There are no chains on the Jumbo. The question of whether leader Sepp Kuss, a gregarious member of the Jumbo for years, can win La Vuelta was resolved yesterday. Unfortunately for the affable American rider, the Dutch team has decided to open the race and let its two natural leaders (Vingegaard and Roglic) fight without restrictions. And of course. When the Dane's chains are removed and he is sweet, the exhibition writes itself.
The end of Bejes, a short but very tough pass with ramps of up to 14%, evidenced this decision. The double Tour de France champion crushed all of his rivals and shaved a little more time off Kuss. Roglic also tried it, although with less ambition and strength than his teammate. And at times the leader faltered, who will suffer again tomorrow in the spectacular Angliru.
Vingegaard's attack was accepted by the rest of the rivals. No one responded to the Dane's disengagement with 4.2 kilometers to go. The panic imposed by the Jumbo made everyone try to put away excess clothes. After crossing the finish line, Kuss revealed that they had prepared the stage for Roglic, but since no one followed Vingegaard, he took the glory.
At the finish line, Kuss lost just over a minute and it seems that the end of his dream is getting closer every day. Perhaps his teammates prefer the victory of the American, since it is not usual to see a rider from the lower class of the peloton rub shoulders with the bourgeoisie in a grand tour, but there is no doubt that his sponsors would enjoy more seeing the Dane at the top of the podium. .
Without Evenepoel in the running, the outlook for Juan Ayuso, Enric Mas, Mikel Landa and other competitors is bleak. Day by day the Jumbo dominates the race at will and widens the gap. There are two important rounds left. The Angliru, with the Chordal as a preview, will be the first and can define the leadership of the almost definitively. “The strongest must win and the third week must decide,” Kuss assumes with resignation.
