“We used a more defensive tactic today. We decided that within the team, the three of us" - Sepp Kuss reveals he Roglic & Vingegaard discussed tactics after viral criticism

After the controversial attacks of Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard in recent stages, Jumbo-Visma were a much more well-oiled machine on stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana. Red Jersey Sepp Kuss revealed post-stage that the trio had discussed their tactics following the criticism.

“The team did great. We were in the lead all day and in the last laps Jan Tratnik did a great job,” the American recapped in his post-stage interview following stage 18. “And then Jonas did a great pace from the foot. I was scared for a moment because he is so strong. But he didn't go all out, even though it wasn't easy. But yeah, it went great.”

With stage 18 being the last of the real mountainous challenges, Kuss now looks set to take the biggest win of his career and his first individual Grand Tour success. That wasn't assured over the last few days and both Roglic and Vingegaard consistently rode ahead of the American, today however, was different.

“We used a more defensive tactic today. We decided that within the team, the three of us. That was already the case for the Angliru and then we also talked about the tactics after that ride,” Kuss explains. “The tactics always change. Things sometimes go wrong, but that is human. Tomorrow the ride will be a little easier, but we have to stay focused. Saturday is a long and tough stage. Although we no longer go to the high mountains, there is still something coming.”