Sepp Kuss Explains Vuelta a España Difficult Days At Jumbo-Visma

Sepp Kuss explains the infighting at the Vuelta a España 2023 with team Jumbo-Visma and his aims for 2024. More Tour information: flosports.link...
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[@joshceo1270]

Wow, Sepp Kuss’s humility and passion really shine through in this interview! It’s no wonder he is so popular around the world. His dedication to the sport and his team is truly inspiring.

[@mariochamorro1969]

Sepp Kuss talking about "those great riders" after doing Three ( 1 2 3 ) Grand Tours in a single year shows his humility is truly Next Level 🙌🏽

[@mfr440]

Great interview. Sepp is the true definition of Champion. Class all around. So strong, yet so humble. So proud to be a fan! CHAPEAU, Sepp!!

[@markwhatley2175]

Wow! What a great interview. Fantastic questions from you and honest humility from Sepp. Vuelta was such a joy to watch. Seeing a selfless team player put it together and win a grand tour was the highlight of the 2023 season for me. Getting Sepp’s perspective on the team dynamics in play during those stages is excellent. Thank you.

[@FloBikes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@_benjimouse_]

Sepp winning the Vuelta was the most inspiring thing this year in cycling.

[@sonnylange7944]

Class act, thanks for representing Colorado and USA. Good luck in 2024.

[@bighandsjohn]

What a class guy. A grand tour winner now. No wonder he's a popular guy in the pelaton.

[@mikeperry6664]

About time to see an interview that really ask challenging questions, and see a humble, yet realistic person be himself and answer from the heart. Keep believing and visualizing your more than a domestic be the Champion.

[@IRBrouwer]

QUote from a Dutch article: “I never hesitated to help them” Ultimately, Jumbo-Visma pulled Kuss's card, but that was not because the American had banged his fist on the table. “Not necessarily, I said I understood their position and why they wanted to go for it. But also that I hoped they understood how I felt and how I have felt over the years when I helped them. I never hesitated to help them, even though I also had to give up my own ambitions to assist them.”

[@rbro3001]

What a cool guy. I hope he has great 2024!

[@cbenson513]

Great interview! Sepp continues to impress both on and off the bike. Easy to root for him!

[@daphnedh9086]

“I don’t know whether they needed the help” Come on Kuss. While not the best grand tour rider you are the best mountain domestique. You have the most consistent pacing and performance in the mountains. Jonas and Primoz should be grateful for you having their back in so many instances.

[@robbchastain3036]

I enjoyed your conversation, Gregor and Sepp, and it is great for us fans to get the story so the books can be closed and it is clear what happened, Sepp got that lead and the jersey because of that break, Primoz was undoubtedly shocked that his apple cart got overturned, some racing stuff happened and then they came together for a storybook ending, fantastic. And cheers to all of them for putting on a show in Spain and next year, shouldn't Sepp do Giro and Tour if he is riding no more than two? The Giro looks wide open, whereas the Vuelta could be for Jonas as his Tour form was still in high season in Spain this year.

[@FloBikes]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and the support.

[@camillelively]

I keep wondering these same things. Also Primoz on his new team - he will undoubtedly want to defend his Giro win and we know he wants to go to the Tour, but does he also want to try to take the Vuelta because of this year? He can't do all three and Sepp has been clear that he won't do three again. So now what? It will be exciting to see it all unfold!

[@bertdaniel1449]

What an interesting interview! Kudos to the photojournalist who asked the right questions in a relaxed setting. Who wouldn’t want Sepp on their team? He’s not only a great athlete but a realist and after his career is over he will make a great commentator.

[@michaelpuhaindran4127]

Great interview, well done Flo. Sepp is such a gentleman.

[@hernanhernandez3861]

He did an incredible TT with a not so optimal aero position. The peloton will never let Sepp roll off the front and get in a break ever again....

[@collinbradford8866]

@@tobiasdencker853 if JV and Primos were not 2nd and 3rd, it would've been clear they needed to help Sepp instead of race for their own time. It's a team sport like a relay race

[@millicentsquirrelhole582]

The Duango Kid!..a real cool dude..smart, tough and politucally savvy..a leader, a captain..an American hero!

