Sepp Kuss will race to defend his Vuelta a España title come August 17. After a Covid an infection derailed his Tour de France look, the American is recovered, coaching properly and can race the Spanish Grand Tour, Visma – Lease a Bike coach Grischa Niermann has informed Velo.
Final yr, Kuss turned the first American male in a decade to win the Maillot Rojo and solely the second American male rider to take action.
The 29-year-old Coloradoan has lengthy been lauded as top-of-the-line climbers and helpers within the peloton – a lot in order that his teammates nicknamed him “the mailman” as a result of he “all the time delivers” as a super-domestique, driving in service of his teammates.
He has been instrumental within the success of Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglič, however in Spain final summer time, Kuss lastly obtained a shot at his personal glory and made it rely. Kuss earned the crimson jersey after stage eight and managed to maintain all of it the best way to Madrid 13 phases later.
Biking followers worldwide cherished this underdog story and squarely positioned themselves behind the tremendous domestique below the “Crew Kuss” banner.
In his eighth season as an expert, Kuss confirmed himself, his crew, and the world that he has what it takes to be a crew chief when given the chance. However alternatives do not come usually on a powerhouse crew like Visma – Lease a Bike.
But, quite than in search of management alternatives at lesser groups, Kuss prolonged his Visma – Lease a Bike contract by way of 2027, embracing being the “second card” to Vingegaard after Roglič went to Bora, satisfied he’ll be given extra probabilities to journey for himself.
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However these alternatives –given or taken– have but to materialise this season. He used the spring stage races to get in form, with obvious little expectation from his crew to carry out, as the massive focus was on the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
On the Tour, Kuss was as soon as once more enlisted to journey in service of the defending, two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard—the valued mountain lieutenant reporting for responsibility.
He did not get the possibility, nonetheless. Kuss left the Critérium du Dauphiné after stage seven earlier in June with Covid signs and didn’t get better in time for the Tour.
In his absence, a peak-fit Tadej Pogačar is making it awfully troublesome for Vingegaard to ship his crew the three-peat they’re searching for. Whereas missed in France, Kuss has used this downtime to totally get better from the Covid virus, prepare at altitude and put together for the August racing. He additionally shared some joyous information of a private nature: the 29-year-old and his spouse, Noemi Ferré, expect their first little one.
“He is good once more, and he is coaching properly,” confirmed Niermann, who absolutely expects Kuss to race in August and take the chance to defend his Vuelta crown.
The 2024 Vuelta a España begins on Saturday, August 17, with a time trial in Lisbon, Portugal. This yr’s race will as soon as once more fought within the mountains, as there’s only one flat stage in the whole 21 days of racing. The 2024 route is bookended by a brief particular person time trial on both finish, however for Kuss, a grasp of the mountains, the mountain-heavy course does look promising.
You can comply with the race with stage-by-stage protection proper right here on Biking Weekly.
