Sepp Kuss on Roglič’s Transfer: “I Think It’s Better for Everybody That He Is on a Different Team.”

Over the course of the 2023 Vuelta a España, we watched Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) transition from super domestique to the GC leader. And at the end of the race, when he had solidified the win, it seemed as though he might simply return to his role as right-hand-man for Jonas Vingegaard. But Kuss recently said in an interview in his hometown of Durango, Colorado, that he might not be done out in front.

Fans of Kuss were outraged during the Vuelta when teammates Vingegaard and Primož Roglič threatened his lead in stage 17. He headed into stage 18 with only an 8-second lead on Vingegaard, and 1:08 ahead of Roglič, seemingly the only threats to his win. But, as always, fans and viewers never have all of the information.

After something of a bidding war—or maybe just the rumor mill functioning at full force—Roglič signed with Bora-Hansgrohe. Jumbo-Visma also nixed their merger with Soudal Quick-Step, and added the sponsorship of Lease a Bike.

Kuss spoke to the media during his homecoming celebration in Durango last week, saying that he’s glad Roglič has moved to another team. GCN reported that Kuss was grateful for everything he had learned in observing Roglič’s progress, “Seeing how [Roglič] is as a racer, now, versus when he first started is really valuable and I would give him most of the credit from the riders side in terms of bringing the team to where it is now. But yeah, I think it’s better for everybody that he is on a different team. Now he can go to a team and feel that support that he feels that he deserves and has everyone behind him.”

Kuss went on to say that Vingegaard had truly been a leader and a helper for him, “From his experience, winning two Tours in a row, you have to be sharp everyday. He really helped me stay on top of things when I am normally checked out every day.”

In reflecting on his role, and where he’ll be next year, Kuss called it a “shadow GC leader.” GCN reported that he said, “Why not?” of his prospects of being a co-leader in the 2024 Tour de France. A lot will depend on the route. We already know that the 111th men’s Tour de France will start in Florence, Italy and end in Nice, France, with a time trial. There’s also rumors of gravel sections and Alpe d’Huez as a pass rather than a stage finish.

Cycling News reported that Kuss is mostly just excited to see how things pan out, and most of all, he’s stoked to return to the Vuelta. “I think the thing I'm most looking forward to is going to the Vuelta being the defending champion, and also going to the Tour and doing my best there, whether it’s for myself or for Jonas.”

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