Primoz Roglic gives cryptic response after Jumbo-Visma ride for Sepp Kuss at Vuelta a Espana: 'I have my own thoughts'
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Updated 14/09/2023 at 18:03 GMT
On Wednesday's Stage 17 at the Vuelta a Espana, 2023 Grand Tour winners Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard courted criticism when they dropped general classification leader Sepp Kuss with two kilometres of the stage to go. On Thursday after slotting in behind the American, Roglic said that he had his "own thoughts" about the race strategy of supporting Kuss.
Evenepoel completes hat-trick of wins in Vuelta with solo victory on Stage 18, Kuss retains red
Primoz Roglic gave a cryptic response after he and Jonas Vingegaard supported Jumbo-Visma team-mate Sepp Kuss’ bid for the Vuelta a Espana.
The two Grand Tour winners so far for 2023 - Roglic at the Giro d’Italia and Vingegaard at the Tour de France - pulled away from Kuss on Wednesday’s Stage 17 with two kilometres remaining, and whittled down the American’s lead to just eight seconds.
The American has drawn praise from many in the sport for his dedication to the team as a squad member, assisting both Vingegaard and Roglic in their own Grand Tour successes. That led to criticism from pundits and on social media, with suggestions that the two champions should have given Kuss support as he led the way for Jumbo-Visma.
During Stage 18 the team appeared to be in agreement, with Kuss leading the way ahead of his two potential rivals, but after the stage, Roglic gave a cryptic response.
Speaking about the stage, he said: “It’s also a challenge now, but I think normally I go easy going down but going up I have more problems.”
Asked about assisting Kuss for his own Grand Tour win, he added: “I mean definitely, he’s for sure the guy I wish to win it now.
“I have my own thoughts about that but I will try to do it the way it is.”
Vingegaard was less reserved about supporting Kuss, but cautioned that Saturday’s stage has to be negotiated first.
He noted: “There’s a really hard stage on Saturday so we have to be careful, we have to keep fighting until Madrid.
“It’s nice to be able to pay him back and do something for him. He’s done so much for me and Primoz, and also today, we go on Saturday.
“It’s a very tough and long stage.”
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'I have to channel my killer instinct' - Kuss on lessons learned after Stage 17 drama
Kuss now leads the GC by 17 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, in second place, and Roglic is just over a minute back.
Stage winner Remco Evenepoel was asked about his victory, and with his own tilt at the general classification over, he focused on the success of his three victories so far in the 2023 Vuelta.
The Belgian dashed for victory long before the finish line, and he explained: “I felt that I was the strongest of the group and I didn’t have to waste any time and I just had to go for it.
“The legs were super good today, I had a better day like I had in Stage 14 so it’s an amazing stage to win again. It was a super good opportunity to take all the points for my [King of the Mountains] jersey. My third stage win is amazing to end the Vuelta with.
“I think after my off [days] I just had to turn a page and go for stages, and I won three of the most beautiful stages of this Vuelta, and I take the mountain jersey, so I think it has been an amazing Vuelta even though the GC plan did not work out. I think we can be very proud. It’s amazing to finish a stage with such a good feeling.”
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