“The body’s a bit stiff after that high-speed crash" - Sepp Kuss isn't sure if he will still focus on Vuelta a Espana GC as he hints at stage win bid
Cycling
Sepp Kuss is convinced that Enric Mas is ready to defend the red jersey all the way to the end of the Vuelta a España 2026. The Visma - Lease a Bike rider, tackling his third Grand Tour of the season, assessed the leader’s form ahead of the decisive stages and highlighted both his condition and Movistar Team’s motivation.
“I see him very strong physically and, together with the team, clearly very motivated. Every day matters and they’re carving out some very valuable seconds,” Kuss told Marca when asked about Mas’s chances of winning this Vuelta.
The American knows well what it means to face the final days of a three-week race from the sharp end. He believes each stage can prove decisive and that the small gaps the leader is banking could end up being hugely significant in the general classification.
While weighing up Mas’s situation, Kuss continues to chase his own goals at La Vuelta. The Visma rider sits among the contenders and still has a shot at finishing near the top of the overall, although he admits he would trade that result for a stage win.
“You have to go all in. For me, a top-10 is always good, but I’d much rather at least be able to go for a stage win,” he said.
Kuss is racing his third Grand Tour of the season and once again shows his remarkable capacity to handle a high-intensity calendar. Back in January, at the team presentation in La Nucía, the American had already signalled his intention to try to complete all three Grand Tours again. Now, in La Vuelta’s decisive stretch, his appetite to race and hunt a stage victory remains intact.
Sepp Kuss at the Vuelta a España 2026
Sepp Kuss heads into the decisive days
The American feels he is in good shape for the race’s most demanding phase.
“We’re good. It’s been a very hard Vuelta, as always, but personally I feel fine. For now I’m where I should be on GC, and we’ll see in the next stages whether I focus more on stages or keep pushing for the overall,” he explained.
Visma has also been prominent throughout the race, controlling several stages and working to land victories.
“As a team we’ve controlled many stages to take some very nice wins, and we’re on it,” Kuss added.
He will now decide whether to hold onto his GC ambitions or switch approach to target a partial victory in the stages to come. Kuss does not reach this final phase completely unscathed. The American suffered a high-speed crash that is still leaving its mark physically.
“The body’s a bit stiff after that high-speed crash, but you have to keep going, no excuses. The body has to respond and, above all, I’m eager for the hardest stages still to come,” he said.
Despite the discomfort, the Visma rider keeps his ambition high for the mountain stages that will ultimately decide the race.
Will he pull another ‘Kuss’?
One perennial possibility when Sepp Kuss is in a Grand Tour is a long-range break that lets him gain time on GC. The American has done it before and was asked whether he might try again.
Kuss, however, is not yet sure how it will play out. “I don’t know, maybe Movistar will go for the stage win (stage 14 on Saturday, with the final climb to Sierra de la Pandera). It also depends a lot on the make-up of the break,” he said.
He believes the composition of the escape will be key to determining whether such an adventure can succeed.
“If there are many teams with two or three riders and they pull full gas, a move like that can settle down, but I don’t know yet,” he added.
With the decisive stages ahead, Kuss must choose where his best chances lie: hold position on GC or launch into a bid for a stage win. What he is certain of, though, is that Enric Mas is arriving strong for the final phase and Movistar Team are ready to defend every second of the red jersey.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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