"It's a role I like, a role that's a lot easier than being a leader" - Sepp Kuss set to return to super-domestique roots in 2025

For many years now, Sepp Kuss has been widely regarded as one of the best climbers in the entire peloton. More often than not though, the American has put his skills to use working in service of others and in 2025, the former Vuelta a Espana winner is again set to support Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France.

"It's a role I like, a role that's a lot easier than being a leader in the race and a role I can do quite well," Kuss explains in quotes collected by Cycling News from Team Visma | Lease a Bike's press day ahead of the 2025 season. "These days, you need riders who can really accelerate at the right moment, you don't make such a difference at riding a [steady] hard pace any more. The level is so high now, you need really specific riders for specific moments."

Kuss had a rare Grand Tour leadership chance of his own at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, but was unable to replicate his heroic performance from the year prior, missing out on the top-10 completely in defence of his Red Jersey. In 2025, the Vuelta is again on Kuss' programme though, this time combined with a return to the Tour de France. "My main goal is being the best I can be at those two races," the 30-year-old explains. "I'm not racing too much in the spring and I'm not always at my best at that time, so I want to use that as a base to build for the summer. The focus is going to be there."

At both Grand Tours though, Kuss is set to act as mountain support for Jonas Vingegaard rather than chase the general classification himself. "It's more comfortable being out of the spotlight, there are less expectations for sure from the outside," he comments. "I have the same expectations or motivation for myself, but for the kind of person I am – I'd rather be out of the spotlight."

"It was never remotely on my radar to be a leader in a Grand Tour, but it turned out to be that way. So I wouldn't say up front I'm looking for leadership in a Grand Tour or I'm looking for the opposite. It's just about showing up and doing the best version of myself and seeing what comes of that," the American continues. "I'll take every race in my stride and see where I can get an opportunity. I'm not looking to overtake anybody or anything like that, we have some super-talented riders. I'm going to help them first and see what I can get out of it for myself as well."

"The Vuelta is a bit more straightforward than the Tour where we have to get through the first week without losing time," he concludes. "So in the Tour, say, if I want to be the best helper possible and take no risks, I'll just focus on staying safe. I remember 2021 when we started in Brittany it was absolutely crazy – so we'll see what this year is like, too."