Sepp Kuss, who finished third on the 17th stage of the 2023 Vuelta a España behind his teammates in the Jumbo Visma, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard, highlighted the collaboration of the Spaniard Mikel Landa, with whom he crossed the finish line after 19 seconds as the winner , Primoz Roglic.
“Landa probably deserved a podium place more than me, but I knew it would be very difficult for him to win the jersey and that he needed the bonus seconds. It was a very happy birthday for me, I spent it doing what I enjoy the most,” he said.
For Kuss there will be no rivalry problems within the team to win the Vuelta.
“The three of us have freedom. On the rest day we had a meeting to analyze the possible situations in the race and we decided that the strongest must win and that of course we should not attack each other or corner each other in danger.”
Kuss admitted that the chance of winning big was unmatched, perhaps only once in a lifetime.
“With 8 seconds I still haven’t won, tomorrow will be an important day and if there is no fight for bonuses on the stage then better. The Vuelta will not be a competition between us, there is a good atmosphere. “Team, we are friends.”
“I know I have a great occasion, a unique opportunity, a special moment. I want to do well,” he concluded.
Overall ranking of the Vuelta a España 2023, after the 17th stage
1. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma) – 60 hours 34′ 21”
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma)
3. Primož Roglič (Jumbo Visma) – a 1′ 08”
4. John Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates) – a
5. Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) – 4′ 16″
6. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) – 4′ 30”
7. Cian Uitjdeboreks (Bora Hansgrohe) 6′ 43″
8. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora Hansgrohe) – 7′ 38”
9. Joao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates) – 9′ 26”
10. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) – 11′ 26”
17. One Rubio (Movistar Team) – at 43′ 49”
40. Sergio Higuita (Bora Hansgrohe) – 1h 46′ 19′
64. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) – 2 hours 13′ 19”
74. Diego Camargo (EF Education EasyPost) – at 2h 28’4
144. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) – at 3h 44′
