Remco Evenepoel powers to win as Sepp Kuss extends Vuelta lead

Remco Evenepoel powered to a solo victory at the top of the Puerto de La Cruz de Linares on stage 18 of the La Vuelta a Espana.

The Belgian Soudal Quick-Step rider claimed a third stage victory of this year's race after a gruelling 179 kilometres, which sees him all but secure the polka-dot King of the Mountains jersey.

Jumbo-Visma again controlled the attacks as American Sepp Kuss retained the La Roja, his lead in the general classification standings now at 17 seconds over team-mate Jonas Vingegaard heading into the final three days, with Primoz Roglic in third.

Evenepoel had been among the early breakaway group heading up the category one climb on Puerto de San Lorenzo and Alto de Tenebredo.

Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) and British rider Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich) joined him to pull clear on the first ascent of the Puerto de La Cruz de Linares.

As they closed on the summit, Evenepoel launched a solo attack over the final 29km to the finish, with Poole crossing more than a minute and a half behind and Caruso in third.

Although general classification contender Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) made a couple of attacks inside the final five kilometres, Vingegaard and Roglic had controlled the pace to help protect their Jumbo-Visma team-mate Kuss.

After another testing mountain course, Friday’s stage is relatively flat over 177.4km from La Baneza to Iscar.