'The Bachelor': Peter Kraus reacts to Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s casting

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Peter Kraus shared his emotional reaction to Arie Luyendyk, Jr., being cast as the next Bachelor star in a lengthy post this week.

The 32-year-old Bachelorette Season 13 runner-up confessed he was struggling "to hold back the tears" after Luyendyk was announced Thursday as the Season 22 Bachelor.

"#tbt to the most incredible journey of this life time that has now officially come to an end today. As I sit here writing this, I struggle to hold back the tears as I am overcome with emotion one last time," he wrote on Instagram.

Kraus thanked Lindsay for giving him "a chance" and wished the Bachelorette star "nothing but the best." He also thanked ABC for the opportunity to appear on the reality dating competition.

"ABC, you saw something in me, but something held me back," the star said. "You treated me with such love and kindness and showed me glimpses of a life I never once dreamed that I could have."

"I will be forever humbled and grateful and will always look back at these last 6 months with an ear to ear smile, knowing that this has truly been a very special life indeed," he added.

Many believed Kraus would become the next Bachelor after Lindsay picked Bryan Abasolo on the Bachelorette Season 13 finale, which aired Aug. 7. Kraus' manager, Joe Yuasa, told E! News the star is "happy" for Luyendyk.

"Peter is very happy about the way things turned out and is happy for Arie," Yuasa said. "He thinks ABC made a great choice."

"Peter is going to to focus on his passion, helping people through fitness and wellness," he added. "He is very thankful for the opportunity he was given with The Bachelorette."