“I felt pretty decent for how high-speed the crash was” – Sepp Kuss stays positive despite losing major ground in wide-open Vuelta GC battle
CyclingSunday, 30 August 2026 at 20:00
Sepp Kuss reached the first rest day of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana after an unforgiving 24 hours in which he survived a high-speed crash, returned to the bike and then lost his place among the leading four riders on the Alto de Aitana.
The American started Stage 9 fourth overall, 2:15 behind Enric Mas after Tadej Pogacar’s withdrawal had transformed the fight for the red jersey. By the summit, however, Kuss had conceded 1:44 to Mas and fallen three positions to seventh.
The immediate verdict on his physical condition was more encouraging. Kuss had been uncertain about how his body would respond following his Stage 8 accident, but felt considerably better than the speed of the crash had led him to fear.
“I felt pretty decent actually, for how high speed the crash was,” Kuss told Eurosport after Stage 9. “I knew it would be either way. Not ideal, but I just kept positive and I can be happy that I felt pretty okay.”
From fourth to seventh on Alto de Aitana
When discussing why he lost contact on the Alto de Aitana, Kuss centred his explanation on the fierce pace imposed by Decathlon CMA CGM Team rather than drawing a direct connection with the previous day’s crash.
Decathlon committed heavily to the 22-kilometre finishing climb in support of Felix Gall, progressively reducing the group around Mas as the advantage held by the day’s breakaway disappeared.
Gregor Muhlberger delivered the final turn for Gall and increased the pace before his Austrian teammate attacked with seven kilometres remaining. Mas, Primoz Roglic and Oscar Onley followed, but Kuss had already slipped away from the front of the general classification group.
“They rode a super fast climb,” he said. “For the most part it’s not too steep of a climb until the last part here. But just super high speed, and they have a really good team. So it’s good for them that they can use it.”
Mas ultimately beat Onley to the stage victory, with Roglic finishing 12 seconds behind and Gall conceding 18. Kuss crossed the line in 11th place, alongside Muhlberger and 1:44 after the red jersey. That result carried a substantial cost. Onley climbed from fifth to fourth overall, while Richard Carapaz and Mattias Skjelmose also moved above the former Vuelta winner.
Rest day arrives after bruising weekend
Kuss now trails Mas by 4:09, having begun the stage only one second ahead of Onley and 1:04 behind Roglic. By the finish, Onley had opened a 1:49 advantage over him and Roglic’s margin had grown to 2:51.
The podium battle has also moved further away. Gall occupies third place at 1:39, leaving Kuss 2:30 outside the top three before racing resumes.
His positive physical assessment at least removed some of the immediate uncertainty created by the crash. Kuss completed one of the hardest stages of the opening week and remained inside the top 10, but the Alto de Aitana established how much ground he must now recover.
Kuss will start Stage 10 seventh overall, 4:09 behind Mas and 2:30 away from Gall’s final podium position.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- I was poking Mou(se)! If you can't see the sarcasm then that's on you ! There was no ill will pointed at Tadeg and his crash. Next time try reading the content instead of overreacting!frieders331-08-2026
- He's still crying in his spilled milk over Pogi not being able to win!frieders331-08-2026
- "... and with a seventh pending next month..." Unfortunate timing of this post during yesterday's stage.typurc31-08-2026
- So Pidcock wins the race and the story is about VDP the loser in 32nd place . Not really bias journalism .Come on at least give Tom the creditpaultryan200231-08-2026
- A lot of people claim to be experts but are nothing much (e.g Thijs Zonneveld). But this chap really is an expert.
Rafionain-Glas30-08-2026 - For the past 2 years, all I read from cycling "experts" is "pogi shouldn't do this", "pogi shouldn't do that", "it's too dangerous, he shouldn't do that ride", "it's too soon, he shouldn't go there", "he shouldn't try both races in the same year", etc etc etc. how about a bit of silence from the experts?! it's funny, the only guy that somehow supported him was armstrong: "he'll be back. he knows the record."guster30-08-2026
- I suspect he was chatting with his AI about how, in hindsight, with Pogačar's crash, had Seixas come to the Vuelta he could have won. He then asked it to write the article and it hallucinated over the hypothetical he provided earlier in the chatRafionain-Glas30-08-2026
- Very good points and concerns you mention, it is well taken.. Since I have no acces to the CT images already available I describe likely scenarios. To secure that the non-dislocated C7 fracturure heals unproblematic serial CT images will be performed frequently A theoretic but statistically unlikely problem, could be if the fracture involved the canal where the C7 nerve root departs, and more repair bone is generated that compress the nerve. That is very unlikely and can be easily solved by surgery. Tadej is so beloved, not only because he is the undisputed best rider, but also because he is humid, generous and humuoristic and boyish positive and competitive. guy My guess he will be back as strong as ever in the 2027 season. His worst enemy could be himself if he does not take the needed time to recover, but hopefully he will listen to independant sane medical advisors.Jakob30-08-2026
- A profoundly touching moment from a true champion. Pure heart and absolute class, Pidders.anonymouscyclist30-08-2026
- I think the only way for van der Poel to win it is to skip the Tour and race lots of MTB, splitting his season into classics, MTB and CX. That way he'd start from the front row.Rafionain-Glas30-08-2026
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