Sepp Kuss Vuelta hopes remain alive, though the American reached Monday’s rest day sore after a costly weekend.
The 2023 Vuelta a España winner crashed Saturday in the same high-speed incident that ended Tadej Pogačar’s race. One day later, Kuss lost time on the punishing Alto de Aitana and slipped three places overall.
Kuss finished 11th on Sunday’s 188-kilometer mountain stage, which included more than 5,000 meters of climbing. He conceded 1:44 to stage winner and race leader Enric Mas on the 22-kilometer final ascent.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider now sits seventh overall, 4:09 behind Mas. That gap leaves him facing a difficult path to overall victory, but the race remains open.
Sepp Kuss Vuelta recovery begins on rest day
Kuss entered the rest day thankful that Saturday’s crash caused no serious injury. Pogačar crashed at about 60kph while taking a drink, apparently after hitting debris on the road to Xeraco.
The impact also brought down Kuss and Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Ben Tulett. Pogačar later left the Vuelta and continues recovering in a Barcelona hospital.
Kuss described the incident as unavoidable. He said it was “wrong place, wrong time,” and added that it happened fast for everyone involved.
Despite the soreness, Kuss tried to take encouragement from his performance on the Aitana climb. He said he felt “pretty decent” considering the speed of the crash.
The Coloradan lost contact in the closing kilometers, but he did not frame the day as a major collapse. Instead, he pointed to the need to stay consistent through the final half of the race.
That outlook matters for Visma-Lease a Bike. Kuss is riding his third straight grand tour of the season, repeating the demanding program he completed in 2023 before winning the Vuelta.
Open race after Pogačar exit
Pogačar’s withdrawal has changed the shape of the Vuelta for every contender. UAE Team Emirates no longer has its central general classification card, while Visma-Lease a Bike must manage Kuss through crash damage.
Those two teams have dominated grand tour racing since 2020, but neither controls this race in the same way now. Mas and Felix Gall are among the riders Kuss identified as especially strong.
Kuss said the racing felt like “the old days,” with steadier climbing and a more open contest. He also said he was happy with his sensations after such a hard crash.
The next phase offers Kuss a chance to recover before another decisive mountain test. Tuesday and Wednesday bring transition stages, with sprinters and breakaway riders expected to find opportunities.
The general classification battle should sharpen again Thursday at Calar Alto. The summit finish rises high in the Sierra Nevada and will test whether Kuss has moved beyond Saturday’s crash.
A top-five finish remains possible, and an outside podium challenge has not disappeared. The coming time trial also looms over the final half of the race.
Kuss said the key is to remain present every day. After surviving the crash and limiting his losses on Alto de Aitana, his Vuelta now depends on recovery and resilience.