Sepp Kuss abandons 2024 Criterium du Dauphine ahead of stage 8

Team Visma | Lease a Bike came to the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine with a two-pronged general classification attack. Whilst Matteo Jorgenson has impressed and currently sits 2nd overall, for his compatriot and teammate Sepp Kuss, things have been more of a struggle.

After seven stages, the reigning Vuelta a Espana champion was sitting 38th in the general classification, 30:55 down on race leader Primoz Roglic. Ahead of stage 8 however, Kuss has abandoned the race Team Visma | Lease a Bike have announced. "Sepp Kuss will not start the final stage of the Dauphiné. He has not been feeling one hundred percent in the past stages. With his preparation for the Tour de France in mind, it was decided to take the necessary rest," the announcement reads.

As mentioned, whilst Kuss has struggled at the Criterium du Dauphine over the last week, Matteo Jorgenson has passed every test with flying colours. With just one stage to go, the recent Paris-Nice winner is second in the general classification, just 1:02 behind Roglic.

Ahead of the final stage, Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director, Grischa Niermann expressed his continued confidence in Jorgenson, who has been incredibly impressive in his debut season at the team since his off-season move from Movistar Team. "Matteo is doing great. He is happy with 2nd place and the White Jersey, but you never know what can happen. The final stage of the Dauphine always delivers."

With Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France participation still very much up in the air, rather than GCKuss returning to challenge for another Grand Tour, could Matteo Jorgenson instead be Team Visma | Lease a Bike's best bet to secure the Maillot Jaune for the third successive season? Only time will tell but after the aforementioned Paris-Nice win earlier in the year, a Dauphine podium or better shows continued good form.