How Sepp Kuss Won the Vuelta a Espana 2023 | The UNEXPECTED American WINNER

The Vuelta a Espana 2023 produced an unexpected winner and Jumbo Visma managed to complete the grandtour hat-trick as Sepp Kuss fought hard despite the minor internal struggles and at the finish in Madrid they had Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic on the podium a sensational achievement for the team.
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[@thecyclingdane]

Check out the profile of Sepp Kuss: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6iXg42cfdp9oa8

[@barryrobbins7694]

I think Sep Kuss is the only rider to complete ALL three grand tours in the same year AND actually win one of them. Plus, he helped BOTH his other teammates win the other two in the same year. What a deserving winner!

[@mracer8]

I think Kuss is the only rider in the Peloton who's father is over 90!

[@JP41257]

Congrats Sepp. Well deserved win. There's gonna be a lot of beer drinking today in Durango.

[@barryrobbins7694]

@@mracer8 I was wondering why his mother came without his father. Sep Kuss mentioned that he hoped his father could come too. I hope that happened. I had a teacher who’s father was 85 at the time of his birth - his birth father!?

[@pucciann]

Incredible! Chapeaux TJV!! Congratulations, felicidades Sepp! 🙌🏆🥲🇺🇸🚵‍♀️ exemplary cyclist, gracious leader, stalwart teammate, and above all beautiful human ❤Sepp❤️

[@barryrobbins7694]

@@JP41257 I think Sep Kuss got a head start in the consumption of alcohol when he chugged all that cava on the stage 6 podium.😀

[@markvonwisco7369]

I'm American, so a little bit biased. From everything I've seen, heard and read Sepp Kuss is a good person, so I'm glad to see his win. I hope Kuss's victory will elevate the profile of pro road racing in the US.

[@rb1062]

From the UK - we were rooting for him, too. Sepp's a true sportsman! A real credit to the US and a worthy winner.

[@05xpeter]

As a Dane I share your view and where rooting for him all the time.

[@thesuperheroteacher6101]

This Vuelta was taken from You Vingo. I really feel for you. You were evidently the stronger rider for some charity give away plus some mysterious event like the break away let inexplicably go 7 minutes ahead. Vast majority of channels were stuck with their Team mentality and could not read the new situation of a race that became an internal affair between riders. Also cycling is not soccer, basketball, volleyball, its an individual team that is why there is the GC and not the team times, rarely shown. Cycling is also a Team sport however its secondary to the individual racers and winners. They should have raced at their best and let the best win a simple and obvious strategy not applied resulting of Vingo putting 21 days of super hard work in vain for some charity give away and thank you for the past work? I feel for Vingo a lot, Kuss would have wanted to win the race with Roglic and Vingo putting the best foot forward. It seems a bit selfish form Kuss to demand that 2 Capitans and superstars would become your domestiques only because you are few seconds ahead? To my eyes this is your Vuelta Vingo. Net year Tour and Vuelta

[@fredpearson5204]

I’m American, too, and agree Kuss seems to be very likable and a talented rider, but are those good reasons to award him the red jersey? Stronger, better riders held back and LET him win. Is this really what we want in our sports? Don’t we get enough of that kumbaya crap from Hollywood? Now we have to have it in sports? It’s the whole, “everyone gets a trophy to feel good about themselves” concept. No thanks, I want my champions to be the best, not just good.

[@markvonwisco7369]

@@fredpearson5204 There is a long history in the various grand tours of the designated team leader winning, rather than the strongest rider on a given team. Greg LeMond in 1985 (Bernard Hinault), and Jan Ullrich in 1996 (Bjarne Riis) are just two examples off the top of my head...

[@trentvlak]

That last stage was amazing. The peloton caught the break at 500m then just sat on their wheel. I've never seen that before. Everyone was just so tired!

[@thart6103]

Well done, Scott. As a TJV fan, this was an exciting Vuelta. You documented all the important points. I hope people are reminded that Sepp Kuss earned that Red Jersey. No gifts. If anything, he had to work harder to keep it because of his teammates. Go Sepp! Go TJV!! Pink, Yellow, Red 🍾🍾🍾

[@thecyclingdane]

Thank you THart :D

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

And Blue! Wout just won the tour of Britain.

