Sepp Kuss has performed down the concept he might 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 workforce’s primary contender.
In an interview in Wielerflits relationship from properly earlier than the season began, Kuss was quoted as saying: “Strategically talking, it would not harm to start out with two leaders. I feel Jonas and I may also work properly collectively. We have now comparable qualities within the mountains. It’s all the time good for us to have two riders on the high 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 house 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 need to do my greatest. Final 12 months I realised that I might be up there with the perfect guys whereas actually not considering in any respect concerning the GC. Now when you take a look at groups like UAE or different groups, they’ve a whole lot of leaders, and also you all the time want a second man that may go together 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 concerning 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 depart it at that, it was essential for individuals to know the context.
He has set his bar greater 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 assume that I’m being…that I don’t have my head on my shoulders,” he steered.
“However then if I say that I simply need to assist then individuals say I don’t have ambition… but when I say I need to strive for myself then individuals say I solely gained the Vuelta due to a race state of affairs.
“That’s true, however I additionally need to shoot for one thing myself. It’s only a matter of when 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 might be rather more sure than in July.
“I feel the Vuelta for me is a little more outlined. It’s higher for me if Jonas is there, for instance, from a stress standpoint and a working atmosphere, nevertheless it’s a race that matches extra with my model. 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 surprising sixth within the Clásica Jaén on Monday and impressed after workforce chief Wout Van Aert suffered a puncture.
But he hinted that Jan Tratnik, slightly than Wout van Aert, may properly be a pacesetter 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 undoubtedly completely satisfied. The races I’ve accomplished to this point, 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.”
