"I don't think Primož sees the Giro as a kind of revenge race" - Sepp Kuss

Sepp Kuss has been part of every single Grand Tour victory of Primoz Roglic. With no doubt he's an integral part of Jumbo-Visma and as the team seeks to perform greatly at the Tour de France, the American has been brought to the Giro d'Italia to be the Slovenian's right-hand man through the mountains.

“I think he has become a stronger Grand Tour rider. Moreover, he now has a better team around him. We have drivers for the mountain stages and other difficult stages, but it is important to have an all-terrain team," Sepp Kuss told AS. "If only to prevent bad luck in the final week. The main goal is to assist Primož, as he is a candidate winner. He therefore needs the full support of the team. I hope to climb with the top riders in the mountains in the third week. If that works out, I'll be happy. The high mountains will be the key to success.”

Covid has been putting strain on the team, but Kuss and Jan Tratnik, who were expected to be Roglic's main support, remain in the lineup. The American rode to fifth at the UAE Tour when given his opportunity earlier in the year, and as he prepares to race the Giro-Tour double he's had a conservative calendar until today. In the altitude and the colossal mountain stages the Giro has to offer he should be in his terrain, but the weather can turn out to be quite different than what he experiences in other Grand Tour.

The goal however is the victory by any means. "I don't think Primož sees the Giro as a kind of revenge race. But the Giro is very important for Primož," the 28-year old assures. This will only be the second Giro of his career, the first was in 2019 when he supported Roglic to the podium.