[@cartermoth6447]

There are a few problems with the Vuelta and Sepp Kuss's position, one of them is the fact as a domestique for Vingegaard and Roglic he never 'gave up' a GT win for either of them. He was never in the position to challenge for a GT, at all. He was a mountain dom. So Vingegaard and Roglic were asked to do something which hasn't ever actually happened before: support their domestique winning a GT when both of them were stronger than him.

[@Wuaiabwjs]

i agree, but only in the last week was they stronger than sepp, i thnik they where pretty ecual in the first 2 weeks

[@TalleyrandsPuppet]

That’s part of the story, true. But also the unique circumstances of that race, with Sepp getting in the big breakaway, intending to pressure Quickstep, but actually destroying Quickstep’s GC hopes. And then Jumbo wanting to settle the contest amicably between teammates, without giving an opening to UAE or Bahrain to exploit (like Jumbos attacking each other while Ayuso rides for the win). Cycling isn’t such a black and white sport.

[@rdklkje13]

@@TalleyrandsPuppetThe Sepp in the break towards the end of Week 1 bit isn’t even unique, they’ve done this plenty of times before in other GTs. Being a GC back-up like that is simply part of his normal role in these races. What made this time special was that the whole team was riding that stage for him to win in Andorra.

[@KokowaSarunoKuniDesu]

Really looking forward to his interview with @ChrisHorner if that can ever be arranged.

[@holmbjerg]

Giro should be a future goal for him. He can also go for either Tirreno-Adriatico or for Paris-Nice and go to the one that Jonas isn't captaining.

[@danielkol477]

He has to be fit for TdF to help Jonas and you can't be after Giro, only if he definitely cements himself as GC leader or Jonas proves he can win without him will we see him at Giro

[@gjones5258]

Lots of time to change his mind.

[@holmbjerg]

​@@danielkol477This year he kinda proved that he could be on a good level in the Tour after doing the Giro. If he goes all out for the Giro, he might not be at his very best at the Tour, but Visma also has Attila Valter and Matteo Jorgensen, who they could send to the Tour next year. They could help share the climbing workload, so Kuss could still go to the Tour, but in a position where he doesn't have to be there at all times.

[@starlitshadows]

​@@holmbjergas much as I'd like to see him race the Giro because he probably has the best shot to do well there. With Primoz gone and Sepp stepping up. He is a good backup plan in case something happens to Jonas. So for that reason I think he is less likely to do the Giro now.

[@damonjudges9677]

That was the best cycling interview all year. An amazing year for Sepp and i don't think he gets enough kudos for the late addition to the Giro line up. I'm not sure what else they need to do to win the UCI team ranking in 2024 but i wish them luck.

[@FloBikes]

wow! Thanks!

[@cb6866]

Yep.....that's Sepp . I am older , congratulations ...to his parents ! That has to be the best feeling . Thank you !

[@ashurany]

Might be my American bias, but damn Sepp reps America wonderfully. Head seems in the right spot. Oh, and there is no doubt that Mikel Landa "intentionally" helped Sepp. :)

[@corver61]

Really a very sympatic and great guy.

[@milanfillipi5656]

Love this interview! All the jump cuts around the L’Angliru Primož conversation was kinda funny tho

[@otaviopaiva2274]

Great guy!!!!! Congrats from Brazil!!!!

[@crazydiamond7371]

Great questions and genuine responses. Congrats, Sepp!

[@FloBikes]

Glad you liked it!

[@kasparstrugar5280]

I never leave comments and I clicked off the video but fully obliged to come back and say how great if an interview this was 👏👏👏👏👏

[@FloBikes]

Glad you enjoyed it! Ahhh, thanks for saying so and dropping some love here.

[@GregKiger-on8jw]

Excellent questions hopefully Sepp watches it and takes notes

[@lukepowell1201]

Love Sepp and how he has handled himself. I hope so much he is able to stay true to the person he has been regardless of what happens. I will be rooting for him and eagerly watching what he does moving forward. Here's hoping he might be able to help raise the profile of cycling in the USA!

[@FloBikes]

Yeah, really a grounded person.

[@ultimatebasses]

Kudos to Super Sepp! Total class.

[@leomaduro8661]

Sepp Kuss is an exceptional rider, doing three big tours in the same year, and at that level... Happy that things worked out good for him, in spite of the tensions arising within the team. We will see more good things in 2024.

