Sepp Kuss can't keep up with the best in Vuelta, but remains positive: "I'm actually quite happy with it"

"It was a big group, so it was pretty tense on that climb," Kuss said afterward. Once the flatter sections were over, he—like all the other GC contenders—had to show his cards.

"It’s been a while since I’ve done such a short effort, but I felt good. I think I lost about twenty to thirty seconds, so I’m actually quite happy with that," said Kuss, who indeed finished 28 seconds behind Roglic.

In the high Spanish temperatures, it was a matter of pacing, so Kuss chose to ride at his own tempo on the Pico Villuercas. "It was a calm day. I think everyone was conserving energy because if you push yourself beyond your limits in this heat, you feel it immediately. Everyone knew that, but in the end, you still had to go beyond your limits," he said with his characteristic smile.

That Roglic performed well, despite his vertebrae injury, didn’t surprise his former teammate at all. "Everyone knew Primoz would be the favorite. He’s always strong, but especially in the Vuelta. This is just another confirmation, especially since he led from the bottom to the top of the final climb. He came across as very strong," said the American.