Roglic looses key domestique as Sepp Kuss abandons Vuelta a Espana

Jumbo-Visma had not shown their best colours over the opening week of the Vuelta a Espana, although several of their riders have been in the race lead. Primoz Roglic was isolated in yesterday's summit finale at Colláu Fancuaya, and that scenario is likely to be repeated more often as Sepp Kuss abandoned the race.

This comes as a very big blow to the Dutch team as Kuss, Roglic's right-hand man and main domestique in the mountainous terrain, had been showing good form and was the only rider to be able to keep up with the GC group when the pace ramped up.

Kuss was in 14th place in the GC before yesterday's stage, where he noticeably struggled and lost several minutes in a finale that suited his capabilities. However that has now been justified, as the team revealed he had a fever, and will not take to the start on stage nine - another important GC day.

Roglic will have the support of Chris Harper in the mountains, with the likes of Sam Oomen and Rohan Dennis having a bigger responsibility to perform in the rough terrain where the Slovenian will need support and the race will be decided.