Jumbo-Visma has secured a 3rd stage victory in the Dauphiné with Sepp Kuss. A consolation prize for missing out on the overall victory, because leader Primoz Roglic gave up before the final stage. For example, Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez crowns himself as the overall winner.
Kiss accelerates on the final climb and quickly takes 12 seconds
Martinez is holding off Pinot
The riders of Jumbo-Visma rode through the Dauphiné like emperors in recent days, but in Saturday’s ride they still had to take an uppercut. The unapproachable leader Primoz Roglic crashed and seemed to finish without any problems. But in the end he did pass for the final stage.
As a result, the yellow came virtually to hang over Thibaut Pinot’s shoulders. Never before had a Frenchman managed to win a WorldTour-level stage race. But Pinot would also fall through the ice.
The leader of Groupama-FdJ was put under pressure by Miguel Angel Lopez, Tadej Pogacar and especially Daniel Felipe Martinez, who made the leap from a chasing group to the leader duo Alaphilippe-Sivakov.
The American Sepp Kuss was also able to make the crossing, he would later ride in a powerful way to the victory. After Roglic and Van Aert, the third stage win for Jumbo-Visma.
But the main prize goes to EF Pro Cycling. In a game of seconds the group with Martinez kept the peloton with Pinot at bay. The green points jersey has been reserved for Wout van Aert for the second year in a row.
Kuss: “Immediately after the start all registers were pulled out”
Sepp Kuss, winner of the final stage, had to shift the focus this morning with Jumbo-Visma: “That was pretty strange. I think we were all a bit shocked after yesterday. It was a strange day for cycling in general, all that falls. “
“The loss of Roglic did give us the opportunity to race aggressively. It was a good day to attack, especially since I was lower in the rankings. I could benefit from that.”
“Right after the start, all registers were pulled out. It was one of the toughest days I ever had, but I really enjoyed it. This victory is a boost for my confidence. I am going to the Tour with a good feeling”, the 25-year-old American concludes.
Martinez: “On the radio I constantly got the time differences on Pinot”
It was also a tough day for overall winner Martinez: “It was a pretty crazy race from the start. It also went very quickly. It meant that I had to dig deep into my arsenal of strength, but in the end I won. That counts.”
“I was constantly informed of the time differences on Pinot via the radio.” And that paid off, because the 24-year-old Colombian is allowed to take the yellow jersey home: “Rest assured that I am happy with this final win. The Dauphiné is, after all, one of the most beautiful cycling races in the world.”
Dumoulin also stretches his legs for a while: “For those in doubt, don’t do it!”