[@thart6103]

@@hendrixinfinity3992 Yes!!! He did!! Thank you for mentioning Wout van Aert ❤️ His stage win was spectacular!!

[@holmbjerg]

Kuss could not have done it on another team.

[@dennisdoucette9373]

I done think so.

[@ultimatebasses]

Sean Kelly, former pro and now a commentator, is no dummy. When he makes a comment, you can bank on it as being factual. He was one of the first to question the disloyalty by Primoz and Vin. The media and fan backlash was one of the factors why TJV management stepped in and ordered those two to back off and ride in support of Kuss. Kelly added that it's very likely that Sepp's agent has been shopping around for a new team. Sepp has always been a team player but you could see the disappointment on his face a number of times. Don't be surprised to see Sepp riding in support of Pogacar next year. A big congrats to Sepp, though. He held his head high and rode with panache every day. Allez Super Sepp!

[@strokenumber3]

Sean Kelly was once requested to submit a urine sample, came back positive. Then he admitted it wasn't his urine but his mechanic's. Google it for full story, but these are the lengths pro cyclists go to to cheat and win.

[@holmbjerg]

The English speaking media have their English speaking favourites.

[@mjchecksfield914]

Not to begrudge Kuss the win, but everyone knows if Roglic or Vinegaard had stepped on the gas, they were both stronger. If I was Kuss I would have wanted to win because I was the strogest rider and not to be gifted it just because no other team was challenging.

[@markrushton1516]

He got the red jersey by being in the right breakaway. Once he had it the strength of the team meant he wasn't in danger of losing it. But if he was the other 2 could have gone for it. You ride for the leader ie Kuss. Otherwise you have an in team fight and no one would ever trust anyone not to make their own tilt for glory.

[@dennisdoucette9373]

Both Jonas and Premoz' could have taken it from him if it was an all out race! I'm still glad he won though, he did deserve a win from TJV.

[@Alanoffer]

If ever there was a worthy winner is was sepp in this tour , All the grinding work he’s done as a domestiqué its excellent that all that hard work has paid off .

[@fernandovega5722]

Great race, Sepp Kuss.

[@AlsGroove]

Excellent summation, CyclingDane!!!! At 71, I have ridden all my life, but never knew many of the nuances and strategies of racing. I learned a lot from your comments/insights (and your follower's real-time chat). Your channel is awesome; thank you!

[@thecyclingdane]

Thank you for the nice comments and yes very true many nuances hahaha

[@jacquesdemolay5171]

Really nice review of a Grand Tour that will be talked about and debated for years to come. Thanks for this. Excellent work!

[@deansimpson3231]

Well documented!!! Good job

[@LL-iy7bg]

Great job👏👏👏

[@craigcarlson4022]

Great summary by yourself. Glad I've found your KZbin channel!

[@savagepro9060]

Great summary by YOU. Great summary by yourself --> means he had NO help from others. SIGH!

[@thecyclingdane]

Welcome aboard and glad you did Craig :)

[@jacobschenkel1010]

The beauty and pain of grand tours is that top 20 to 30 contenders arrive in peak condition ready to win and then tactics strategy and luck (especially with crashes) decide whether they have opportunity to win. The teams that have 2 or 3 potential leaders have the drama of managing those egos but also have 2-3x greater chance statistically of winning GC. JUMBO taking all three podium spots is amazing!

[@fixieebro]

GC KUSS- the Hype is Real! excellent summary- thx

[@zuri600]

GREAT JOB

[@jlr3636]

Sep got into the red jersey through hard work and circumstance, I’m sure Team Jumbo didn’t plan it that way, V & R rode like the jersey was on a different teams back and attacked Sep and each other. The Cycling world pretty much pointed out how “un-teamlike” they were acting attacking their loyal teammate and ate some old tough crow and changed tactics. At the end everyone was all kicks and giggles but but was their damage and doubt spread within the team. They only rode as a team after the cycling world pointer out how a team acts.

[@tim9s]

great recap Dane.

[@thecyclingdane]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@oldfrend]

can't believe they let kuss go in that breakaway knowing he's one of the best climbers in the world.

