Present in the breakaway of the day, the Belgian of the Soudal-Quick Step, clinched in the general classification since his failure during the 13th stage, sowed his last companions of fugue at 29 kilometers from the finish, in the first of two climbs of the Cruz de Linares, climbed for the first time in the Vuelta.

The time trial world champion, who loves these extraordinary rides, never looked back to race for his 50th professional victory, at only 23 years old, cutting the line almost five minutes ahead of Italy's Damiano Caruso.

By spending the day at the front and crossing all the passes in the lead, he also mathematically secured the jersey of best climber provided he rallied to the final finish in Madrid on Sunday.

"It's great to finish the Vuelta in this way," he said. After the Tourmalet (where he had a failure on Friday) I had to turn the page. Even if the plan to win the general classification collapsed, I won three of the most beautiful stages and the jersey of best climber, it will remain as an incredible Vuelta."

The peloton with the main favourites and the red jersey Sepp Kuss was more than nine minutes behind in the last summit finish of this 78th edition of the Vuelta.

American Sepp Kuss (c), leader of the Vuelta, at the finish of the 18th stage, on September 14, 2023 in Puerto de La Cruz de Linares © MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP

After sending sometimes contradictory messages, Jumbo-Visma seems, given the course of this 18th stage, to have definitively chosen the American Sepp Kuss, usual luxury teammate, to win his third Grand Tour of the year, an unprecedented feat for a team.

Jonas Vingegaard, who was second at eight seconds overall on the morning of the stage, and Primoz Roglic, third at 1 min 8 sec, decided this time to surround and protect the red jersey, especially when the Spaniard Mikel Landa tried several times to attack.

"Sepp deserves more respect"

At the finish, Vingegaard, freewheeling, even gave up another nine seconds to his usual lieutenant, well on his way to winning his first Grand Tour on Sunday in Madrid, after that of Roglic in the Giro d'Italia in May and that of Vingegaard in the Tour of France in July.

"It's good to give him back, he's done so much for us in the past," Vingegaard said. But there is still a big stage on Saturday, we have to be careful and keep fighting."

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard during his victory in the 16th stage of the Vuelta, on September 12, 2023 in Bejes © MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP/Archives

"As I said before: if I had to choose one to win the Vuelta it would be him," Roglic added.

Friday's stage, promised to the sprinters, should not change the situation in the general classification. There remains a difficult stage on Saturday, with no less than ten third category climbs, but the hierarchy now seems clearly established at Jumbo-Visma.

The three-way household within the Dutch team had turned into a headache and sown confusion in recent days, when for example Vingegaard and Roglic trailed Kuss in the Angliru on Wednesday before swearing at the finish line that they would like to see the American win in Madrid.

Remco Evenepoel on the podium after his victory in the 18th stage of the Vuelta, on September 14, 2023 in Puerto de La Cruz de Linares © MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP

"Sepp deserves a little more respect," Team Ineos leader Geraint Thomas said on Thursday, adding that the majority of the field would like to see the American, who has been exemplary of dedication to his leaders for years, win.

Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge had promised answers on Thursday, while insisting on the complex and new situation for his team. "It's not Playstation," he stressed.

© 2023 AFP