"I find the best version of myself when I start to help other riders" - Sepp Kuss to step down into a domestique role after miserable last season
Cycling
Sepp Kuss needs a better season in order to forget the 2024 misery. The American set his ambitions high after unexpected Vuelta 2023 title, but illnesses, injuries and inconsistent form meant that nothing more victory at Vuelta a Burgos was possible for the 30-year-old. Coming into 2025, he hopes turn the page and write a completely new chapter.
"I finished my season after the Vuelta, but I didn't slow down too much after that. I didn't do anything crazy, I just kept cycling," says Kuss in an interview with In de Leiderstrui. "That way I wanted to build a broader base than for 2024, because I think I fell a bit short in that last year. My level was good at certain times last year, but I wasn't consistent enough. Sometimes I was good, but then again not at all. If I can stay healthy, I hope I can do better next season."
The 2024 Vuelta champion intends to be once again at hand for his teammates in the decisive moments, rather than to ride for his own result: "I aspire to be a helper uphill, because that's a lot easier for me than being a leader. I'm good at it and feel comfortable in it, but I also enjoy it," says the American climber.
Although he doesn't fully give up his personal ambitions to strike from breakaways when the opportunity arises. "For me it's all about taking opportunities when they arise, just like in the past."
"I have never taken on the role of leader, except for last year's Vuelta," the Visma | Lease a Bike rider knows. "Even in 2023, that was never on my agenda, but that's just how it went. I'm actually looking for the opposite: I find the best version of myself when I start to help other riders," Kuss says without doubt in his voice.
For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the 2025 season will be mainly about dethroning Tadej Pogacar, the absolute overlord of last season, at the Tour de France. Sepp Kuss is provisionally among the selected men to support Jonas Vingegaard, but the "right-hand man" title may go to Visma's new signing - Simon Yates.
"He can give us an advantage there. To make a difference uphill, you need riders like him. Guys who can accelerate at the right moment, because with just a hard pace you mustn't make a difference anymore," Kuss recognizes.
I can relate to him. Some people are not meant to lead. I'm one of them. Helping others, on the hand, can be joyful if the person you're helping is a jolly good fellow and appreciates your assistance. Not to mention, the added mental burden of stress when you're expected to lead can be very taxing. Metaphorically speaking, helping is like riding in the slipstream, while leading is like riding at the front catching all the wind coming your way.
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- if there is an actual weakness in wout even when completely healthy, it’s that he’s in his head too often. this has been pointed out many times by much more acute observers of cycling than ME, certainly. it may be that he’s been like this since he was a little kid. we are who we are. or that he was shaped by having faced van der poel SOOO many times. mvdp has zero second thoughts. he wastes no time at all on doubt. that has, in the past, led him to do some pretty insane things and make mistakes that wout would never have committed. but it also makes him a killer. you can see wout’s split seconds of doubt and hesitation everywhere in their head to head battles. those hesitations spill over into other races at times like dwars, when doubt creeps in. i believe that currently he is still coming back from physical problems due to injuries, but even when he’s full strength the mental game is an area of potential concern, AND potential improvement.OCexile03-04-2025
- Not only the public, just about every analyst and commentator had been piling it on. Under the circumstances I’d even say he’s showing real character. Not sure likeable Tadej would manage as well during a longer rough patch.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Took a while but we finally have a more nuanced analysis.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- If I remember right, it was those same hungry journalists selling us a different story less than a year ago about the bleak future of Dutch (men’s) cycling with no possible successor for MVDP ;-)Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Good, hopefully Jonas goes also so we get a nice duelvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- right? i think it’s hungry journalists that fuel this, and i understand the jam they can be in trying to create stories, but you’d hate to think ANYONE is failing to appreciate how RARE someone like van der poel is (or how LUCKY we are to have both mvdp and pog racing at the same time). a little perspective is a good thing…OCexile03-04-2025
- Anyone know how long that 213km ride took? Coz without that the segment speeds don’t reveal anything surprising. If it took him Less than 5h ok but otherwise it was just some interval training for him.Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- Hinault was even lighter than Pog at 62 kg when he won PR in 1981, beating Roger van Vlaeminck no less (albeit at the fag end of the latter's career), so it can be done.Cooldude03-04-2025
- Having to shoulder too much pressure from the Belgain public too much that he made a tactical mistake. That's what public pressure does to you. Poor Wout! Hopefully, lady luck befalls him soon.
KerisVroom03-04-2025 - If he's very lucky maybe he can podium a Tour one season, I certainly don't believe he can win it, evervappaxbipmv03-04-2025