“Those ‘marathon’ Alps will be a real test” – Sepp Kuss backs Jonas Vingegaard to 'make a difference' against Pogacar in Tour de France high mountains

Sepp Kuss says Jonas Vingegaard is playing the long game at the 2025 Tour de France. After finishing second to Tadej Pogacar in the uphill sprint on Stage 7, Vingegaard sits 1:17 behind his rival, but Kuss insists the Dane is far from out of contention.

Speaking to AS, Kuss downplayed the early time gap and pointed toward the high mountains still to come. “This is a three-week race,” he said, noting that comparisons to the Critérium du Dauphine, where Pogačar dominated, are premature.

“The Dauphiné I took another step up in my preparation which was very useful,” said Kuss, who won the Vuelta a España in 2023 and is once again a central figure in Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Tour strategy. “My main job’s in the mountains, as in the early stages it's difficult for me to be up towards the front, so my work was more internal, being as far up there as I could be.”

Kuss believes the terrain that lies ahead will suit Vingegaard far better than the punchy finishes of the first week, “Those ‘marathon’ Alps will be a real endurance test, and that’s where we think Jonas can make a difference. If one rider is stronger than another, then those strategies aren’t so important, but we have to use our strength as a team, too.”