Sepp Kuss expecting ‘no gifts’ from team-mates Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard as he targets Vuelta win

Sepp Kuss is expecting “no gifts” from Jumbo-Visma team-mates Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard as he targets his first Grand Tour win at the Vuelta a Espana.

Kuss was not seen as a general classification contender ahead of the race, with two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard and three-time Vuelta champion Roglic expected to lead Jumbo-Visma.

However, at the second rest day it is Kuss in the red jersey.

His lead over second-placed Roglic is 1’37”, with Vingegaard a further seven seconds back. Fourth-placed Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) is 2’37” behind Kuss.

It looks almost certain that a Jumbo-Visma rider will win the race – but it is not known who, or how the final week will pan out.

“It’s nice to be in the position we are now, but we can’t put an over-emphasis on that and lose the bigger picture, which is just winning the race with one of us in the end.

“We just have to be honest with ourselves, who’s feeling the best, or who has the ability to finish it off in the end.

“We all know each other well. It’s nice to see they also believe in me and are happy for me and the position I’m in now. But they’re also competitors and they want to win as well.

“In cycling there are no gifts, or letting off. When you feel good you can’t just hold off.”

Kuss, 28, has largely been a support rider for Jumbo-Visma in the past.

Even though he is now leading the Vuelta, he admits his preference is for “working in the shadows”.

“It’s not necessary for me to have the whole team around me or feel the need to repay the efforts of all my team-mates,” he said.

“I appreciate the work they do but I’m a guy that would rather be in the shadows. Being in this team with Primoz, with Jonas, I can still do my thing while working a bit in the shadows.”

Kuss is bidding to become the first American Grand Tour winner since Chris Horner won the Vuelta in 2013.

He says he is feeling confident ahead of a final week that features some big climbs.

“I’ve been able to do more than I would have thought beforehand. That’s all the mental game, more than physical,” he said.

“The past weeks have been the ones with the most new experiences and also beautiful experiences, and the next week is one that, even without being in this position, I’d be looking forward to.

“I love the climbs in Cantabria and Asturias, they’re my kind of climbs, the steep climbs you see in the Vuelta. I’m feeling really good and I’m looking forward to this week.”