Rider Profile
Sepp Kuss
Visma-Lease a Bike
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2024 - Visma-Lease a Bike
- 2023 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2022 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2021 - Team Jumbo–Visma
- 2020 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2019 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2018 - LottoNL-Jumbo
- 2017 - Rally Cycling
- 2016 - Rally Cycling
Biography:
Sepp Kuss, born in Durango, Colorado, Kuss grew up competing in a variety of sports from Nordic skiing, to kayaking and running before finally settling into cycling in his senior year of high school. As a student at the University of Colorado-Boulder studying advertising, Kuss switched from mountain biking, a discipline in which he won three collegiate titles, to a road focus in 2016.
By 2023, Kuss had a reputation as one of the best climbers in the peloton and won the GC title at the Vuelta a España with Jumbo-Visma, the first US rider to win that Grand Tour in a decade. It was the fifth straight Grand Tour of his career, and he showcased his climbing ability with a win on stage 6 of that Vuelta at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambra. He had already proved his worth by helping Primož Roglič win the Giro d'Italia and Jonas Vingegaard capture his second Tour de France.
Top results on the road began in 2017 at North American UCI stage races, second-place overall at the Tour of Alberta and a stage win at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, earned him a multi-year contract at the WorldTour level with Lotto-Jumbo. In his first year with Jumbo, Kuss banked a full spring of experience-building race days including the Critérium du Dauphiné. After returning home, Kuss won three stages, the overall and mountains classifications at the Tour of Utah and competed in his first Grand Tour directly afterward.
In 2019, Kuss raced at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, where he won a stage and helped Roglič win the overall, showing himself as a loyal and strong mountain domestique. By 2020, Kuss established himself as a 'super-domestique' - riding to 15th overall in his first Tour de France while helping Roglič to second overall.
In his second Tour de France, Kuss won stage 15 in Andorra, his home base in Europe, and helped Jonas Vingegaard to second overall. In 2022, Kuss was on the Tour de France winning squad when Vingegaard claimed his first title but fell ill during the Vuelta and dropped out before stage 9.
Victories
2023
🥇Vuelta a España GC
🥇Vuelta a España stage 6
2022
🥇Vuelta a España stage 1 (TTT)
2021
🥇Tour de France stage 15
2020
🥇Critérium du Dauphiné stage 5
2019
🥇Vuelta a España stage 15
2018
🥇Tour of Utah GC
🥇Tour of Utah stage 6
🥇Tour of Utah - stage 5
🥇Tour of Utah - stage 2
2016
🥇Tour de Beauce - stage 2
🥇Redlands Bicycle Classic - stage 2
Related Articles
'There’s no excuses' – Sepp Kuss unsparing in assessment of Vuelta a España defence
By Barry Ryan last updated
News Absence from Tour de France left American short of best in Spain
‘He’s irreplaceable’ - Sepp Kuss rues loss of teammate Wout van Aert in Vuelta a España after Belgian crashes out
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News 2023 Vuelta a España winner says crash was 'nobody's fault'
Primož Roglič looks like red jersey-elect after crushing Vuelta a España display at Puerto de Ancares - Analysis
By Barry Ryan published
Analysis Ben O’Connor’s hold on the lead loosened while Slovenian also makes big gains on Mas and Carapaz
'This Vuelta has been pretty crazy' – Sepp Kuss still eyeing opportunities as race reaches midpoint
By Barry Ryan published
News Defending champion eight minutes off red jersey but unruly GC battle still wide open
Sepp Kuss suffers another Vuelta a España setback when delayed by late crash
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News US rider cedes another minute to Primož Roglič after hold up at base of final climb
Sepp Kuss: Wout Van Aert's stage 7 Vuelta a España win 'feels like a victory for me'
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News Reigning Vuelta champion worked hard for Belgian star in finale of stage 7
Sepp Kuss sees own history repeating itself with new Vuelta a España leader Ben O'Connor
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News 'No team wants a guy like O'Connor that far ahead'
Defending Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss determined to battle on despite first summit finish time loss
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News US rider cedes 28 seconds on daunting Pico Villuercas climb
Blogs
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Nathan Haas blog: Has the UCI done enough for gravel pros at the Gravel World Championships?
Sponsored gravel riders appear to be losing interest in the rainbow jersey battle -
Lauren De Crescenzo and her tough decision to miss UCI Gravel World Championships
In her own words, the gravel star explains the complex picture of the Gravel World Championships for the US team -
A proper women's race – Historic day in Emporia at Unbound Gravel
Extended gaps around women's start end with unprecedented sprint finish though 'it’s still imperfect, but it’s the best we can do for now' -
Road prep and adapting to new rules as Life Time Grand Prix begins at Fuego XL mountain bike event
Lauren De Crescenzo uses The Growler for confidence boost ride ahead of prestigious off-road series -
'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas