As Cristiano Ronaldo puts the boot in, Jumbo-Visma talk to Manchester United about tactics and managing egos
The Dutch team’s senior sports director has spoken to Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag manager for sporting advice

Senior management at top team Jumbo-Visma have been seeking advice from their counterparts at Manchester United Football Club, just as the 13-time Premier League champions are reeling from criticism from superstar player Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to a report on Dutch website Wielerflits, the squad’s chief sports director, Merijn Zeeman recently travelled to Manchester for a meeting with United’s manager Erik ten Hag. The two Dutchmen discussed tactics and competition within the their respective squads.
And it’s not the first time the two men have talked about what they can learn from each other, Zeeman admitting after the Tour de France that he had received help from his compatriot.
“He is someone from a completely different sport, but I wanted to understand from him: how do you come up with tactics? What is the essence of your sport for you? Before you make a game plan, what's behind it? I had the opportunity to talk to him about that a few times,” Zeeman said.
The two teams have had differing fortunes over recent years. The cycling team have gained more success than Manchester United, who have not won the Premier League since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013, since then they have only four trophies to their name.
By contrast the last four years have been huge for Jumbo-Visma. Along with Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France victory earlier this year, the squad have tasted Grand tour success with Primož Roglič winning three consecutive editions of Vuelta España.
But it’s not only Grand Tours, they have one week stage race general classifications, cobbled classics and wins in a huge variety of other events on their collective palmarès. They can win everything from mountain days, sprint stages and even team time trials.
In 2022 alone they bagged 45 wins with 11 of their 30 men getting on the score sheet.
Names like Vingegaard and Roglič would be enough for many teams to manage and support, but they also have the likes of Christophe Laporte, Tiesj Benoot and Olav Kooij on their books. Not to forget Wout van Aert, arguably the sport’s best rider.
Add to them the likes of Paris-Roubaix winner Dylan van Baarle, who joins from INEOS Grenadiers next year and there are plenty of egos and ambitions to manage.
“Because Erik ten Hag also had to deal with that at Ajax and now he also has that at United I talked to him about this,” Zeeman continued.
“As a coach, how do you deal with players who have won everything and suddenly find themselves on the bench? In the past, athletes had to accept that. At the time, there was less attention for the human approach, I think that is not appropriate in this day and age.”
That is certainly a problem Ten Hag is dealing with at the moment, with United’s Portuguese superstar Ronaldo professing his lack of support for the Dutchman in an interview with Piers Morgan.
But we all know cycling is a great stress relief, so perhaps that’s why the Dutch manager has been out on his bike around Cheshire. And it's also not the only football and cycling knowledge-share currently taking place - Team Ineos Grenadiers team principal Dave Brailsford is assisting OGC Nice from the comfort of a caravan.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
-
‘Moments to live and remember’: Roglič set to win the pink jersey after winning extraordinary penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas loses the pink jersey to Slovenian by just 14 seconds
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
The best Memorial Day deals for cyclists
Memorial Day is coming up in the United States. We've rounded up the best Memorial Day deals for cyclists including bikes, apparel, gear and accessories.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
‘I was sick everywhere’ - Brit Tom Gloag fights illness and embraces 'ignorance' at Giro d’Italia
The 21-year-old Londoner on his dramatic debut Grand Tour call up, throwing up on a climb, and trying to help his Jumbo-Visma team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'We just hope for the best, huh' - Covid's return impacts Giro d'Italia
Jumbo-Visma, Bahrain-Victorious and Trek-Segafredo have all been affected by the virus in the run up to the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'All the pressure was on him': Philippe Gilbert impressed by Kasper Asgreen’s form ahead of Paris-Roubaix
Danish rider finished seventh for Soudal Quick-Step after Patrick Lefevere called for riders to ‘save team’s honour’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard triumphs on stage three of Itzulia Basque Country to return to winning ways
Low-speed incident takes Richard Carapaz and Sergio Higuita out of contention on vertiginous finish
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Five things we learned from the Tour of Flanders 2023: Kasper Asgreen could save Quick-Step's spring
Jumbo-Visma are fallible after all, and SD Worx's dominance continues with Roubaix in sight
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour of Flanders 2023: Five men and five women to watch on Sunday
Taking a closer look at the favourites ahead of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis • Published