Sepp Kuss has performed down the concept that he shall be a co-leader within the Tour de France for Visma-Lease a Bike, saying that though he has GC ambitions, two-time winners and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard stays very a lot the staff’s primary contender.
In an interview in Wielerflits courting from nicely earlier than the season began, Kuss was quoted as saying: “Strategically talking, it does not harm to start out with two leaders. I believe Jonas and I also can work nicely collectively. We have now comparable qualities within the mountains. It’s all the time good for us to have two riders on the prime of the rankings.”
After his breakthrough victory within the Vuelta a España final September, Kuss has rightly raised his GC ambitions. The exit of Primoz Roglic from Visma-Lease A Bike has additionally opened up additional area for Kuss to go for the general classifications in Grand Excursions.
Nevertheless Kuss has management of his ego and his ambitions.
“Everyone needs to win the Tour, even a sprinter,” Kuss clarified to a small group of reporters, together with Cyclingnews, on the Volta ao Algarve.
“I simply wish to do my greatest. Final 12 months I realised that I may very well be up there with the perfect guys whereas actually not pondering in any respect in regards to the GC. Now in the event you have a look at groups like UAE or different groups, they’ve plenty of leaders, and also you all the time want a second man that may go along with these a number of playing cards from a strategic standpoint, particularly within the first and second week.”
“Within the third week it’s simply in regards to the legs. It by no means hurts however… I’m not delusional. I see the headlines saying ‘Sepp needs to win the Tour’ however everybody needs to win the Tour. Even a sprinter needs to win the Tour however I’m not delusional however I’m not under-ambitious both.”
Kuss identified that slightly than merely learn any dramatic headlines regarding his ambitions and go away it at that, it was necessary for folks to grasp the context.
He has set his bar increased than 12 months in the past however insisted that was the extent of it.
“Everybody has to search for a headline however individuals who simply learn a headline, they suppose that I’m being…that I don’t have my head on my shoulders,” he urged.
“However then if I say that I simply wish to assist then folks say I don’t have ambition… but when I say I wish to attempt for myself then folks say I solely gained the Vuelta due to a race state of affairs.
“That’s true, however I additionally should shoot for one thing myself. It’s only a matter of in the event you’re good or not, then it’s easier than it’s made out to be. However I’ve no illusions of issues that I’m not able to.”
Kuss outlined his total programme for 2024, with the Tour de France and Vuelta a España the overriding targets.
His subsequent race is more likely to be Strade Bianche, after which he’ll race the Volta a Catalunya, sharing management with new signing Cian Uijtdebroeks, then it’ll be onto Itzulia-Basque Nation, the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour de France.
As defending champion, he expects to be again within the entrance line within the Vuelta a España, the place even when Vingegaard returns, his personal management function shall be way more sure than in July.
“I believe the Vuelta for me is a little more outlined. It’s higher for me if Jonas is there, for instance, from a strain standpoint and a working atmosphere, nevertheless it’s a race that matches extra with my type. It’s a bit much less hectic than the Tour and has some steep climbs, so it suits a bit higher for me.”
Kuss took an sudden sixth within the Clásica Jaén on Monday and impressed after staff chief Wout Van Aert suffered a puncture.
But he hinted that Jan Tratnik, slightly than Wout van Aert, may nicely be a frontrunner for Visma-Lease A Bike within the Volta ao Algarve. From different sources, it seems possible that Van Aert’s goals are extra for stage wins this week in Portugal, slightly than the general classification.
“I’m positively pleased. The races I’ve accomplished up to now, together with this one, aren’t essentially those for me nevertheless it’s all the time good after I can really feel good in several types of races. It’s additionally fairly enjoyable and there are much less expectations. I’m simply seeing the way it goes.”
“For this week, I’m primarily going to assist out Jan. He’s in fine condition and he deserves all the assistance, after which I’ll simply get a really feel for the racing. It’ll be good for me to do a time trial, and see the way it goes there.”