[@ohyesitsme]

I guess at that time the plan was that he was there to ride for JV and PR for the rest of the race

[@chrisj5443]

I am reminded here that Sepp got into red with strong, aggressive riding in the early stages.

[@savagepro9060]

also be reminded his peers were told to back off

[@grumpy9478]

good teammates don't need to be told when one of theirs wears the leader's jersey.@@savagepro9060

[@chrisj5443]

@@savagepro9060 Well, after he was in red. Or are you suggesting it was decided at the very beginning that Sepp would be going for red?

[@savagepro9060]

@@chrisj5443 time line does not matter, my friend

[@chrisj5443]

@@savagepro9060 OK, I see you're referring to what came after he was in red. My comment was only in reference to getting into red. But once he did well in the TT, it was too late for PR and JV, as attacking a teammate isn't done, which they all know.

[@henribatrouny]

Congratulation Sepp you did it.

[@dichaelovic]

Jonas did it for Sepp, Get it right.

[@henribatrouny]

That is the way it works rub my back I rub yours you dig.@@dichaelovic

[@lamf4846]

1. He got into a break 2. Did better at the ITT than expected. 3. Wasn't really attacked by his superior teammates.

[@oskardavidmannovolesen4759]

Yup. That's the reason. But a nice story nonetheless and Kuss is so likable

[@lamf4846]

Indeed. A nice unexpected reward for his super domestique role in the other two GTs including saving Primoz's Giro. edit 3 1/2 Remco's bizarre implosion.@@oskardavidmannovolesen4759

[@StanleyDo]

Sepp worked hard in the beginning stages and earned the red jersey. To be fair, circumstances did play into his favor, but that’s just how the world works. Nobody planned for JV to be sick. These things happen. Athletes have lost Olympic medals due to injury, sickness, and circumstances out of their control. It doesn’t discredit the work he put in to earn the jersey and defend it.

[@RobertSmith-cv1cu]

A very very very well deserved victory. This is pay back time for all the years he has brought the other two their victories. Well done Sepp. But the real winner is Bimba. What a dad you have.

[@dichaelovic]

Not really. Everyone had to slow down and make the race boring...

[@RobertSmith-cv1cu]

That race was far from boring.

[@05xpeter]

Vingegaard and Roglic seemed to have a make a deal prerace probably all ready in the winter: "if we are 1-2, the best man wins". I think it is in this spirit we should view the actions. I can understand why Roglic disappointed by a change in the agreement, but I don't see where Roglic could have done anything differently other than stage 6 to gain a minute on Kuss. But as your highlight showed Kuss lost seconds multiple times by being the chasing rabbit for the others. So in a retrospective world where he did not have to do this and Vingegaard and Kuss rode for the win Kuss would still have a chance. In my mind he is a worthy winner.

[@thesuperheroteacher6101]

This Vuelta was taken from You Vingo. I really feel for you. You were evidently the stronger rider for some charity give away plus some mysterious event like the break away let inexplicably go 7 minutes ahead. Vast majority of channels were stuck with their Team mentality and could not read the new situation of a race that became an internal affair between riders. Also cycling is not soccer, basketball, volleyball, its an individual team that is why there is the GC and not the team times, rarely shown. Cycling is also a Team sport however its secondary to the individual racers and winners. They should have raced at their best and let the best win a simple and obvious strategy not applied resulting of Vingo putting 21 days of super hard work in vain for some charity give away and thank you for the past work? I feel for Vingo a lot, Kuss would have wanted to win the race with Roglic and Vingo putting the best foot forward. It seems a bit selfish form Kuss to demand that 2 Capitans and superstars would become your domestiques only because you are few seconds ahead? To my eyes this is your Vuelta Vingo. Net year Tour and Vuelta

[@collinbradford8866]

​@@thesuperheroteacher6101I think your not considering team tactics though. For example. Let's say Jumbo decided Sepp was GC rider in the TDF, then Jonas would have ridden Domestic and taken wind more and focused on getting Sepps times lower and Sepp could've been TDF victor. It's all dependent on team dynamics. NOBODY solos a grand tour.

