"Our leaders simply didn't have the legs" - Visma lament lack of legs from Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss at Clasica San Sebastian

Team Visma | Lease a Bike put Jonas Vingegaard in the lineup for the Clásica San Sebastián and the Dane was motivated coming into the race, but he has not yet gathered form after recovering from a brutal Tour de France physically and mentally. He and Vuelta a Burgos winner Sepp Kuss were both absent from the action today when the race blew up in Erlaitz where they were expected to attack.

The team did take the front of the peloton, pacing up the Jaizkibel and leading into Erlaitz. but then the vulnerabilities were exposed. "We took responsibility as a team and we did that superbly. A result didn't come out in the end, but we can be happy with how we approached the race," Sepp Kuss said in a press release. "In a final like this, you have to have top legs. Unfortunately that was not the case today. Now I am taking some rest. That way I can prepare optimally for the start of the Vuelta. I'm looking forward to that."

Kuss came directly from Burgos where he took the overall win, but Vingegaard was also in difficulties when the pace increased. Kuss was ultimately the first team rider to cross the line in 34th place. The Dane did not finish the race, and will soon travel to Poland for the Tour de Pologne with unknown ambitions.

"We had a good plan and we were ready. As planned beforehand, we took our responsibility in the peloton," team DS Marc Reef added. "Milan Vader and Julien Vermote did an excellent job of keeping the leading group within range. Then Thomas Gloag and Dylan van Baarle rode a strong climb of the Jaizkibel. On the Erlaitz we wanted to continue our plan, but during the climb our leaders simply didn't have the legs. That is unfortunate, but that is part of cycling sometimes and we have to accept that."