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Nestled amidst the Pyrenees, the place the borders of France and Spain meet, lies the tiny principality of Andorra. Its high-altitude settlements, dramatic mountain peaks and ribbons of quiet, skyward roads supply the right coaching floor for a burgeoning biking neighborhood that at the moment hosts some 86 WorldTour riders. Amongst them is American climbing specialist Sepp Kuss, who lives in Andorra year-round along with his spouse, Noemi Ferré –a former skilled rider herself– and their canine Bimba.
“It is surprisingly peaceable,” says the 29-year-old Durango native and Vuelta a España champion. He selected Andorra for its world-class climbs (on which he holds more KOMs than anyone else) and the flexibility to coach and race at altitude.
Noticed from his deck view, Col de Beixalis looms as a day by day supply of inspiration. It is on this 8.2-kilometer climb that Kuss clinched stage 15 of the 2021 Tour de France, outpacing Alejandro Valverde to the end line – a pinnacle of his profession on the time and maybe a prelude of what has since adopted.
“It is at all times simpler going up it once I know what occurred there a couple of years in the past, and it is good when you possibly can relive these moments,” Kuss shares as he hosts Marc Figueras from Thomson Bike Tours at his house throughout the waning weeks of winter downtime earlier than his return to motion in service of the Visma-Lease a Bike staff (previously Jumbo-Visma).
From his favourite meals (Mexican) and music (nation and reggaeton) to his career-defining 2023 season and ambitions forward, this unique interview presents a deeper perception into the worker-bee-turned-underdog-GC champ who stole our hearts final August.
Visma – Lease a Bike’s Second Card
Kuss’ Vuelta success was overdue.
The so-called “Eagle of Durango” has lengthy been celebrated for being the most effective climbers within the peloton and an indispensable helper within the Grand Tour success of Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard. By way of unexpected circumstances, Kuss lastly received a shot at his personal glory in Spain and made it rely. He earned the purple jersey after stage eight and, despite some questionable team antics, managed to maintain all of it the best way to Madrid, 13 levels later. In doing so, Kuss grew to become the primary American to win a Grand Tour in a decade and the second American ever to win the Vuelta. The helper turned hero in a single day, stunning even himself.
“It was solely midway by means of the Vuelta, after the time trial, the place I assumed, ‘Okay, I feel I’ve the legs to win the race’. However earlier than that, I by no means had any ideas about doing my very own race or going for my very own outcomes. So it was a shock,” says Kuss.
The shock, nonetheless, lay within the alternative extra so than the legs. The watts and the potential had been there all season lengthy.
“Between the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta, all of the numbers had been the identical by way of the climbing performances,” he shares. “For me, the massive distinction was within the time trial as a result of it was the primary time trial I did the place there was truly one thing to lose, the place I truly needed to actually push myself to the restrict.”
“As soon as that was performed, it was nearly being actually targeted and sharp. It was additionally the primary race the place I had an precise should be actually up to the mark each single day. In order that was, I feel, what the staff possibly was most stunned about.”
Whereas his staff, already a stacked powerhouse, realized it had yet one more ace in its midst, Kuss walked away with calm confidence. Quite than looking for management alternatives at lesser groups, he prolonged his Visma – Lease a Bike contract by means of 2027, embracing being the “second card” now that Roglič has gone to Bora.
“I feel [the win] confirmed me that, with that very same stage of kind, I can battle for the Grand Excursions. I could be with the very best guys. That provides me loads of confidence. But it surely additionally offers me loads of calm,” Kuss says.
“However the staff, they’ve realized what I can do now…and yeah, there’s extra alternatives, however on the similar time, I am not essentially searching for absolute management or something like that.
Ultimately, it is actually easy. For those who’re robust sufficient, then you’ll at all times have these alternatives mechanically.”
Regardless of his watershed 2023 season, Kuss’ method to the 2024 season isn’t any completely different than prior to now. His sights are set on one other Tour de France and Vuelta a España double, and he is poised to defend his coveted maillot rojo in August.
“I solely really feel strain from myself. I by no means really feel it from the staff. In fact, they need the very best from me, however they do not anticipate something that is past what I can do,” Kuss shares.
“For the massive targets, just like the Tour, the Vuelta, the Grand Excursions, I really feel the least strain as a result of I do know that I am at my finest for these races. I do not really feel like there’s anything to indicate or show. There isn’t any floor to make up as a result of I do know if I do my finest in coaching, then no matter is supposed to be within the race will come to fruition.”
For enjoyable nuggets about his house life and his ideas on the way forward for American biking, remember to watch all the 30-minute video above or on YouTube.
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