"I have to go into those races knowing that there is a possibility to win" - Vuelta a Espana triumph fills Sepp Kuss with confidence ahead of the 2024 Tour de France

For the first time in his career, Sepp Kuss will head to the Tour de France as a proven Grand Tour winner in 2024. Although he won't be the team leader, as Kuss proved at the Vuelta a Espana, that doesn't mean he can't win.

"It would be nice, but we will see," Kuss says with a smile when asked by GCN if adding the Maillot Jaune to his Red Jersey is a realistic proposition. "It was never realistic to win the Vuelta either and in the end, it worked out. I am realistic of myself and what is possible. For sure I have to go into those races knowing that there is a possibility to win, and get the most out of myself."

The fact he has now proven himself capable of winning the biggest races, marks him out with other teams however. Being allowed to gain so much time on an early breakaway stage is unlikely to happen again. "In certain races, I could demand a protected role, but I also don’t think it is necessary to demand a protected role. Now in modern-day cycling especially, there are so many leaders in every team, especially in these top three or four teams, they can go to a race with three or four leaders," he explains. 

"That is how cycling is now, as we saw from the Vuelta or other races, even if you’re not the main leader, you can still win," concludes the American. "I definitely prefer being in the position of a leader and winning in the end, but only if I know that it is really worth it, or if I am really in the position to win, otherwise it is better to help someone that is better."