[@FloBikes]

Couldn't agree more!

[@maxl2768]

A true professional. I hope he gets more opportunities that he deserves. Bravo!

[@judd7699]

Great interview, and Sepp is very well spoken

[@joannaglasby2596]

What a great interview. Interesting what he said about Primoz though

[@DanielKawuma]

With Primoz gone Sepp is the second best climber on TJV and should get more opportunities to be the leader

[@sabugdalantx]

Yea as Pinoy American who loves this sport; I would like to see more of a Killer instinct from him.

[@daphnedh9086]

He is in some aspects. But not in all aspects. So no i don’t see Kuss beat Pogacar. But then Vingegaard may need Kuss’s help to get the job done.

[@vries153]

Not sure if hes the 2nd best there is news out they signed Cian Uijtdebroeks who is one hell of a talent and probably a climber at the same level as Sepp

[@Gurkhyvel]

What a humble and respectful guy he is!

[@natn738]

Sepp is a loyal man who sacrificed his dream for others . Sepp is the real man to call at the time of stress . Primo is a backstabbing master. Sepp an example for our kids . He is very matched liked in Eritrea real cycling fans .

[@perry-ad]

He is so diplomatic and genuine. Respect!

[@Mike-du1dc]

This was a great interview! Thanks!

[@FloBikes]

Our pleasure!

[@yumyumhungry]

Sepp's win now changes the dynamic in the tour. If pogacar sees sepp ride off the front while he's isolated he now needs to shutdown that gap making vingegaards job easier.

[@JammastaJ23]

Jeez great questions well done

[@FloBikes]

thanks!

[@traderz13]

Nice guy and I was rooting for TJV to not attack him, but I will be surprised if he wins another grand tour, happy to be proved wrong.

[@bikesmachineswithwong8139]

What a great guy!

[@jackhank5000]

It really came down to one stage . Sepp dominated stage 6 and could have blasted even harder if he ever thought the other leaders would have let him win. The rest of the race revealed Jumbo’s true colors. Great Job Kuss , congratulations for taking what was yours.

[@rdklkje13]

Which colours do you think those are? Asking cos there’s something about the tone of your comment that tells me you’re not seeing their actual colours, but I might be misinterpreting your words.

[@jackhank5000]

Pitting Jonas and Primoz against each was a calculated move by the teams Directors. Let them battle it out to see who is the true leader. Only problem is Sepp was too good and did what we always thought he could do. I’m sure they loved nothing more than to see Primoz writhe in his saddle respecting all the unwritten taboos of cycling. It can’t be more clear now that Jonas is the undeniable leader with Primoz being humiliated and forced out. I really Love Kuss but if he isn’t satisfied with going back to his Super-Domestique role he just might be next. Especially with all the young talent interested in riding for Jumbo in the future.

[@rdklkje13]

@@jackhank5000 Thanks for your reply. And yeah nah, that’s a far cry from how TJV works.

[@MG-iv8oo]

Pure class

[@markbaird907]

Pure class! Would love to see him win another grand tour!!

[@michaelbing8991]

I love Sepp but he still has a lot to prove when it comes to being a GC rider. Yes, he won, but he also got very lucky in the first stages putting him in this position. It is one thing to be up there in the GC as a helper, but to be a true GC rider you will have to ride completely differently.

[@LinkElmore]

Man, what an easy guy to root for.

[@paulogryzek4740]

When Sepp answered the question about being a co-leader in the TDF with "why not", I fist pumped so hard I hurt myself. Do it, Sepp! Get on that TT bike and figure out all your aerodynamics and what not. Add a little bit of power in the offseason and get used to going limit on the TT. It's a good course for you if you get trained up on the TT machine. I believe you could do this. Do that Tenerife climb a ton in the offseason, spend a lot of time in the windtunnel, lift a bunch of weights, and copy Jonas's prep schedule from last season. Get your altitude camps right and go send it.

