MADRID, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Team Jumbo Visma enjoyed an almost perfect day in the eighth stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday as Primoz Roglic won the stage, while his team-mate Sepp Kuss took the overall leader's red jersey.
The 165 kilometers between Denia on Spain's east coast and the Xorret de Cati contained one third category, three second category climbs and plenty of rolling terrain, before finishing two kilometers over the top of the first category Xorret de Cati.
As on Thursday's Mountain stage up the Pico de Buitre, the day saw a breakaway of 30 riders, with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny) riding around a minute off the front of the leading group.
First Robert Gesink and then Dylan Van Baarle led the chase for Jumbo Visma to bring the breakaway's advantage down at a steady rate, with the last escapee closed down by the peloton before the start of the final climb.
Overnight leader, Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) began to suffer on the ramps of the Xorret and eventually finished 1 minute and 10 seconds behind Roglic.
Kuss looked to attack on 20 percent ramps of the final climb of the day, forcing reigning champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick Step) to lead the chase, while Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard were able to sit behind him.
Evenepoel led the race over the summit, but perhaps his efforts took just enough out of his legs to allow Roglic to take the sprint over the line, while Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) third and Kuss and Vingegaard two seconds behind.
Kuss now has a 43-second lead over Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) in second, while Martinez is third overall, a minute behind.
Sunday is a rolling stage and with Monday a rest day, it looks set for another breakaway to try its luck. ■
