"He has a magical chance to hold on to the Red Jersey" - Chris Horner backing Sepp Kuss to become second American to win La Vuelta

Chris Horner made history back in 2013 when he became the oldest winner of a Grand Tour after edging Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde to Vuelta a Espana glory. Now, 10 years on, could we be about to see another American take the Red Jersey?

"Jumbo-Visma is number one, two and three in the rankings and they do this after winning the Giro with Primoz Roglic and the Tour with Jonas Vingegaard," analyses the now 51-year-old Horner on his YouTube channel. "Now they have the chance to win the Vuelta with the American Sepp Kuss, who has a huge lead in the general classification."

"I have to congratulate Sepp for that, and I also believe that he has a magical chance to hold on to the Red Jersey. I assume that Jumbo-Visma's tactics should not be too aggressive," Horner continues. Ordinarily, Kuss would be expected to work for his teammates as this time of the race but with him in pole position this time around, will Vingegaard and Roglic return the favour?

"On the Tourmalet I would have let Jonas Vingegaard ride a steady pace instead of attacking, that seemed the safer tactic," Horner evaluates. "If Vingegaard takes the lead with Kuss on his wheel, you also secure your ranking. And who will beat Primoz Roglic in a sprint? Not Enric Mas, for example, if we look at it realistically."

"The way they are racing is going well so far, that's for sure, but I would approach it a bit safer," the American concludes. "Now that they are at number one, two and three, they can control more. Anyway, maybe I'm a bit too soft because I would like to see Kuss become the second American to win the Vuelta. Jumbo-Visma can let the breakaways go, so that's what I would do."