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Vuelta a Espana: Kuss, allowed to dream
After ten days of racing, the Vuelta a Espana enjoyed its first rest day on Monday with Sepp Kuss in red. A perfect teammate, top-20 in the last two Grand Tours, tireless lieutenant, the American in the Jumbo-Visma is currently riding at the peak of his career. The 28-year-old climber has reached a new level on Spanish roads. For the first time in his life, Kuss is leading a Grand Tour and wearing the red jersey. A fantastic climber who usually is confined to a role of luxury domestique, has Kuss changed his status enough to claim a final podium place?
On paper, the American is 2’22” ahead of Remco Evenepoel, the first of the favorites, in the general classification. This is a cushion that could give him room to suffer a few bad moments without losing too much in the classification standings. Is it not possible to believe that he will stay with his teammates Roglic and Vingegaard on the most difficult climbs as he was able to do on the Tour de France? He may have to take a new step by then, especially mentally since he is not used to these responsibilities, but all dreams are allowed.
Stages won by: Team dsm-firmenich ; Kron (Lotto-Dstny) ; Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) ; Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) ; Soupe (TotalEnergies) ; Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe)…
*****
Classic Lorient Agglomération – Trophée CERATIZIT: Bredewold shows her power
The Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx, 23 years old) won in Plouay for the Classic Lorient Agglomeration – Ceratizit Trophy. It was a sprint victory where she beat the Polish Marta Lach (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling) and the Italian Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ). “I am very happy to win. We came here with a solid team and we controlled the whole race,” she explained. “When there were attacks, we were always able to cover. So we didn’t have to waste a lot of energy. I felt super strong today, the sprint was very chaotic, but that suits me very well.”
Two French women made it into the top 10 of the event. Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich) took fifth place in the race while her Norman teammate Eglantine Rayer scored a fine 8th place at just 19 years old.
The day was marked by an early breakaway of three competitors which fell apart over the kilometers after a determined resistance until the arrival on the final circuit. The last survivor of the breakaway, Norwegian champion Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) was caught only ten kilometers from the finish.
The results : 1. Bredewold (Team SD Worx) ; 2. Lach (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling) ; 3. Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ)…
*****
Bretagne Classic – Ouest-France: Madouas, a first win as French champion
Valentin Madouas raised his arms for the first time wearing the French champion jersey during the Bretagne Classic – Ouest France in Plouay, at his home in Brittany. The Groupama-FDJ rider won ahead of Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and the Austrian Felix Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates). His teammate Stefan Küng finished just off the podium.
At 27, Madouas now has won his first WorldTour classic after finishing second in the Strade Bianche and fifth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year and third in the Tour of Flanders in 2022. “I don’t really know what to say, frankly, I am really moved. Winning at Plouay here with this jersey is really extraordinary, I’m enjoying it to the fullest, it was a dream to win at Plouay in my career, and to do it wearing the French champion’s jersey, what more could you ask for?“ he said.
The results: 1. Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) ; 2. Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) ; 3. Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates)…
*****
Upcoming races:
Until 17 September: Vuelta Ciclista a Espana, https://www.lavuelta.es/fr/
5 – 11 September: Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche, https://tcfia.com/
5 – 10 September: Simac Ladies Tour, https://simacladiestour.nl/
8 September: Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, https://gpcqm.ca/
10 September: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, https://gpcqm.ca/
10 September: GP de Fourmies / La Voix du Nord, https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/tags/grand-prix-de-fourmies