[@dichaelovic]

@@collinbradford8866 Nah Vingegaard was robbed... Race was boring because vingegaard wasnt allowed to ride his best.

[@SergioCristancho]

3:18 sepp did miss the red jersey there but he won la vuelta from that point forward.

[@morten123456789]

Wasn't strange, Vingegaard won for Nathan. You can apparently mention Sepps Birthday, but forget Jonas daughters birthday and Nathans coma. Stop milking it. It's over Scott.

[@rb1062]

Vinegaard did dedicate his stage win to his young daughter and it was reported and spoken about on GCN. Nathan was also mentioned.

[@grumpy9478]

yeah - it's so a coupla days ago!

[@dugldoo]

No matter how good, thoughtful, sensitive the commentary, there's always someone who crawls out and finds fault with ya. Great commentary, CD!

[@morten123456789]

@@dugldoo And there will always be people who slurp up anything they are fed.

[@dennisdeyoung5428]

Kuss told Roglic and Vingegaard to go on at the end of stage 17. He was surprised that he was still the leader.

[@maddexq9107]

That’s your theory. We will never know for sure.

[@dblissmn]

Has Roglic ever not crashed in a bike race?

[@alexuy815]

Its not TJV’s intention to let Sepp win, those 2 would duke it out, they try to wear out Remco but since he did not follow which is the right thing to do for Remco, Sepp got a big lead and did not seem to relinquish it. TJV had to change plans otherwise they face a backlash, what else would they say? Lol But they are supposed to keep these 2, JV and Primoz happy.

[@timw4369]

he doped how else could he win

[@marksip01234]

I think the fact that Kuss closed down Vinegaard's lead by half on that stage, shows he was strong enough to deserve his win - and it wasn't gifted as some claim

[@dichaelovic]

Vingegaard was alone for 10km on tourmalet... Ofcourse hes not going to gain time for that long on a queen stage mountain.

[@oskardavidmannovolesen4759]

So you honestly believe Vingeaard could not have taken 8 seconds from Kuss if he really really went for it?!

[@Nick-ei6em]

Jonas didnt want to win, but he had to follow roglic... i tgink him giving that time back suowed thos, amd he really looked like he loved amd appreciated Sepps win. It was there initial tactics, and sepp was just strong wnough to hold the Jersey. Plus you never qttack your teammate whos in theeaders jearsy. Never.

[@holmbjerg]

Actually you do if there is a plan behind it. Carlos Sastre attacked on Alpe d'Huez while Frank Schleck was in yellow. It confused the competitors like Cadel Evans enough that Sastre ended up winning.

[@walmyvlad2966]

We do know: he said go on to the line.

[@andrewhanson5942]

Not sure how much of that situation of dropping their teammate and race leader was tactics and how much was ego. Surely those moves would have enhanced Jumbo's chances of getting at least one of their team members to the top of the podium, so I could see that. On the other hand I can see why these two proven champions would not want to let Kuss believe that he had the drop on them. Maybe it was some of each factor.

[@brandongillette6463]

I've only been following pro cycling for a few years and i really dont understand all the drama surrounding stage 17. Are the "unwritten rules" a holdover from when everyone was not in constant radio contact with everyone? It looked to me like TJV saw an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the podium and buy insurance in case of a crash. Why wouldnt we assume the DS wasn't in their ears constantly giving them the time gap so they could maximize the time Roglic and Vingegaard put into the challengers without overtaking Kuss? Isn't that a move that any DS would make if they could?

[@holmbjerg]

You are quite right that the rule is a leftover from the olden days.

[@holmbjerg]

You are quite right that the rule is a leftover from the olden days.

[@jweitzenheimer]

Sepp was the strongest rider overall. On Tourmalet he almost caught back up with JV after team orders said let Jonas go to win the stage for his daughter. Better believe that Jonas would have snatched the Red Jersey off Sepps back if he could. Same again on the last mountain stage. Kuss had a bad day and his two teammates said, byeeeee. On that day Kuss rode outside of himself and kept the Red Jersey for himself. A worthy victory for Sepp Kuss

[@svpearlsailacapegeorgesail4758]

Remco decided to loose time so Jumbo would let him get away to hunt for stage wins, simple as that!

