Rui Costa thanks Intermarché-Circus-Wanty after win in Vuelta: "A lot of work that outsiders don't see"

"A stage victory in the Vuelta a España: for the third year in a row, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty has achieved this feat. The experienced rider Rui Costa claimed victory in the stage on Sunday in Lekunberri after a race finale that unfolded in various ways.

"I want to express my gratitude to this team, which believed in me from the very beginning,' Costa said, thanking Aike Visbeek and his teammates. 'The start of the season went very well, and now I have won in the Vuelta. This is of immense importance to me and the team, and I am incredibly happy about it."

"In the Tour de France, things didn't unfold as planned for the team, so we made the decision to compete in the Vuelta,' the former world champion from Portugal reflected on his Tour de France experience, where he was unable to maintain his form after a promising start to the year."

Costa: 'Kämna went to the limit'

"In Lekunberri, he outperformed Remco Evenepoel, among others, although there was also an element of luck involved due to a fall by the frontrunner, Lennard Kämna. 'There's a lot of effort put into this stage that often goes unnoticed by the outside world. Kämna pushed himself to the limit and had a fall, which opened the door for me to win. It's very encouraging,' said Costa. His team experienced setbacks with Louis Meintjes and Gerben Thijssen dropping out of the Spanish round.

"lThere's significant work happening behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed. This victory is a tribute to all the dedication and sacrifices made. It brings immense satisfaction to our team, and we've truly earned it!'"