Sepp Kuss wins Vuelta a Burgos queen stage at Lagunas de Neila and takes over race lead

Sepp Kuss has experienced a very rough start to the Vuelta a Burgos, crashing and getting stitches in the nose, but he has turned his race around. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike climbed to victory at Lagunas de Neila and has become the new race leader.

The third stage of the Spanish race was, perhaps, the most important. Certainly, for the riders preparing for the Vuelta a España, it is a day to test the climbing legs on the race's sole summit finish atop Lagunas de Neila. Albeit shorter than usual, the climb still featured brutal gradients that could create differences. A few riders such as Nairo Quintana, Hugh Carthy and Antonio Tiberi found difficulties early on after the crashes that have affected the first days of the race (whilst others had already abandoned or still had the legs despite other injuries).

The breakaway of the day was formed by Jetse Bol, Nicolas Vinokourov, Alex Diaz and Germán Darío Gómez. Bol, rider of the home Burgos team, went solo in the penultimate climb of the day where the hard pace in the peloton put a few under difficulties including Quintana. With 23 kilometers to go everyone had been caught but the peloton was still numerous - also with riders regaining contact in the descent.

All was to play for in the final climb and specially the final 3 kilometers of the stage, averaging around 10%. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe entered the ascent in front with a hard pace. With 2.4 kilometer Visma took over as Cian Uitjdebroeks launched an attack. Shortly after Victor Lafay picked it up and created a further selection. With 1.5 to go Sepp Kuss attacked but was joined by Caja Rural's Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda.

But the final kilometer was very steep and Kuss was the superior climber on the day. The American managed to ride away and still create a considerable buffer over his rival, Kuss took his first stage win of the year and climbed into the race lead. Lorenzo Fortunato put on a brilliant ride to catch up and sprint to second, with Cepeda climbing to third.