Experience expert Kuss confesses that giving O'Connor time was not directly the plan, Van Aert sees underestimation

Australian Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) turned the Vuelta a Espana upside down with a long solo on Thursday, which they also saw at Visma | Lease a Bike. Experience expert Sepp Kuss and green jersey Wout van Aert did the follow-up review on behalf of the Dutch team.

O'Connor won the sixth Vuelta stage to Yunquera with a lead of 6.31 minutes over the other GC riders, giving him a 4.51-minute lead over number two Primoz Roglic in the general classification. For reference, Kuss won last year's Vuelta by taking 2.39 minutes, also in stage six, on the leader at the time, Remco Evenepoel.

"This is not something we immediately had in mind," confessed the American in Dutch service, therefore, as an expert by experience. "He is a super strong rider, but on such a tough day, no one gets his spot in the breakaway as a gift. We were riding on a technical course, and it was hot. I know what it's like to be in such a breakaway in the sixth stage of the Vuelta," Kuss reflected.

"Last year, it was also stage six," he continued. "Ben can keep this up for a long time; he was already fourth in the Giro this year and had previously finished fourth in the Tour de France. So I'm sure he can hold this place for a while," Kuss assessed after the stage.

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Van Aert sees underestimation among GC teams

Van Aert tried in the opening stage but ultimately failed to secure a ticket for the early breakaway. "It was quite a struggle to get to the front. I saw this stage as an excellent chance to try, so I joined in, but a more extensive group rode away just before the longer climb. I had a feeling then that it would explode again, and then it became more something for the climbers to be in."

"Before the stage, I already thought it would be a 50-50 stage for me, but in the end, the guys at the front were too strong, so it was no chance for me," said the wearer of the green jersey in this Tour of Spain.

As an analyst, Van Aert then looked at O'Connor's putsch. 2I think everyone was surprised that he managed to grab such a big gap, but I understood he could maintain his lead because of the many turns. It certainly wasn't easy to control. But I'm also sure some teams underestimated him. He now has the red jersey as a reward," observed the Belgian of Visma | Lease a Bike.