This is not going to calm the nasty doping rumors which are making more and more noise around the Dutch team. Five days after having achieved a hat-trick at the top of the Tourmalet, the Jumbo-Visma did it again this Wednesday between Ribadesella and the also legendary Col de l’Angliru, during the 17th stage of the Tour of Spain.
The trifecta did not arrive in the same order as in the Pyrenees, where Jonas Vingegaard won ahead of Sepp Kuss and Primoz Roglic. This time, it was the Slovenian, three-time winner of the Vuelta and winner of the Giro this year, who won in the fog ahead of the Dane, two-time winner of the Tour de France, and their American teammate.
Towards an unprecedented hat-trick in Madrid
Released at the very end of the climb, Kuss finished 19 seconds behind these usual leaders but he barely retained his red jersey, with 8 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, also winner of Tuesday’s stage in Bejes, and 1’08 ” ahead of Roglic.
The three men, who are crushing the competition, can aim for an unprecedented hat-trick in a Grand Tour on Sunday after the last stage in Madrid. It remains to be seen in what order. The Slovenian has already won the Giro, the Dane the Grande Boucle.