Adam Blythe brands Primoz Roglic 'so disrespectul' as Jonas Vingegaard says he wants Sepp Kuss to win Vuelta a Espana
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Published 13/09/2023 at 17:54 GMT
There was drama galore at the finish of Stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana as Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard rode away from Jumbo-Visma team-mate Sepp Kuss. Roglic seemed to give mixed messages about the situation afterwards, and Eurosport expert Adam Blythe said he was "unloyal". Vingegaard said he wanted Kuss to win the Vuelta, while Kuss was diplomatic in response.
Blythe criticises 'disrespectful' Roglic for dropping Kuss on Stage 17
Adam Blythe labelled Primoz Roglic “disrespectful” and “unloyal” after he rode away from Jumbo-Visma team-mate Sepp Kuss on a dramatic finish to Stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana.
Kuss has supported Jumbo-Visma duo Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard in several of their Grand Tour victories over the last few years.
But it doesn’t look like the favour will be repaid at the Vuelta as Roglic and Vingegaard rode away from Kuss with 2km remaining on the feared Angliru climb to the finish on Stage 17.
Kuss remains in the red jersey but with only an eight-second lead over Vingegaard.
Roglic is 1:08 back with four stages remaining and said afterwards “it’s man on man and the road will tell who is the best”.
In response to Roglic’s comment, Eurosport expert Blythe said on The Breakaway: “It’s so unloyal and so disrespectful for everything Sepp has done for him throughout his career, when he has saved him in situations.
“He might not have won all of his Grand Tours without Sepp. We have seen moments where he brings him back into position, but we forget all the pulling on the front, setting the hard tempo, tiring other riders out on the climb.
“Everything he has done has been for Primoz Roglic and he has never questioned it, that's his job.
“There's one time where you could change his life forever and you can’t have the respect towards Sepp Kuss to be able to say ‘for everything you have done you deserve this, so we are going to support you, me and Jonas’.”
Roglic seemed to give mixed messages when he spoke after the stage.
“It’s a strange feeling. On the one hand you want to keep it going and on the other you don’t want to keep it going.
“Sepp was there for all our victories, he is the first guy I wish to win, but looking to myself and my responsibilities who I am, I am here to race and do my best and at the end the best one will win.”
Roglic is a three-time Vuelta champion and also won the Giro d’Italia earlier this season.
Eurosport expert Dan Lloyd questioned his approach on Stage 17.
“Roglic dropping Kuss that close to the finish was never going to see Roglic going into the red jersey, if anything it was going to pull Jonas Vingegaard ahead of Sepp Kuss, so that’s quite curious.
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Vingegaard 'would love to see Kuss winning Vuelta' despite dropping him
“He mentioned he has certain responsibilities and he is right, Jumbo-Visma pay him an enormous amount of money each year to win races, but it’s a very different scenario when you are trying to beat a rival from another team.
“I don’t think anyone from Jumbo-Visma management is saying Primoz ‘why are you third overall, we pay you to win these races’.”
The race win now looks up for grabs ahead of the finish in Madrid on Sunday.
Despite leaving Kuss behind on Stage 17, Vingegaard suggested he still wants the American to claim the overall victory.
“The win was our main goal and to keep the situation 1-2-3 in GC so everything went how we wanted. We can be happy with everything. I am still happy that Sepp is in the jersey.
“I actually hoped that he will keep the jersey.
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'Unfair, uncomfortable viewing' - Breakaway react to Kuss getting dropped on Stage 17
“I would love to see Sepp winning this Vuelta a Espana.”
Kuss himself was diplomatic when speaking about the stage with Eurosport’s Alberto Contador afterwards.
“It was a position I never expected to be in and that’s the beautiful thing about it. I came with no expectations and was just looking to help out the guys like always. Then I came into this beautiful jersey and all the experiences that come with it.
“I discovered a new level of self confidence, of racing instinct. That was really beautiful. Also with an incredible two guys who behind the scenes we work really well together. They are two big champions.
“I also want my shot but I am happy to work for them when it is called for. It’s been a beautiful experience.”
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