[@rdklkje13]

TJV contracted Sepp as a potential GC rider. After spending a couple of years doing what you describe here, he chose to be a superdomestique instead in no small part cos he hated the TT bike as well as the mental pressure of leadership. Looks like he found the confidence to deal with the latter, but not yet an ambition to lead strong enough to make him want to go all out for TTs again. Mathieu Heijboer, TJV’s TT materials & training specialist as well as Sepp’s personal trainer, helped Sepp to believe in GC Kuss from Week 1 of this Vuelta. Throughout the tour they repeatedly exchanged brief texts to that effect, for example, with just the four words “Sepp Kuss, different rider”. Heijboer was also the trainer who went through those earlier TT experiments with Sepp, so it’ll be interesting to see if he, with intimate knowledge of what happened then, can help Sepp change how he feels about TT bikes too. One of the problems, however, is that Sepp’s body is far less suited to TTs than are the bodies of the top GC riders, so even with lots of dedication he’ll never reach the level of Jonas, Remco, Pogi and Primož in this discipline. But who knows, if he decides to give it another go he just may become good enough to also win the Giro.

[@elcarpo8339]

Mega Guy 👍😎

[@lilylow17]

He’s a bad ass on the bike! Superb climber. Well deserved win

[@camillelively]

What a great interview, flobikes. Good to get some additional insight and also hear Sepp speak a bit more candidly and stand up for his position in the race. Sepp is every bit the guy we've always thought him to be

[@FloBikes]

thanks! ;) glad you liked it.

[@williamdolphin6805]

Pure class.

[@kellymadden4590]

Class act , Sepp!

[@recrevs963]

boom!. what an interview. so we won't have to wait for a book after all as one can deduct many things from this. in interview after the stage 6 (and judging by the high fives at the finishing line) he could not care less for the red jersey so it was obvious the media turned things around and put pressure on JV leadership. i was happy for Sepp after JV messed up by putting their two aces in a same race (or was it intentional?), but i would have to put this feat in a same bracket as tao geoghenheart's 2020 giro win and that bracket is called "special circumstances". can you pull off a similar interview with Primož or Jonas?

[@rdklkje13]

TJV did not mess up. Much less do they let media or fans without a clue dictate what they do. And they supported Sepp, a guy they hired in 2017 as a potential GC rider, throughout this Vuelta. Unfortunately few people in the English speaking part of the world seem to want to understand how the TJV collective actually works even though this information is widely available. Something that says much more about these people than about TJV.

[@recrevs963]

@@rdklkje13 how does it work or what i have missed?

[@And-or488]

They got the team behind Sepp right, including roglic. And if they would have done so from the beginning everyone would be complaining about gifting. So they did fine given the difficult circumstances.

[@jaspermeinema4830]

Never before has a grand tour been gifted to a domestique, unique circumstances made it happen. Won't happen again, so unless Kuss will be the designated leader in a next tour, it won't happen. If he thinks his ambitions have changed now from superdomestique to leader, he either needs to slam the table at Jumbo or, in case they have no faith in that, leave the team for a leader position elsewhere. Either way, all the best

[@mfr440]

He was no more gifted a Grand Tour than Jonas and Primoz were gifted the Giro and Tour de France. The unique circumstance was that Sepp rode better than the others.

[@panslimak13]

After Primos leaving Jumbo, I feel like Sepp is the man to go with on Giro and/or Vuelta. I would bet on him for Giro 2024. Remco and Primos got a competition in him now.

[@jaspermeinema4830]

@@mfr440 that's a remarkably delusional way of seeing things

[@semilog643]

What a class act.

[@bryand999]

It's not difficult rooting for Sepp...class act!

[@asnark7115]

Sepp, if it weren't for you, Pog would have at least another TDF, maybe two. You're the difference between JV wins and mere "podium spots". No matter how many riders like WVA or Rog Jonas used to dummy Tadej, he always had a lieutenant ready on the climbs.

[@keithburt7874]

Good for Sepp: my neighbor lost a Stage Race in Colorado to his teammate, we had to work out these strategies the hard way, Peace3ed

[@armaniusmaximus]

No questions about Roglic's departure?

[@FloBikes]

yeah, I wish we could have had more time. we talked about it after i stopped the camera, though!

[@armaniusmaximus]

@@FloBikes Can you share his thoughts? Love your channel!