[@dichaelovic]

Is this what pro cycling has come to? Then im done watching. Half of this race was boring to watch because the greatest riders wasnt allowed to ride their best. Imo this hurts the sport.

[@kasperrieberg3495]

Just wait til next years TDF !

[@rb1062]

A worthy winner! So good to see an American champion sing the anthem and demonstrate his love for his country - unlike some pink/blue haired folk who can't shoot straight.

[@SuperGl5]

Congratulations Sepp !!! Time for a new team

[@dichaelovic]

Sepp will be irrelevant if he joins another team.

[@oskardavidmannovolesen4759]

He could get a job as the second best climber domestique on UAE - after Yates.

[@jonathanross812]

Maybe in future we can have a new category...'The Nicest rider'. Then put the nicest spectators with the Nicest rider and his domestics(they're nice too!) on a separate channel so the nicest spectators can point out the fluffy clouds on the mountains(nice and fluffy).

[@francisdayon]

He didn’t really “won”, it was gifted.

[@user-pj1yr2ds3m]

He didn't win it on my books. Cycle Racing disgraced itself. Once the best most competitive tour was dragged to the gutter.

[@NosyNorseman]

Likable guy, but it was handed to him.

[@lordbachus]

Its great he won…. But we need to realise that he could only win it because of this team…. Where the only two riders stronger then him where content not attacking him…

[@grumpy9478]

"he could only win it..." is speculation, since that case did not play out. as for his teammates... same speculation applies to their grand tour victories.

[@rockhopper01]

That’s every GC win. Welcome to pro cycling, always good to have newbies come onboard!😊

[@CitizenSnips314]

​ @rockhopper01 The deluded 'muricans are out in force, trying to convince the world that it's normal for the 3rd strongest rider in a team to win the GC: "That’s every GC win".

[@DanBlake3rd]

Cycling history is replete with strong riders capable of winning stages, who work for their leader, even when they might have the legs to win the GC. That is professional cycling, a team sport.

[@CitizenSnips314]

@@DanBlake3rd What's that? Another 'murican trying to convince us that Kuss can beat Vingegaard? Honestly, you ought to focus on something more productive. There's a pretty good chance that the US is not a democratic republic following your next presidential election. How about you focus on that instead?

[@l.s.7053]

By better riders stepping on their brakes.

[@dichaelovic]

Yes, race got boring because they had to wait for Sepp.

[@strokenumber3]

He was gifted it by his fellow doped team mates.

[@hugobrown2516]

roglic gonna leave jumbo

[@dichaelovic]

I hope Jonas will too, so the races will be compettetive.

[@kasperrieberg3495]

He told you that ?

[@hugobrown2516]

not right best man should win]

[@coopaloopmex]

Adam Yates and Wout were the strongest riders in Paris-Nice 2022, yet Teamwork and humility got Roglic the GC win. Sooooo, that arguement doesn't hold up.

[@dichaelovic]

@@coopaloopmex Thats a delusional take to think they are better than Roglic lol.

[@oscardulzaides7834]

How Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta… easy Jumbo Jucing. Get real people.

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

Don’t be bitter now

[@savagepro9060]

@@jacobjorgenson9285 too late, we are bitter like . . .

[@fredpearson5204]

Strong, gifted rider, but in all fairness, he didn’t win the Vuelta, it was gifted to him by Vingegaard and Roglic for his past service.

[@savagepro9060]

you are HALF right, Jumbo authorities MADE them Vinny and Jonas back off

[@patrzkomuufasz5315]

The same way Vingegaard and Roglic won previous races 😂

[@fredpearson5204]

@@patrzkomuufasz5315, not really. In either the Giro or TDF, what rider do you think should have won? Which rider deliberately slowed down to allow them to win? And don’t say Kuss-he’s a super domestique whose job is to help control the pace on climbs, but he lacks the explosive power to actually win any mountain stage (or any stage if truth be known). Check the stage results of both races-Roglic and Vingegaard are both well represented in their respective Tour stages results. Noticibly absent among the routine top stage finishers in both races is Sepp. The team made a kumbaya decision to let Kuss win the Vuelta, and that’s the only reason he won.

