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Sepp Kuss Completes Grand Tour Stage-Win Trilogy at Giro d'Italia Queen Stage

Sepp Kuss captured the queen stage victory at the Giro d'Italia, completing a rare trilogy of stage wins across the Tour, Vuelta, and Giro.

Asude Karataş • 29 Mayıs 2026 19:00 • 3 dk okuma • 13 görüntülenme

American climber Sepp Kuss won the queen stage at the Giro d'Italia, securing a historic stage victory across all three Grand Tours. Kuss surged past Giulio Ciccone on the brutal final climb in the Dolomites while his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Jonas Vingegaard protected the overall race lead. The stage victory marks only the third time a rider has won individual stages at the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d'Italia.

Kuss, operating as a support rider for Vingegaard, entered the queen stage as part of an early breakaway. The American held his position through the opening climbs as Ciccone collected mountain points across the stage. On the final 5-kilometer ascent, Kuss shifted into attack mode and dropped Ciccone in the closing kilometers, crossing the finish line ahead of Derek Gee-West, who placed second. Ciccone, who had built a lead earlier in the stage, saw his advantage evaporate under Kuss's relentless pace on the steep terrain.

The Dolomites stage also reshuffled the overall classification among the lead contenders. Thymen Arensman lost ground to Jai Hindley, dropping from third to fourth place in the general classification. Felix Gall consolidated his position as second overall, while Vingegaard remained comfortable in the pink jersey. Hindley finished within 43 seconds of Kuss on the summit, allowing him to leapfrog Arensman by approximately 90 seconds over the course of the stage. The structural support from Visma-Lease a Bike, which controlled the race with aggressive positioning throughout the climb, enabled both Kuss's attack and Vingegaard's defensive strategy.

The stage displayed the hallmarks of elite Grand Tour racing: altitude exceeding 2,000 meters, steep gradients testing pure climbing ability, tactical racing among contenders, and individual riders seizing opportunities within the broader team framework. Kuss's victory underscores his value beyond his role as a domestique, while the result maintains Visma-Lease a Bike's dominance with four previous stage wins from Vingegaard earlier in the race.

What makes Sepp Kuss's triple Grand Tour stage win significant?+

Only three riders in cycling history have won individual stages across all three Grand Tours. Kuss joining this exclusive club demonstrates his climbing credentials and the versatility required to perform at the highest level across different races and terrain types throughout the season.

How did the stage affect the Giro d'Italia overall standings?+

Jai Hindley moved into third place overall, displacing Thymen Arensman to fourth. Hindley gained approximately 90 seconds on Arensman over the stage, reducing his deficit and strengthening his podium position. Felix Gall secured second place while Jonas Vingegaard retained the pink jersey with a comfortable margin.

What tactical situation led to Kuss attacking on the final climb?+

Kuss entered the breakaway early in the stage as a support rider for Vingegaard. Since Vingegaard was comfortably positioned among the overall contenders and did not face immediate pressure, team leadership authorized Kuss to pursue the stage victory. This allowed Visma-Lease a Bike to secure both a stage win and maintain overall race control.

What happened to Giulio Ciccone during the stage?+

Ciccone controlled the mountain classification by collecting points on each climb, including 50 points on the Passo Giau. However, he built a lead heading into the final climb that proved insufficient. Kuss overtook him on the steep gradients of the closing 5 kilometers, and Ciccone's earlier decision to attack in frustration did not translate into a stage victory.

How dominant has Visma-Lease a Bike been in this Giro d'Italia?+

The team has secured at least five stage victories so far. Vingegaard won four stages before this queen stage, and Kuss's victory adds to the team's total. Vingegaard's control of the pink jersey and the team's ability to position both leaders and support riders effectively demonstrates comprehensive race management across multiple terrain types.

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