Just 24 hours after declaring his intention to be co-leader with Primoš Roglic for the podium on the opening stage of the Vuelta a España, Tom Dumoulin suffered a morale blow when he lost significant time on the Alate.

Jumbo Visma broke Sep Kuss on the final climb, and while Roglic finished in the final kilometer, Dumoulin finished 51 seconds behind.

With 4.6km to the finish, Kuss caught up to him and he finished in 16th place. I'm not feeling 100%, I'm a bit tired," Dumoulin told Dutch broadcaster NOS (opens in new tab).

"Did you feel like that? I've been tired the last few weeks. We've had a long break, we've had a busy program. It's good to see Primosch winning.

Roglic, who took the overall leader's red jersey with a stage win, still looks fresh from his heavy defeat in the Tour de France and will look to defend the title he won in Spain last year.

Already 51 seconds down, Dumoulin, who sacrificed himself for Roglic in the Tour and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, will likely play the domestique role again in Spain.

"That's how I entered this Vuelta. That became clear today," Dumoulin said.

There is little room for Dumoulin to recover, with more hills to come in stages 2 and 3 and the dreaded Col du Tourmalet summit finish on stage 6. More climbing awaits in the 18-stage race, with only one time trial on stage 13.

"I just have to do my best. That's how I started the race. Unfortunately it wasn't enough," Dumoulin said.

As for whether he will make it to Madrid, he said, "I hope so. I hope so."