[@fredpearson5204]

@@savagepro9060, true statement.

[@coopaloopmex]

@@fredpearson5204 Sepp could have left Roglic on 2020 Angliru stage 12. He probably could have beat Hugh Carthy for the stage. Instead he towed Roglic up the mountain and helped him stay in Red. He literally has done this his entire career of sacrificing his strong legs for the man in the leaders jersey. That's called teamwork

[@Smokey66s]

Did Kuss win or did Jonas and Roglic “shave points”?

[@savagepro9060]

BOTH American Vuelta Victories were controversial 2013 and 2023. A Decadent Decade Sandwich of Deceit!

[@micomrkaic]

This!

[@DanBlake3rd]

@@micomrkaic so you are insinuating that Kuss is another Horner? Is that what you are saying?

[@micomrkaic]

@@DanBlake3rd No, you clearly don't understand what I'm saying. Read the EU convention.

[@mrfitgy]

Its like Letting “Rudy” play in the football game.

[@savagepro9060]

I now have more respect for dopers. WOKE is putting pro cycling to sleep!

[@rockhopper01]

That word doesn’t mean what you think it means.

[@savagepro9060]

@@rockhopper01 I guess metaphor doesn't mean what it means? skipped literature class much? It's called a PUN, playing with words, 'WOKE and sleep'. SIGH!

[@davidbranch2020]

Lol love it But let’s be honest Lance has much more in common with Lia Thomas than he does with Sepp Sepp beat all the other GC's here, sure it’s hard (really hard) to believe he could beat Roglic or Jonas if they were on a different team, but they aren’t we'd be unsure if either Roglic or Jonas really could beat the other if one of them won. But as for those dopers sure Armstrong could win the TDF femmes but in the male race undoped he's most likely a DNF seeing those middle of the pack riders "win" acting "manly" to help silence the doubters might have been fun for you but those little pansy freaks are far more woke than real men helping out a teammate who is a great rider in his own right win the 3rd most important GT in respect for what he’s done for them in the 2 biggest

[@Memovox]

Match fixing.

[@rocco...]

Now Americans can empty their corporate $$ into a sport which means very little to them. Just as the organizers planned.

[@hazmanz6503]

lose a bet?

[@mjchecksfield914]

Actually I didnt enjoy his win one bit. Vinegaard or Roglic were both stronger but the team decided to reward Kuss for all his years of amazing service to the leaders by gifting him the victory because no other team was anywhere near. So its a bit of a meaningless win.

[@9090Glenn]

How Sepp Kuss Won the Vuelta a Espana 2023 ? - he was GIFTED the win - period

[@DanBlake3rd]

You should watch more grand tours to understand better how professional cycling is a team sport. You speak as if it is every rider rides for himself only. Sepp has been in the other position, stronger, but holding back for his boss. No one complains. It is how the game is played.

[@dichaelovic]

@@DanBlake3rd No grand tour winners was ever gifted the win like Sepp was though.

[@DanBlake3rd]

@@dichaelovic may I suggest that you review the 1985 Tour.

[@thesuperheroteacher6101]

This Vuelta was taken from You Vingo. I really feel for you. You were evidently the stronger rider for some charity give away plus some mysterious event like the break away let inexplicably go 7 minutes ahead. Vast majority of channels were stuck with their Team mentality and could not read the new situation of a race that became an internal affair between riders. Also cycling is not soccer, basketball, volleyball, its an individual team that is why there is the GC and not the team times, rarely shown. Cycling is also a Team sport however its secondary to the individual racers and winners. They should have raced at their best and let the best win a simple and obvious strategy not applied resulting of Vingo putting 21 days of super hard work in vain for some charity give away and thank you for the past work? I feel for Vingo a lot, Kuss would have wanted to win the race with Roglic and Vingo putting the best foot forward. It seems a bit selfish form Kuss to demand that 2 Capitans and superstars would become your domestiques only because you are few seconds ahead? To my eyes this is your Vuelta Vingo. Net year Tour and Vuelta

[@paulc7147]

Sepp didn’t need to come to this race. He came to help. Unlike his team captains he didn’t have anyone working for him. Until the last two days he defended the Jersey by himself. He was still pulling in front of his captains. He always did what’s expected only J and P fought against a teammate. Sepp has class, unlike his teammates!

