“He didn’t quite have the level we had hoped for" - Visma admit disappointment in Sepp Kuss' 2024 Vuelta a Espana

Sepp Kuss' attempt to win back to back Red Jerseys at the Vuelta a Espana didn't go exactly to plan. A notable level below the main GC challengers, the American slumped to a 14th placed finish overall.

“He didn’t quite have the level we had hoped for," Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann admits in his post-race reflections for the team's official website. "Sepp was excellent on some stages but at other times wasn’t strong enough to follow the competition."

Whilst the race was far from a complete failure for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, thanks mostly to Wout van Aert's three stage wins, even that is tinged with sadness after the Belgian crashed out in the third week. “It was a race with ups and downs,” Niermann summarises. “With Wout, we won three stages, which is, of course, a fantastic result that any team would be more than happy with. We were on track to win the green and possibly even the KOM jersey. There were still several great opportunities for him in the final week, but unfortunately, his crash on Tuesday spoiled those plans.”

"Additionally, we lost Dylan van Baarle early on, and Cian Uijtdebroeks was also forced to withdraw from the Vuelta prematurely," continues Niermann ruefully. "Robert Gesink, Edoardo Affini, Steven Kruijswijk, and Attila Valter rode a commendable race. As a team, we faced several setbacks, but we need to cherish the great moments we had with Wout.”

One of those mentioned, Robert Gesink, was actually enjoying his farewell ride as after nearly 20 years in the professional peloton, the Dutchman is hanging up his cycling shoes. “I’ve had an incredible time during these last three weeks. My coach confronted me with my numbers and stats last week, and they were excellent, even close to my best years. We won three beautiful stages with Wout and wore the red jersey for a few days,” Gesink reflected.

“I’ve genuinely enjoyed it,” Gesink continued. “Of course, I’ve known for a while that this would be my last year as a pro, so I’ve been able to savor every last time. The last training camp, the last Grand Tour. It feels like the perfect time to stop because, at times, I’ve had to push myself to the limit. Early in my career, I was driven by chasing results, but eventually, I transformed into a team player. That transformation makes me very proud. I’ve achieved some beautiful victories, secured some impressive results, and at the end of my career, I’ve helped the team win four Grand Tours. Now I’m going to enjoy my family, the free time, and cycling, continuing the healthy lifestyle I’ve adopted. It’s been a wonderful career, one I wouldn’t trade for anything.”