There is a cyclist who can compete in popularity with Pogacar at the exits of the Volta a Catalunya. He is American Sepp Kuss (13/IX/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.
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 face this season like last year and the year before. I don’t feel any special pressure. What did change me is being more sure of myself, I have more confidence.
Do they recognize him for Andorra?
Sometimes I get stopped on the street, but I don’t care.
In the Strade Bianche or in this Volta he runs more freely, as a leader. What does it mean to be the boss?
The difference is that I have the team to position myself well in the 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. It’s the little things that help. Having the support of the team gives me extra motivation.
Success has not gone to his head, he still puts the team first. Is this the secret of a good partner?
I come from a fairly modest state (Colorado). I would never have believed that I could be in this position in the sport. I have been humble in every stage of my sports career and also in the current one. I won’t believe it now.
What results would you be satisfied with at the end of the season?
I don’t start with any particular goal. 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. At the Tour I would like to give one more point than I did last year. If I did a good job in the Tour, I can be more relaxed in the Vuelta.
You were always there when the Jumbo team, now Visma, won the two Tours, the Giro and the four Vueltas. Is that why everyone loves Kuss?
Buah, I don’t know. I am also lucky to be in the team during a golden era with very important colleagues. What I bring is that on the mountain I can give one more point, make the gates harder for the leaders when they need it or want to attack. I am his bodyguard during the mountain stages. I am very happy with my job.
When did you realize you were going to be a great climber?
Ever since I was young, I have always liked climbing the gates. Physically, my body is more the prototype of a climber than a roller. I had already done a Vuelta and a Giro, but the race in which I changed the chip was the Vuelta a España in 2019 (the first that Roglic won).
The hardest thing is racing like Pogacar and Vingegaard, who go out to win every race?
Ambition can be trained, but, as we saw this Tour, with Pogacar, or before it was seen with Jonas in the Tirrè-Adriatic, there are only a select few who can go to the races knowing that they will win both how not There is more season left and there will be more opportunities for others.
At the Tour Evenepoel makes his debut, Roglic is at 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 will have different strengths. It will be a very offensive Tour because all the stars of current cycling are coming.
Will there be any forces left for the Vuelta?
Yes, I want to repeat and defend the victory, but the most important thing is to do the job. If you get there in good shape, then it’s easier.
They won’t let him get away and take three minutes anymore?
Yes, in principle this is over for me, yes [laughs].
