The Vuelta’s hardest summit end up to now at Javalambre has created a number of query marks for GC contenders like Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers). However for one group, Jumbo-Visma, the present GC state of affairs might hardly have been higher.
A solo win for Sepp Kuss at Javalambre after he and three teammates received within the break of the day accomplished Jumbo-Visma’s ‘set’ of stage wins in all three Grand Excursions this 12 months, and the American has now moved into second place total, simply eight seconds down on race chief Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)
Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard, after tough begins to the Vuelta, each confirmed a marked enchancment in situation and managed to drop each Evenepoel and Thomas. Vingegaard is now mendacity eleventh at 2:52 on Martínez, whereas Roglič is in twelfth at 2:58, confirming that with three riders effectively positioned on GC, Jumbo-Visma are wanting very very like the group to beat on this 12 months’s Vuelta.
When a small group of reporters put it to sports activities director Marc Reef on the stage 7 begin that the squad’s present state of affairs was bordering on the right, he smiled and replied “you might say that.”
“Stage 6 was at all times going to be a tough day and we thought we might put Soudal-QuickStep underneath strain, however maybe additionally to do some issues ourselves.”
“Lastly, although we had a greater state of affairs than we might have anticipated up entrance. With Sepp being up there on GC as effectively, Jonas and Primoz taking time on Remco and the remainder of the GC guys, it labored out higher than we might anticipate.”
Kuss’ total benefit on all of the pre-race contenders presently stands at practically three minutes and that does change the group’s technique for the GC, Reef agreed. Nevertheless, he warned that Tuesday’s particular person time trial subsequent week might see the all-rounders regain floor on an out-and-out climber like Kuss.
“First they must drop him as effectively in order that’s one thing we are able to revenue from although we additionally must do a TT on Tuesday,” Reef stated. “There are two mountain levels [at Xorret de Catí on Saturday and the Collado de Caravaca de la Cruz on Sunday] first, and once you have a look at previous TTs, Remco ought to regain fairly a little bit of floor on him [Kuss] and maybe overtake him.”
Nevertheless, assuming Kuss doesn’t lose greater than three minutes on the Belgian subsequent Tuesday in Valladolid, “He’ll nonetheless be up there on GC, even when Remco closes in on him. And which means Remco could have three guys to observe, which is nice for us.”
Reef identified that whereas the technique any further for Jumbo might be to take advantage of Kuss’ benefit to the utmost, the group already had appreciable religion in Kuss skill to shine in his personal proper. The group’s technique at Javalambre, the place Dylan Van Baarle, Jan Tratnik and Attila Valter all labored arduous for Kuss, was proof of that.
Kuss’ presence within the Giro this 12 months solely happened after Wilco Kelderman was injured in Tirreno and unable to participate, however his participation within the Tour and Vuelta was at all times deliberate, Reef stated.
The million-dollar query, after all, is whether or not Kuss has any curiosity in going for GC in his third Grand Tour.
The American insisted after stage 6 that he was right here to work for Vingegaard and Roglič, however rival group administrators are adamant that Kuss really could be an total contender. When requested straight, Reef most popular to show the query round and neither verify nor deny that chance.
“So long as our rivals suppose he is a GC contender, that is good for us,” Reef stated with a smile, and when requested once more if Kuss was there for the general or not, merely added, “Nicely, I can repeat what I simply stated to you, when you like.
“He is additionally carried out high tens in GCs in Grand Excursions and he is definitely proven he can keep on a excessive stage in a three-week Grand Tour.”
“But it surely relies upon, additionally, on what occurs the race. Primoz and Vingegaard are our most important contenders, however due to that state of affairs, Sepp can develop into a menace for the opposite groups.”
A stage victory for a group assist rider like Kuss was a really particular second, Reef stated, given how a lot he has contributed to the group’s Grand Tour victories to date. “It means rather a lot to him that he can get his probability, but in addition to the squad.”
On the similar time, Vingegaard and Roglič are additionally doing effectively after a tough begin for each, with Roglič crashing on stage 2 and Vingegaard feeling out of kinds early on.
“They’re each up there. They’d a tricky first few days, however they confirmed they’re up there. And we are able to imagine now that they’ll get higher, so we’re very assured about them.” And with Kuss additionally within the combine, much more so.