As the 2023 Vuelta a Espana reaches its first rest day, Jumbo-Visma look to be the dominant force with three riders in the top seven, including Sepp Kuss in the Red Jersey. Sporza analyst Jose De Cauwer however, believes only Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard can be considered threats.
Reigning Vuelta champion, Remco Evenepoel could be badly outnumbered if things stay the same as the race reaches the important mountain stages, but De Cauwer is of the opinion that his Belgian compatriot need only worry about the two. "That Evenepoel has to take three Jumbos into account? I'll stick with two, because I don't believe in Kuss," he claims.
According to De Cauwer, Roglic in particular is the standout threat to the Soudal - Quick-Step leader heading into the second week. "Roglic has been the most eager so far, but there is still so much to come. We have already had climbs on which he was lord and master, but there will be even longer cols such as the Tourmalet and the Angliru," he explains. "He must never do one thing: let one of those two Jumbos go. That's deadly. That's the toll he has to bear."
"With men like Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas, he has to play the game so that he doesn't have to solve everything alone. The big danger is if one of those Jumbos joins in an attack. Then it is up to his team to put that right," De Cauwer concludes. "But my confidence has certainly not diminished. He showed great things on Saturday and he is still in the best position. He is, after Kuss, the best classification man. And he has to get a lead in the time trial."
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