2023 Vuelta a España Stage 21 Results & Recap
Stage 21 of the 2023 Vuelta a España is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Groves wins final stage, Kuss is Vuelta champion
Kaden Groves (ADC) won the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana in a nailbiting finale which saw the breakaway stay away from the charging peloton - just barely - after Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) charged to the line late and ended up leading out Aussie, who is the first from his country to win the green jersey in the Spanish jersey.
"For sure, I didn’t imagine I would win this way," Groves said. "Coming into today, I really wanted to take the stage and keep the green jersey but going for a breakaway wasn’t my intention. Remco [Evenepoel] this morning was a threat for the green jersey and I suspected he might try something, not to take the jersey, but to try and win the stage. And I knew I had to follow him. It was quite interesting in the finale. I didn’t want to pull the guys in the last kilometre because obviously, it would take away my sprint. We all looked at each other and then it meant that peloton came back. But I knew that when I’m in a sprint, I can find a little extra, and Remco leading out in the final hectometres was a big advantage for me. It’s pretty special [to be the first Australian winner of the points standings of La Vuelta]. I need to thank my team, without them it wouldn’t have been possible. We had such a big month here in Spain and prepared together. This victory of the jersey and also my third stage mean a lot to me and I need to thank my team."
Sepp Kuss is officially the winner of the Vuelta a Espana after crossing the line in Madrid safely with his teammates, celebrating the important achievement.
"It’s incredible," Kuss said. "I think today was the stage that I suffered the most of the whole race, now I’m just glad it’s over. I had a feeling it would be a fast stage when I saw all those guys getting ready to attack. I suffered more today than I didi in Angliru. It was a nice way to finish off. No, I’m not different now that I’ve won La Vuelta, not at all. I’ll still be me. It’s life changing for sure. I think I’ll look back on this experience with a lot of fun memories. It’s still sinking in, I think it’s gonna take quite some time. Now, a big celebration. Family, friends are here, and that’s gonna be really special, to be with the riders and the staff, tell the stories of the last three weeks. So many memories and good times."
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