Wilco Kelderman was part of a large lead group, but the 32-year-old Dutchman had to let go on the steep final climb. Wout Poels took the stage win in Guadarrama. In the group of favourites, the top three in the general classification, made up of the Jumbo-Visma trio, were not attacked.

"We decided to cross the finish line with the three of us. It was a fantastic moment", a beaming Kuss said. "We've achieved something unique with the team this season by winning the three grand tours. The last three weeks certainly haven't been easy, but we've granted one another. It is like a fairytale."

"It will take a while for everything to sink in", the 28-year-old American continued. "It's an incredible feeling. It was a huge relief to cross the line here. I knew it was possible to finish this, but you have to get through all the stages well. I suffered a lot, but I survived every time. This Tour of Spain has been an unexpected success for me. When I became a cyclist, I did it for the love of the sport. Now, I am close to winning a grand tour. It is still too difficult to express my feelings. I am grateful for this experience."