An enthralling race from start to finish. After three weeks of racing, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) won the Vuelta a España with teammates Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič locking out the podium. Kuss became the first American in a decade to win a Grand Tour as Jumbo-Visma wrote history by becoming the first team to win all three Grand Tours in one season. Some feat.
Relive the beautiful race with 21 photos from Chris Auld.
Follow the leader. The Vuelta kicked off with a TTT in Barcelona, but ended in darkness. Numerous riders complained about the dangerous riding conditions.
Remco Evenepoel started strong by winning on Stage 3 into Andorra and ended on the ground just 200m after this photo, colliding with a person who was working with the Andorran police.
A good chair is the key to comfort while waiting hours for the peloton to pass by.
Sepp Kuss made his way into the 40-man breakaway on Stage 6 from La Vall d’Uixó to Pico del Buitre (Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre).
He spent time high-fiving fans at the finish line, perhaps unaware time was ticking in the race for red. Groupama-FDJ’s 20-year-old Lenny Martinez, who finished second on the stage, would lead the GC at the end of the day. No doubt a phenomenal experience at such a young age.
Victory.
The best beard in the peloton. Geoffrey Soupe (Team TotalEnergies) won Stage 7 with a sensational sprint to the line.
Is a great beard the key to success? Thomas De Gendt goes on the attack on Stage 8.
I had never seen this pre-Vuelta, but turns out if riders have to go back themselves at the finish to head to team buses, they’re given a personalised whistle. I love it.
Just an absolutely beautiful shot on Stage 13 of the Vuelta, where riders had to scale the Col du Tourmalet.
He’s Ganna love this image.
Nothing but respect for my King of the Mountains.
Stage 17 on L’Angliru will be remembered for a long time, notably for Vingegaard and Roglič leaving red jersey Kuss behind with 2km until the finish. Should they have waited? Should they have carried on regardless? The discourse lit up social media and TV channels.
I wonder if Geraint Thomas is listening to his Watts Occuring podcast. Or maybe the Cyclist Magazine Podcast? Who can say. It’s his team radio? That’s what they want you to think.
Primož Roglič flexing hard.
#WhereIsWout? Winning a sprint finish against Remco Evenepoel on Stage 20!
Jumbo-Visma won every Grand Tour this season – with three different riders too. Roglič won the Giro d’Italia in May as Vingegaard secured the Tour de France in July, with Kuss now victorious in the Vuelta a España. It’s also wild to think about how all three made up the final Vuelta podium in Madrid. Speaking of…
After three long weeks of racing, the peloton arrived onto the streets of Madrid. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won Stage 21 and took home the points classification jersey.
Kuss raised his Cervélo S5 in the air after crossing the line, before immediately saying ‘it’s not as light as it looks’.
History. Sepp Kuss wins the Vuelta a España and shares the final podium with his teammates.
Time to celebrate!
Tags: Bahrain VictoriousGeraint ThomasIneos GrenadiersJonas VingegaardJumbo-VismaLotto-DstnyMovistarPrimož RogličRemco EvenepoelSoudal-QuickStepUAE Team EmiratesVuelta a España
