Stage Report: An odd day in la Vuelta with a giant break going away early. Sepp Kuss was within the lead group as was Lenny Martinez. Kuss put in his profitable transfer on the ultimate climb to carry off Martinez for the win, however the younger Frenchman took the general lead from Remco Evenepoel, who wasn’t on day.
The ultimate Ok of stage 6
Sepp Kuss received the sixth stage of l. a. Vuelta. On the ultimate climb, the Jumbo-Visma rider turned out to be the most effective of a number one group of 42 riders who had damaged away early within the stage. The American stayed forward of Lenny Martinez of Groupama-FDJ, who grabbed the chief’s crimson jersey. Primoz Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard dealt a blow to Remco Evenepoel on the ultimate climb.
Stage win and almost the crimson jersey for Sepp Kuss
Race director, Fernando Escartín: “The climb as much as the Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre turns into more durable in its last slopes, as seen the primary time we completed a stage there, again in 2019. Surely, this stage might nicely mark the primary notable variations within the normal classification.”
Stage 6 profile
Stage 6 of the Vuelta a España promised a spectacular end on the observatory of Javalambre. The Pico del Buitre, because the climb is named, is a sort of Spanish Planche des Belles Filles. Because the climb progresses it will get steeper and steeper. Within the final kilometres, the gradient barely drops under 10%.
The chief’s jerseys at the beginning
Kilometre 0
The peloton didn’t need to watch for the final kilometres and the ultimate climb and made the stage arduous from the beginning of the day. A battle befell between the riders to get into the ‘break of the day’. Wout Poels, Andres Camargo, Thomas De Gendt and Rui Costa had been amongst the motion, however after 60 kilometres there was nonetheless no lead group.
There’s mild on the finish of the tunnel
The peloton popping out of the tunnel
With 116 kilometres to go it was Sylvain Moniquet, Jefferson Cepeda, Javier Romo, Paul Ourselin, Jésus Herrada and Oier Lazkano who acquired away from the peloton. The six in entrance had been then joined by 36 different riders, forming a number one group of 42.
The feed
Jay Vine crashed out
Among the many 42, there have been a lot of harmful riders for the GC: Lenny Martinez, Marc Soler, Sepp Kuss, Wout Poels and David de la Cruz had been shut sufficient to take the general lead. Kuss wasn’t the one Jumbo-Visma rider, there was additionally Jan Tratnik, Attila Valter and Dylan van Baarle, who at one level even had 7 minutes on the peloton.
A giant break acquired away
Jumbo-Visma had been nicely represented within the break
Soudal Fast-Step and Evenepoel didn’t panic, though they misplaced Andrea Bagioli midway by way of the stage because of sickness. With Louis Vervaeke and Mattia Cattaneo, the crew had two riders within the break, so they may let Movistar and INEOS Grenadiers do the work within the peloton. Within the run-up to the Pico del Buitre, the lead of the massive group got here down. On the foot of the climb, the hole was solely 3:45.
Earlier than the beginning Remco Evenepoel stated he didn’t thoughts dropping the crimson jersey, however by how a lot?
The large break had 7 minutes at one level
On the Pico del Buitre, the main group and the group of favourites, held regular for a very long time. At 4.2 kilometres from the end, the primary assault got here within the main group. Einer Rubio put in an acceleration on one of many first steep sections and took a 25 second lead, however he was countered by Kuss, Bardet and Martinez. Within the final kilometres Kuss was the strongest. On the end line the American was a couple of seconds in need of taking the crimson jersey, nevertheless it was Martinez who was the general chief by 8 seconds.
Sepp Kuss went for the win
A nicely deserved stage win for Kuss
Within the chase group of favourites, the stage took a shocking flip at 4 kilometres from the summit end. After an assault by Primoz Roglič, Evenepoel couldn’t comply with. The Slovenian was joined by Vingegaard a little bit later and collectively they put a spot of 31 seconds between them and the Belgian. Juan Ayuso and Cian Uijtdebroeks had been the most effective GC riders behind Roglič and Vingegaard.
Younger Frenchman Lenny Martinez got here in 26 seconds behind Kuss to take the general lead
Roglič and Vingegaard took time from Evenepoel
Stage winner and 2nd general, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma): “It was an extremely arduous stage. We needed to try to go within the breakaway simply to check Fast-Step. We knew it will be a tough day to regulate. That was the first goal. We had been in there with Dylan [van Baarle], Jan [Tratnik], Attila [Valter] and so they rode tremendous, I’ve to thank them rather a lot for the work they did. The entire day I felt tremendous tremendous good. I used to be solely enthusiastic about when to go, when to try to make the distinction. The entire climb I used to be simply having fun with the surroundings that we now have within the Vuelta. It’s all the time a particular race for me. No, no, I’m not right here to win La Vuelta! For me, to win a stage is superb. Durango is a city of mountain bike legends so I knew Lenny Martinez’s father. It’s very cool to be racing along with his son nevertheless it’s additionally a realisation of how a lot older I’m than this younger man!”
Remco Evenepoel – Down however not out
2nd on the stage and general chief, Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ): “It’s actually unbelievable for me. I had in my thoughts at the beginning of the race that it will be superb to take the jersey and it occurred at this time. Because of my crew, they rode very robust for me within the breakaway and I’m very glad. We modified plans as a result of we had a giant lead on the backside of the ultimate climb. It was because of Rudy [Molard] and Michael [Storer] who rode actually arduous all day to make up time within the normal standings after which battle for the stage win and the jersey. They sacrificed their choices and I need to thank them. I’m very glad to have this jersey and it’s a crew race. I nonetheless can’t perceive what’s occurring to me. It’s an ideal race. I’ve been enthusiastic about my Spanish household too.”
New general chief – Lenny Martinez
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Vuelta a España Stage 6 End result:
1. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma in 4:27:29
2. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:26
3. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich at 0:31
4. Mikel Landa (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:46
5. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Group Emirates
6. Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain-Victorious at 1:03
7. Einer Augusto Rubio (Col) Movistar at 1:05
8. Cristián Rodríguez (Spa) Arkéa Samsic at 1:12
9. Steff Cras (Bel) TotalEnergies
10. Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (European) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA at 1:26.
Vuelta a España General After Stage 6:
1. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 21:40:35
2. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma at 0:08
3. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Group Emirates at 0:51
4. Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain-Victorious at 1:41
5. Steff Cras (Bel) TotalEnergies at 1:48
6. Mikel Landa (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious at 1:58
7. Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (European) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA at 2:06
8. David de la Cruz (Spa) Astana Qazaqstan at 2:23
9. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step at 2:47
10. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar at 2:50.
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