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 effectively and can race the Spanish Grand Tour, Visma – Lease a Bike coach Grischa Niermann has advised Velo.
Final 12 months, 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 probably the greatest climbers and helpers within the peloton – a lot in order that his teammates nicknamed him “the mailman” as a result of he “at all times delivers” as a super-domestique, using in service of his teammates.
He has been instrumental within the success of Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglič, however in Spain final summer season, Kuss lastly bought a shot at his personal glory and made it depend. Kuss earned the crimson jersey after stage eight and managed to maintain all of it the way in which to Madrid 13 phases later.
Biking followers worldwide beloved this underdog story and squarely positioned themselves behind the tremendous domestique beneath the “Staff 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, somewhat than in search of management alternatives at lesser groups, Kuss prolonged his Visma – Lease a Bike contract via 2027, embracing being the “second card” to Vingegaard after Roglič went to Bora, satisfied he’ll be given extra possibilities to trip 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 large focus was on the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
On the Tour, Kuss was as soon as once more enlisted to trip in service of the defending, two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard—the valued mountain lieutenant reporting for obligation.
He did not get the possibility, nevertheless. Kuss left the Critérium du Dauphiné after stage seven earlier in June with Covid signs and did not get better in time for the Tour.
In his absence, a peak-fit Tadej Pogačar is making it awfully tough for Vingegaard to ship his crew the three-peat they’re on the lookout 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, predict their first youngster.
“He is good once more, and he is coaching effectively,” 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 12 months’s race will as soon as once more fought within the mountains, as there’s only one flat stage in the complete 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 observe the race with stage-by-stage protection proper right here on Biking Weekly.
