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Kuss secures Spanish Vuelta victory to become first American to win a Grand Tour race in a decade

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Cyclists compete during the 21st stage of the Vuelta cycling race between Hipodromo de La Zarzuela and Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MADRID (AP) — A decade later, the United States has a Grand Tour winner again.

Sepp Kuss won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday to become the first American to win one of cycling’s top races since Chris Horner earned the Vuelta victory in 2013. The other Grand Tour events are the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

Kuss had effectively secured the victory ahead of Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage, when rivals in the Spanish capital respected his lead and did not launch any attacks as per cycling tradition.

It was a surprising victory for Kuss, who entered the race in a supporting role to his Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time Tour de France winner — and Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press

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