The fight for overall victory at the Vuelta is getting crazier and crazier. On Wednesday, the top of the rankings narrowed even further. The three Jumbo Visma drivers Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic are still enthroned there. After the stage, the trio received a free ticket from their own boss.
A full 68 seconds separate Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic before the final four stages of the 2023 Vuelta.
What makes this constellation extraordinarily special is that they all drive for the same team. For the grand finale of the Tour of Spain there was a “fire clear” promise from team boss Grischa Niermann after the 17th section.
“We agreed at the beginning of the week that all three would be allowed to fight for the overall victory. And that happened today,” Niermann assured that Jumbo-Visma will not slow down any of its top three drivers.
Vuelta: Jumbo riders “all get their chance”
Although there is an enormous amount at stake for Vingegaard, Roglic and Kuss, the way they treat each other is still as it should be. “I’m still happy that Sepp is in the red jersey. To be honest, I even hope he keeps it,” said Vingegaard after the 17th stage.
Roglic agreed, although he also admitted that it is unusual to attack your own teammate. “It’s just a strange feeling,” said the Slovenian, who encouraged Kuss after the stage: “I told him to keep fighting and keep believing in victory. Then he’ll make it.”
Meanwhile, team director Marc Reef confirmed that his three top riders would also be allowed to drive freely on the coming stages. “We’ve agreed on that. Then it’s only fair that we stick with it, even if it’s like this until the last climb. They’ll all get their chance,” promised Reef, who spoke of a “unique situation” given the constellation.