"I want to be a good helper for Jonas Vingegaard and Simon Yates" - Sepp Kuss signs up for Volta a Catalunya 2025 in pre-Tour de France trial run for Visma

One of the most important riders during many of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's biggest wins over recent years, an in-form Sepp Kuss could prove to be a massive factor in Jonas Vingegaard's quest to reclaim the Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France later this summer. In something of a trial run for Visma, the trio of Kuss, Vingegaard and Simon Yates are set to team up at the 2025 Volta a Catalunya.

"It's a difficult time of year now to schedule the right amount of race days and training. It's a race that I've always enjoyed," Kuss tells Daniel Benson, announcing his upcoming racing programme ahead of the Tour de France. "Then I'll be at altitude for the first time this year, to build up for the Criterium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France."

As for his role in Catalunya, Kuss is looking to happily return to his place as a super-domestique, rather than act as a potential plan-B as had growingly become the case since his Vuelta a Espana triumph in 2023. "In Catalunya I want to be a good helper for Jonas and Simon," he explains, noting the pre-Tour de France trial it could prove for Team Visma | Lease a Bike's climbing trifecta. "The same applies to the Tour, namely to be at a high level and to be part of a good team performance."

With a return to the Vuelta a Espana also scheduled for Kuss though, that could be an opportunity for GCKuss to fly once more, although he admits he's unlikely to start with Red Jersey ambitions. "You never know what will happen with the Vuelta," he previews. "Maybe it is not the best course for me on paper, but I would like to try to win a stage and help Jonas there. There we will see what is possible for us."

Kuss also reflected briefly on what was a somewhat quiet opening to his season in Portugal at the Volta ao Algarve last month. "I would have liked to be at that level, but it is difficult to see on a ten-minute climb how big the difference is with the men who have trained a lot, or who have been at altitude a lot," he says when questioned about a four minute time loss to UAE rival Jan Christen on a summit finish. "That is of course no excuse, but I have to be realistic now."