"We don’t want Sepp to change" - Despite Vuelta triumph, Team Visma | Lease a Bike keen for Kuss to keep as similar plan as possible going forward

After so many years working in the service of others, Sepp Kuss got his own moment in the sun at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, taking overall victory and the Red Jersey. Going forward, Team Visma | Lease a Bike are keen to change as little as possible when it comes to the American.

“I’ve worked with Sepp a few years now, and we both think we’ve found the right method for him to be able to perform at the biggest moments,” Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director, Mathieu Heijboer explains in conversation with Velo. “We really got the training and schedule right last year. We saw it worked out as close to perfect as it could be. We plan to follow that again this year.”

Being a Grand Tour winner though does bring with it added pressure of expectation for Kuss, something he's not had the experience of dealing with in the past. “We are very happy what Sepp has achieved, and he has more ambition after last year, but we do not think we should suddenly change his approach or program for that,” says Heijboer. “We’ve learned what works, and we don’t want to change that. There’s no need.”

“Sepp will play his usual very important role for the team at the Tour de France and then defend his title at the Vuelta, which will be a new scenario for him of course,” he continues. “Sepp took a big step last year, but his approach, physically and mentally, and in life, hasn’t changed. We don’t want Sepp to change, and he doesn’t either. That continues with his approach to the bike and training.”

After three Grand Tours in his legs in 2023 however, Kuss won't be attempting another hat-trick this year. “Sepp is a guy that likes to ride his bike,” Heijboer says. “Whenever the sun is shining and he’s happy, he’s on the bike. Riding lots seems to work for him, and we’ve seen it’s what makes him feel good. If anything with him, I’m concerned that he rides too much, but we’re not going to change that.”

“We know what we need to do for Sepp to be best at the races that really matter, which for him and us is the grand tours,” Heijboer concludes. “We take time to build him up with the method for him to be top in summer. Obviously, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t he can’t reach a high level before the summer. But if the results are not there early on, then it’s also really not a big of an issue.”