There is a cyclist who can rival Pogacar in popularity on the Volta a Catalunya outings. He is the American Sepp Kuss (9/13/1994), who lived in Girona, is married to a Catalan woman, lives in Andorra, has a cycling club in Berguedà and won the 2023 Vuelta a España by surprise.
Has winning the Vuelta changed your life?
Yes, of course there is a different expectation. The public knows that I have won the Vuelta and that generates expectations. But I am facing this season the same as last year and the previous one. I don’t feel any special pressure. What the Vuelta did give me is to be more sure of myself, I have more confidence.
Do they recognize you from Andorra?
Sometimes they stop me on the street, but I don’t care.
In the Strade Bianche or in this Volta he is running more freely, as a leader. What does it mean to be the leader of the ranks?
The difference is that I have the team to position myself well in key moments. Now they give me the freedom to look for an individual result instead of always being on the train and fighting for position. They are little things that help. Having the support of the team gives me extra motivation.
The success has not gone to his head, he continues to put the team first. Is that the secret of a good partner?
I come from a fairly modest state (Colorado). I never could have believed that I could be in this position in sports. I have been humble at every stage of my sporting career and also in the current one. I’m not going to believe it now.
What results would you be satisfied with at the end of the season?
I don’t start with any specific objective. I want to have a fairly balanced year, to be good throughout the calendar. Although the big moments will be the Tour and the Vuelta, that’s where I really have to be at my best. In the Tour I would like to give one more point than what I did last year. If I have done a good job in the Tour, I will be calmer for the Vuelta.
You have always been present when the Jumbo team, now Visma, won the two Tours, the Giro and the four Vuelta. Is that why everyone loves Kuss?
Wow, I don’t know. I am also lucky to be on the team during a golden era with very important teammates. What I contribute is that in the mountains I can give one more point, make the passes harder for the leaders when they need it or are going to attack. I am his bodyguard on the mountain stages. I am very happy with my work.
When did you realize you would be a great climber?
Since I was young I have always liked climbing mountain passes. Physically, my body is more the prototype of a climber than a roller. I had already raced a Vuelta and a Giro, but the race in which I made the chip change was in the 2019 Vuelta a España (the first one that Roglic won).
Is the most difficult thing to race like Pogacar and Vingegaard, who go out to win in all the races?
Ambition can be trained, but, as seen in this Volta with Pogacar or previously seen with Jonas in the Tirreno-Adriatico, there are only a select few who can go to the races knowing that they are going to win no matter what. There is more season left and there will be more opportunities for others.
Evenepoel debuts in the Tour, Roglic is in Bora and the UAE will add Ayuso to Pogacar. Will it be all against Vingegaard?
I don’t know, but it wouldn’t matter if they attacked us because we have a good team. The UAE is going to have different assets. It will be a very offensive Tour because all the current cycling stars are coming.
Will he have any strength left for the Vuelta?
Yes, I want to repeat and defend the victory. But the most important thing is to do the work. If you arrive in good shape, it is easier later.
Aren’t they going to let him escape and take three minutes?
Yes, in principle that’s over for me, yes. (Laughs).
