Vuelta 2023: Kuss wins at Pico del Buitre, Martinez new leader

foto: Cor VosSepp Kuss solos to victory in the 6t6 stage of La Vuelta. He is the best climber from the breakaway and showcases his talents on the Pico del Buitre. Young Lenny Martinez finishes in second to take the red jersey, while Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic put time into their GC rivals. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2023 Vuelta

1. Sepp Kuss (usa)
2. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 0.26
3. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.31
4. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.46
5. Marc Soler (spa) s.t.
6. Wout Poels (nld) + 1.03
7. Einer Rubio (spa) + 1.05
8. Cristián Rodriguez (spa) + 1.12
9. Steff Cras (bel) s.t.
10. Jefferson Cepeda (ecu) + 1.26

18. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.52
19. Jonas Vingegaard (den) s.t.
20. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 2.59
21. João Almeida (por) + 3.06
22. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) s.t.
23. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.16
24. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 3.24
25. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 3.34
27. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 4.17
30. Thymen Arensman (nld) + 4.56

GC after stage 6
1. Lenny Martinez (fra)
2. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 0.08
3. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.51
4. Wout Poels (nld) + 1.41
5. Steff Cras (bel) + 1.48
6. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.58
7. Jefferson Cepeda (ecu) + 2.06
8. David de la Cruz (spa) + 2.23
9. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 2.47
10. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.50

11. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 2.52
12. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.58
14. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 3.06
15. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) + 3.08
21. João Almeida (por) + 3.17
18. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 3.36
23. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 4.57
24. Thymen Arensman (nld) + 5.10

Race report
Attacks are flying in the first hour of action before a huge lead group takes shape in the run-up to the Alto Fuente de Rubielos. Some 40 riders carve out a 7 minutes lead.

The lead group enters the finish climb almost 4 minutes ahead of the peloton. The gap remains stable in the first half of the Pico del Buitre and then it’s all systems go.

Rubio strikes from the lead group with 4.1 kilometres left to climb. Bardet, Martinez and Kuss go after him, while Roglic strikes at almost exactly the same place from the GC group. While red jersey Evenepoel is distanced, Mas, Ayuso and Uijtdebroeks try to limt their losses with Vingegaard in their wheels.

Meanwhile, Kuss takes over the race lead and Valter waits for his leader Roglic. Mas rejoins the two with Vingegaard as his shadow.

Kuss solos to victory and the Jumbo-Visma tandem Roglic-Vingegaard drops Mas. So it’s a perfect day for the stellar team, although the new red jersey is not one of them – young Lenny Martinez takes La Roja.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2023 Vuelta.