After his step forward total victory on the Vuelta a España, Sepp Kuss could be anticipated to be on the lookout for extra Grand Excursion wins sooner or later, possibly even on the Excursion de France. However the American and his Jumbo-Visma group are taking a wary view of the long run with Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič already established as Excursion group leaders.
Kuss anticipates being in his same old position subsequent summer time even after organising himself as a Grand Excursion champion.
“I will nonetheless be that very same rider in the back of the peloton, however there shall be extra expectancies from the outdoor global,” Kuss mentioned in an interview with Wielerflits, including that he is now not willing to position extra expectancies on himself.
But Kuss did one thing no different rider has accomplished in historical past this summer time: He was once part of the successful group on the Giro d’Italia and Excursion de France then went directly to win the full Vuelta a España. It confirmed now not best that he might be just right on the finish of 1 Grand Excursion, however he excelled even after two different hard ones.
It was once a stark distinction from earlier Grand Excursions the place Kuss invariably had one dangerous day within the ultimate week. In 2021, he misplaced over 5 mins to Roglič within the ultimate time trial. This yr, he gave up lower than a minute to maximum of his opponents and held onto his pink jersey.
The Vuelta was once a step ahead in studying the mentality of a Grand Excursion winner however the Excursion de France could be a far other affair, even supposing his enthusiasts would really like not anything greater than seeing him within the maillot jaune.
“You’ll all the time have the ones aspirations,” Kuss mentioned of conceivable Excursion de France goals. “However I understand that the Vuelta may be very other from the Excursion.
“In most cases I’ve not anything to lose as a result of I center of attention on my paintings and need to do it neatly. From that standpoint you don’t have anything to lose, however being centered on a daily basis and getting probably the most out of each and every degree isn’t simple mentally.
“The Vuelta is the easiest race. It’s a lot more apprehensive within the Excursion. The transition levels there are more difficult and the climbs are much less steep. In order that race is truly other for me,” Kuss mentioned.
Perhaps Kuss will return to being a super-domestique for Vingegaard and/or Roglič however with a slight trade. “I additionally love to be performed as a joker. That also is motivating for me, to paintings for a pacesetter this manner and likewise in an effort to race.”
Game Director Merijn Zeeman mentioned Kuss can win any other Grand Excursion however within the quick time period, “not anything will trade for Sepp”.
“Sepp is aware of that he can win a Grand Excursion at Jumbo-Visma, a lot more so than being the one chief in other places.”
Zeeman says the group know that Kuss does not essentially need to be the only chief of the group for a race just like the Excursion de France.
“That is not his character. He loves it this manner. And he too can experience intensely when Jonas wins the Excursion or Primož wins the Giro. He’s simply as pleased with that as he’s of successful.”