"He has now found his optimal situation from which he performs well" - Sepp Kuss' coach not expecting switch to permanent GC contender following Vuelta victory

For so long, Sepp Kuss has been regarded as arguably the best super-domestique in the peloton. Whilst fans have pushed the #GCKuss hype train, the American himself has seemingly been content with his role. Following his overall victory at the Vuelta a Espana however, could Kuss become a regular Grand Tour contender?

"The question is also whether you should want all that," poses Jumbo-Visma coach, Mathieu Heijboer in conversation with In de Leiderstrui. "With him we tried for one or two years to specifically aim for a ranking, with everything that entails. We took that very seriously, but that was not the way things went well for him."

Kuss has alluded recently that he doesn't expect much of a role change despite becoming a Grand Tour winner and seemingly, Heijboer agrees. "We have to continue with him the way things are going well now and then in the future there will be times when he can achieve very good results from a certain situation," he explains. "Don't forget that he already finished fourth in the UAE Tour and rode top ten in the Tour without a crash."

"It's very easy. He has now found his optimal situation from which he performs well. This is not accompanied by top results in every race, but it does mean a good level in every race," Heijboer concludes. "He enjoys that a lot, both in training and in competitions. Then there will also be good results if he is always happy at the important key moments."