[@pdlngsqrs9547]

Role reversal would have brought on as much if not more criticism on Sepp! I always thought , believed who ever is in lead, one would support 100% that leader. I

[@MarlowWhere]

We will probably never see Sepps best performances because he has sacrificed his rightful spot as one of the best climbers in the WT for a role as a helper. There are absolutely days over the last few years where he had the legs to out ride Primoz (especially) and probably Jonas.

[@Wuaiabwjs]

narh not jonas. give me a exsample. give me a stage

[@rdklkje13]

Correction: he chose to be a super domestique rather than the GC leader he was contracted to potentially be. His own preference and decision. He may be changing that decision now, but let’s be clear that no one but Sepp himself has denied him what you call “his rightful place” in the past.

[@davidharrold9189]

Great guy. About as honest as he could be. He won the Vuelta fair and square. The debate needs to stop.

[@richardwallace133]

I think the ‘24 tour lets remco by more competitive with not so many huge climbing stages in a row and a fair amount of ITT kms

[@dennisdoucette9373]

@richardwallace133, SO you're saying remco needs help from tour officials to win! That sounds about right to me. That and having is main rivals crash. Maybe it can happen.

[@geertdepuydt2683]

The mountain stages are brutal... They clearly had a few people in mind, including Remco. Feels fair and square to me.

[@geertdepuydt2683]

If anything 23 was even more aligned with Remco. So much so, people found it a huge opportunity loss that he skipped.

[@DJLaFontsee]

He looks so ready to be done with all the questions about the Vuelta drama 😂

[@jonjust7796]

He should go for the Vuelta again next year. Always best in his second or third Grand tour of the season

[@morningtidefilms]

FloBikes, it’s not at all okay to be editing Sepp’s comments as you are doing here, with cuts every few seconds mid sentence. He’s talking about very personal, important moments and reflections from the Vuelta, and in the conversations and tensions he experienced with his teammates. This shouldn’t be edited like a gear review video.

[@FloBikes]

don't worry, just dead space was taken out and some filler words during our coversation.

[@melissaflick9041]

Yay-Mateo Jorgensen!

[@kovar2344]

Cycling is so cutthroat. I wish the best to Sepp. What a year he had.

[@markdonovan1540]

An absolutely first claas interview.

[@uclamordsith]

I wonder if coming back to the US is a letdown considering how little coverage cycling gets here compared to how other countries celebrate their monument and grand tour winners...

[@TheTurdFerguson]

How can you not ask him about chugging champagne on the podium?

[@FloBikes]

🤣🤣🍻

[@scrooksful]

Classic case of the interviewer “leading” the interviewee into a narrative that didn’t exist. Sepp wasn’t wasn’t taking the bait fortunately.

[@chrisj5443]

And part of that was the interviewer all but instructing him to train on TT, as if Sepp wouldn't know some TT work would help if he wants to seriously contend for GC.

[@rivingtonandstanton]

%100

[@BenjaminUbayyed-po9tc]

Come on Kuss----work o the TT!!!

[@bryangoetz8655]

I like how everyone in the peloton wanted sepp to win the vuelta ‘23 except his teammates. I hope sepp has a better result than primoz at the tdf’24. More sepp Flobikes!

[@eskemeldgaardkrogh4145]

As likeable as Sepp is and as much as I rooted for him, he was AT BEST the third best rider in the Vuelta… and would NEVER have won, had Vingegaard truly went for the victory.

[@rockhopper01]

Let’s say it again: it’s not about the BEST rider. Tons of races have been won by taking advantage of racing conditions.

[@eddiedettling9322]

Total rubbish. You obviously don't know much about cycling

[@dpixvid]

Probably, but there’s always the possibility of a mechanical or crash... who would have bailed out VG? Primos - doubt it...

[@eskemeldgaardkrogh4145]

@@rockhopper01Racing conditions? It was simple team dynamics…

[@TheSuperolleman]

True Jonas would have won if he went for it

[@leedorney]

It'll be soo happy to see Sepp get off on Roglic, he's not that good...he's got his work cut out, let's see if Bora H lay down for him...

[@mjv1967]

Sepp should be saying I was in the leader's jersey and I should have been supported by Primos and Jonas without question. There is no other valid choice for the team.