[@thesuperheroteacher6101]

@@paulc7147 this win is tainted since Vingeggard and Roglic were held back by a Domestique for no apparent reasons besides he is a nice guy and he helped them before

[@user-lg2jm9zg6l]

@@thesuperheroteacher6101 - this win is only tainted in the eyes of people that don't know what the hell they're talking about.

[@coopaloopmex]

nice!@@user-lg2jm9zg6l

[@robertgriffin2046]

He won because it was gifted to him. No on deserves to be given an overall grand tour victory. Total bullshit.

[@DanBlake3rd]

The only bullshit is that you are not familiar with professional cycling tactics and protocol. It must hurt you to be in the dark.

[@robertgriffin2046]

Very familiar with it. The domestiques are in service to the team leaders. Protocol gives them stage wins for their service to the team, not grand tours. Team tactics would have still had Jumbo winning at least the top 2 spots and more than likely the 3rd. The only thing really in question were the placings which they decided to gift to Kuss because everyone got all up in their feelings. Grow a pair, stop believing that Kuss "desrved" to win and realize that Jonas would have easily won and Primoz probably would have surpassed Kuss also.@@DanBlake3rd

[@coopaloopmex]

@@robertgriffin2046 Interesting take, but unless you are on the team bus, you really don't know what the tactics were and how they changed. In the end the Director Sportif makes the tactics that best help the team. I think he got it right

[@dichaelovic]

Yes it ruins the compettetiveness and makes the race boring. Seeing a rider not being able to ride his best is pathetic.

[@dichaelovic]

@@DanBlake3rd Thats a bullshit tactic. Jumbo would have won no matter what, but they choose to make the race boring.

[@ulfjepsen683]

Kuss winning takes away any credibility from cycling. Having Kuss beating vingegaard or Roglic with the latter two being clearly better is equivalent to some bum taking the Balon d'or over messi "just because he is a team player. Kuss winning this Vuelta is match fixing.

[@johny.echevers]

You could make that argument for Jonas, but I don't see how Roglic was "clearly better." He was still a minute behind after his attack on the queen stage, which was the only one in which Sepp looked even remotely weak (and yet was still ahead of the full peloton with only Landa being able to catch up.) Also, at the end of ALL the attacks Sepp was still 8 s ahead of Vingo.

[@Bob46374]

Salty Europeans

[@timnoskill]

Nah it’s more like Luis Suarez winning the golden boot. Ofc vingegaard is Messi and Roglic is neymar.

[@grumpy9478]

so... took an ethics course & just started paying attention to pro sports, eh?

[@coopaloopmex]

Just make the transition from soccer to other sports? Cycling is a bit different that most other team sports. But it still is a TEAM sport. It's got some nuances 👍

[@ivanboesky1520]

Doping

[@savagepro9060]

thecyclingdane: How Sepp Kuss Won the Vuelta a Espana 2023 Oh that's easy. He received a gift, prescribed by media WOKE movement. If that's the new trend, it means Le Tour de France 2023 was the LAST authentic grand tour. I'm in tears, a sport I love so much!

[@Bob46374]

It’s better off without you , you don’t understand how it works

[@savagepro9060]

@@Bob46374 thank you, no hard feelings

[@rb1062]

Easy for trolls to criticise sitting in their bedrooms on their phones.

[@savagepro9060]

@@rb1062 I'm on a computer, did a 20-mile ride this morning, Sunday, Caribbean tropical delight of an island, if you asked me

[@jdmmmmm]

It's not new. Chris Froome had to support Gerant Thomas in the 2018 TdF despite being the team leader at the outset. CF probability could have attacked and beat his teammate. Instead, he took 3rd. The goal is to have _someone_ in your team win. That's what the sponsor wants. They pay the salaries. It's not "woke" (whatever that is supposed to mean). It's capitalism. If you attack a teammate in the lead, you end up spreading your team thinner and undermine the confidence in your teammates. It's a losing strategy.