simply less in the final week last year. I do think that UAE Emirates XRG has made progress after the time trial to Combloux in the 2023 Tour. But so have we. And we are mainly looking at ourselves, how we can improve our performance. Compared to last year, we have made another big step in that regard."

My god what did they do to him