"I think I can give him a minute or two in the time trial" - Remco Evenepoel confident he has the beating of Sepp Kuss

Sepp Kuss may be in the Red Jersey of overall leader at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana but reigning champion Remco Evenepoel has not lost faith. The Belgian remains confident of once again taking overall victory.

"It is possible that he will now become the leader of Jumbo-Visma," Evenepoel says about the situation with Kuss over two and a half minutes of the Soudal - Quick-Step leader after eight days of racing in Spain. "But I think I can give him a minute or two in the time trial on Tuesday."

Before Tuesday's time-trial however, the riders face the potentially explosive challenge of the Caravaca de la Cruz. "Another difficult finish and in the first part of the stage we also have to take the wind into account," Evenepoel previews ahead of the day.

He won't be going into the stage on the back of another victory however, after a communication error meant he didn't compete with Primoz Roglic in the sprint for stage 8. "It was just a small mistake. An inattention on my part combined with the noise of the people," he laments. "But, new day, new opportunities."