Sepp Kuss, a professional cyclist from Durango, Colorado, has made a significant mark in the world of cycling by emerging victorious in the highly esteemed 2023 Vuelta a España.
This extraordinary accomplishment has established him as the first American to seize the title since the renowned Chris Horner’s triumph in 2013.
Kuss, who represents the UCI WorldTeam Visma–Lease a Bike, has consistently showcased his exceptional skills as a gifted climber.
REAL FACTS ABOUT SEPP KUSS
FULL NAME: Sepp Kuss
DATE OF BIRTH: September 13, 1994
PLACE OF BIRTH: Durango, Colorado, United States
NATIONALITY: American
OCCUPATION: Cyclist
MARITAL STATUS: Married
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Sepp Kuss, born on September 13, 1994, in Durango, Colorado, USA, was raised by his parents, Dolph Kuss and Sabina Kuss. Dolph Kuss, a Nordic skiing coach, had successfully led the U.S. national team to the Olympics. It is unclear whether Sepp Kuss has any siblings.
Kuss obtained a degree in advertising from the University of Colorado. During his time as a student, he initially focused on mountain biking and excelled in the sport, earning multiple collegiate titles. Although Kuss has Slovenian roots, his religious beliefs remain undisclosed.
CAREER
In terms of his career, Sepp Kuss embarked on his cycling journey as a junior and university student at the University of Colorado Boulder, participating in mountain bike racing.
He achieved remarkable success, winning three national collegiate titles in cross-country and short track events.
Upon graduating, Kuss shifted his attention to road cycling and began his professional journey in 2016 with the amateur Gateway Harley Davidson / Trek team.
That same year, he secured his first significant professional victory at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Kuss joined the Rally Cycling team in 2016 and 2017 before signing with LottoNL–Jumbo in 2018.
In that year, he achieved great success by winning three stages and the overall classification at the Tour of Utah.
He also had the opportunity to compete in his first Grand Tours, namely the 2018 Vuelta a España and the 2019 Giro d’Italia.
In the subsequent years, Kuss continued to play a supportive role for his team leaders, contributing to Primož Roglič’s victories at the 2020 Vuelta a España and the 2023 Giro d’Italia.
However, his breakthrough moment came in 2021 when he impressively won stage 15 of the Tour de France with a solo attack.
Kuss solidified his position as a leading American stage race rider in 2023, as he became the first American since Chris Horner in 2013 to win the Vuelta a España. He then went on to support Roglič’s Giro win and Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France victory.
Kuss is scheduled to defend his Vuelta title in August 2024, although he was unable to participate in the 2024 Tour de France due to testing positive for COVID-19.
PERSONAL LIFE
In terms of his personal life, Sepp Kuss is married to the renowned Spanish cyclist Noemi Ferre Fernandez. The couple met while Kuss was competing in Spain and they tied the knot in 2022.
It is unknown whether they have any children together, as the media has not provided any details on this matter.