[@dennisdoucette9373]

So, Jonas goes up the road and Premos' stays with Kuss, allowing Jonas to move into second place. Then, Premoz goes up the road and Jonas follows him leaving Kuss by himself. If you think Premoz couldn't have followed Jonas, you'd be wrong....Premoz only wanted the second place he had earned, being Better than Jonas easily, to that point. Premoz took some criticism that should have been put on Jonas. Premoz was extremely happy for Kuss who was always their for him. Premoz has the heart of a lion and All class! 😊

[@javieroyaga5329]

Eres un jefe, Sepp. Los españoles te queremos.

[@stephenalivero4068]

The Durango Kid, Sepp Kuss!! Much deserved Victory 🤙

[@buzzman4860]

Can't believe Sepp wouldn't want to go the Giro for a shot at back to back wins

[@yachtzeeswaim2709]

Kuss 2024!

[@scotthendren6862]

Sepp has an opportunity to level up. We will see if TJV will ACTUALLY support him. Super domestiqe? Or GC contender? DC will be the real factor.

[@rdklkje13]

They’ve always supported him. They contracted him as a potential GC rider, he chose to be a super-domestique instead, mostly cos he hated TT bikes and the pressures of leadership. They also supported him throughout this Vuelta, but unfortunately much gets lost in translation. Particularly in the US where individualistically minded people seem to have an extraordinarily hard time understanding how the TJV collective actually works. But also in the English speaking part of the world more broadly. It’s very strange to observe from the outside how people comepletely misunderstand what’s going on and, like Gregor here, insist on continuing to misunderstand things apparently no matter how much information about how TJV works is available out there 🙄🤔

[@mitchhorton9178]

Why don’t you share other information we are missing. TJV wasn’t controlling the actions of the riders till the very end. That was very clear.

[@buzzman4860]

So Primoz and possibly Jonas were racing against Sep

[@stuartwalker6786]

I don't know why they don't just let Kuss go for the Giro........It's more suited to him and many of the biggest hitters won't be there

[@pdlngsqrs9547]

Role reversal, would have brought as much , if not more, criticism on Sepp. I always thought who ever is the leader, the team is to support that leader.

[@rdklkje13]

Ah, I forgot: although not impossible, based on how TJV operates I very much doubt that their GC Kuss merch was designed overnight after stage 20. So that’s yet another expression of the team support for his victory (and themselves, sure, but not just that).

[@dsmlive3982]

Called freak factor! Call it and let him ride

[@ryanwaterbury7069]

Be sick to see Sepp rip TDF with GC mentality

[@keithprothero9614]

Would he ever want to lead his own team ? Why was he not asked that ?

[@FloBikes]

too many questions, too little time.

[@davidspagnolo4870]

Why are you in Singapore?

[@unknownqueen6594]

Recently he joined TdF Prudential Singapore Criterium

[@sethaandewiel923]

Quote of the year for cycling Sepp "there are guys I like off the bike, but are complete pests on the bike"

[@FloBikes]

Lol 🤣

[@Chrisblottphoto]

If Sepp Kuss isn’t the nicest guy in the peloton I don’t know who is.

[@pete2448]

Sepp is a great rider and showed Primoz and Jonas lots of respect, unfortunately they didn't return the favor. Always remember that Sepp, you got to take care of you

[@alexp247365]

See how far any of you get without teamwork.....

[@sabugdalantx]

You don't think he is going to get a strong or a very strong team support for a Grand Tour Race? Primo could not win a Grand Tour without a strong team and obviously Sepp.

[@Mockle07]

They won all three grand Tours this year, I think they know a thing or two about teamwork. There will always be minor conflict within top teams but ultimately, they get it done.

[@jaspermeinema4830]

Best team with best leaders in Vingegaard and Roglic get the best helper, which is Kuss. In case of Vingegaard joining some B team and Kuss would be the helper of anyone but Pogačar, my money would always be on Vingegaard. Domestiques don't choose, but riding in enough bike races will make them realise that that is what they do best. Sepp happens to be the very best domestique. Who got a never seen before Christmas gift. A leader? I would love to see a successful transformation into that. All the best

[@rone7982]

Class act and honourable teammate, unlike JV and PR.

[@fer38jan]

Ashamed of Primoz Roglic. His ego ambitions have no boundaries. Another reason why Slovenian No.1 is Tadej Pogacar.

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Sepp, give us a break. Stop with the politically correct answers.