Does Kuss lose his role as Vingegaard's lieutenant to a teammate? "To make the difference, you need riders like him"

Visma | Lease a Bike presented the team's leaders to the stakeholders mid-January 2025, and the lineup seemed clear. Jonas Vingegaard, Olav Kooij, and Wout van Aert were, of course, highlighted, but behind them, we heard the name Sepp Kuss surprisingly less than that of Simon Yates and Matteo Jorgenson, for example. Coincidence, or not? Not quite, as the Durango man explains to IDLProCycling.com.

Kuss is starting 2025 with a fresh outlook. This has nothing to do with cycling but everything to do with starting a family. He and his partner had the pleasure of welcoming their first child just after the end of the disappointing cycling season of 2024, which naturally brought a certain perspective to the young family.

"I finished my season after the Vuelta but didn't slow down much afterward. I didn't do anything crazy either; I just kept on cycling," says the relaxed-looking Kuss. "I wanted to build a stronger foundation for 2024 because I think I fell a little short last year. At times last year, my level was good, but I wasn't consistent enough. Sometimes, I was good, but then again, I wasn't. I hope to do better next season if I stay healthy."

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"Not every year can be perfect," Kuss knows

There is a reason why the winner of the Tour of Spain is not immediately put forward as one of the men the team wants to rely on in 2025. "It's better if I stay out of the spotlight. It means fewer expectations from the outside world, which suits me better. Jonas and Wout are under constant pressure but deal with it differently. I don't know if last year affected me, but it was new. So you probably have to gain experience in that too," the American climber explains.

"It wasn't my best year, but until last year, I had always performed well and never suffered from mechanical problems or injuries," said Kuss, who missed the Tour de France due to a persistent coronavirus infection. "This was the first season in which I have experienced setbacks, but I am glad I could still win a race. That is never easy, especially after missing the Tour," Kuss points out regarding his victory in the Vuelta a Burgos.

"Not every year can be perfect, so you have to accept that. These are normal setbacks in a cyclist's life, he adds. 'As a cyclist, you always need to have faith. Training is one thing, but you are racing for results. That is normal for any athlete, and it is not a big deal if you fail every time. It is simply difficult to always be at your peak level."

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Kuss: "I have never accepted the role of leader"

Okay, what are your goals for 2025? "First and foremost, I want to create a more solid foundation for myself. I aspire to be a domestique on the uphill climbs because that is much easier than being the leader. I am good at it and feel comfortable doing it, but I also enjoy it, says the friendly man from Colorado. 'For me, it is important to seize opportunities when they arise, just like in the past."

"But that's always been how I approached my races: it's rarely the case that I was the man to beat in advance,' the experienced climbing domestique points out. 'I just want to see where each race takes me, but it's not like I want to take over someone else's leadership role. I want to help the leaders and see how far I can get myself."

"I have never taken on the role of leader, except for last year's Vuelta," says the Visma | Lease a Bike rider. "Even in 2023, it was never on my agenda, but that's how it turned out. I actually seek the opposite: I am at my best when I start a race to assist other riders," Kuss says without a doubt in his voice.

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Kuss no longer Vingegaard's lieutenant? "To make a difference uphill, you need riders like Yates"

In the Tour de France, he is part of an impressively strong team that includes Vingegaard, Van Aert, Jorgenson, Yates, Victor Campenaerts, Tiesj Benoot, and Christophe Laporte. "It will be an exciting Tour de France, I think. Jonas can derive a lot of confidence from his last Tour, where he could not start with ideal preparation due to his crash. We know very well how strong Pogacar is, but we are mainly focused on being the best version of ourselves and continuing to improve. That doesn't mean reinventing the wheel, but staying consistent and having fun together."

Kuss may no longer be the lieutenant for Vingegaard with the previously mentioned names, but that does not bother him. "Simon Yates can give us an advantage in that respect. To make a difference uphill, you need riders like him. Guys who can accelerate at the right moment, because you don't make a difference with just a fast pace, given the high level that all riders currently have."

Kuss will start his season on Monday in the Clasica Jaén, immediately followed by the Volta ao Algarve. "It would be nice to be good in the spring, but I'm looking for a longer, more gradual build-up to the season. So, I'm going into the first races without expectations, knowing that I'm mainly focusing on the summer. But if possible, I'd like to do well, of course."  

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