Vuelta a Espana 2023 Stage 21 LIVE: Sepp Kuss set to be crowned champion on an historic day for Jumbo Visma in Madrid

Absolutely fantastic. That was truly the most exciting final stage we've seen in memory. Even though the bunch just about made contact with the break, they didn't have the pace to go past. Evenepoel got the bit between his teeth along the penultimate straight and led into the final bend. Unfortunately for the Belgian, he had the fastest man in this race right on his wheel. At about 175m from the line, Groves pulled out and launched his sprint. Ganna fought his hardest but had to settle for another second place, with Nico Denz rounding out the top three.

Hugo Page (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) was the best placed finisher from the peloton, in 4th place. Evenepoel won't be happy with 8th, but he should be. All six riders from the breakaway made the top ten on the stage.

And Ganna doesn't look happy.

Even as the gap looks more extinguishable than it did a few minutes ago. What are the riders up front thinking? Could they be considering their chances of stealing the stage from each other, or are they all still completely committed? They only have to hang on for One. More. Lap!

As Bahrain Victorious put a few faces in the wind for the first time. How fresh are their legs feeling? Filippo Ganna and pals are certainly looking motivated as they begin the penultimate lap.

And it's in the balance. The six riders up the road don't have to keep doing this for the full distance, because eventually the motivation will (surely) begin to drain from the peloton. If the breakaway didn't have Ganna and Evenepoel in it, you'd probably favour the bunch, but no riders than handle the hurt like the big Italian and the little Belgian.

And there's a full finishing straight between the breakaway and the bunch, as Caja Rural add what little firepower they have to the chase.

Ahead of the hairpin, bringing the two groups very close together but going at very different speeds into versus out of it. Ganna seems to be telling Ruis Costa to take long turns on the front rather than simply coming through and straight off.

And the breakaway, which we can now definitely call it, has more than half a minute. The attempts to bring them back have come to nothing so far, and the peloton's matches are going up in smoke a lot more quickly than those of the leaders.

While riders from Alpecin and Ineos (including Geraint Thomas) are only interested in disrupting. The gap is showing as 19 seconds but it looks larger than that to me. The peloton is panicing, and with the riders up the road, you can understand their alarm. This is waaaaaay more fun than we expected!

Fraile and Heiduk have done all they need to for Ganna, and fall away. As they pass the finish line it's Emirates, in service to the winner of this same stage last year, Juan Sebastian Molano, who are doing the chasing. All three groups - the two small ones plus the peloton - are in the same long shot, but there are reasonable gaps between them. Wouldn't it be exciting to see if this one could go the distance?

And the man right on the King of the Mountains' wheel is Kaden Groves. Not far behind them are a couple of riders from Ineos Grenadiers, including the one and only Filippo Ganna. Who's going to chase this down, now Alpecin definitely won't.

Kamna and Denz are chased by Ruis Costa (Intermarch-Circus-Wanty) and that might... just be that. It's not a real break, with any sort of actual chance, but it gives three very capable riders a moment in the spotlight. Two stages of this race, and two more of the Giro between them this season.

That's another 20 points taking him to 265, and an unassailable lead in the green jersey fight. Now he can settle back in, save energy, and think about the finish,

It looks like they are looking to lock things up ahead of the intermediate sprint, which comes after one lap of the circuit. As I said earlier, it's very unlikely Remco will cause them any trouble, but better safe than sorry.

Through the finish line for the first time and the racers, rather than looking relaxed, are already swarming. The sprint teams are already at the front, and I think we might be in for a fun 50k: 9 laps, no messing around. They'll be on the bus by 7.

Along the tree-lined boulevards of Madrid, where Jumbo Visma will have the honour of leading the peloton onto the course in a few minutes time. Sepp Kuss looks resplendent in red, I have to say. The crowds are... not mahoosive but those who are present seem delighted to be able to witness a few of the final minutes of this race.

This is the last race day of the Murcian's career - and it's not been a bad one. 48 professional victories including a couple of Tour de France stages. None at La Vuelta, but he was the King of the Mountains here in 2014.

“[Getting to Madrid] has been very complicated. Mostly, it was the starts. Yesterday in the first hour I had a very bad time. The feeling of being dropped by the bunch at the start is very bad, but then, as my body warmed up, I was feeling much better. Well, we tried to get to Madrid however we could and I'm happy to be here. It's a thrill for everything. It's been so many years as a professional. To be lucky enough to have all the family here today at the arrival in Madrid and to be able to live it with them: with my brothers, my parents, my children, my wife...

Tonight will be a family dinner. As I said, it's been many years, many days dedicated to this sport to which I will always be grateful. And nothing, now, let's enjoy it. I will always be grateful to all the riders I have been up against throughout my career. For me it has been an honour to belong to this peloton for all this time, and I will continue to watch it on TV.”