Sepp Kuss Vuelta podium hopes have suddenly become a live storyline after a strong ride in Andorra. The Visma-Lease a Bike climber moved to fourth overall on Tuesday, three years after winning the Spanish grand tour. He then held that position through Wednesday’s hot stage down the Ebro Valley.
Kuss arrived without a stated general classification mission. That changed once the race hit the Andorran climbs, where he showed his strongest climbing form of the season. The American now sits only 23 seconds behind Primož Roglič, his former teammate and a four-time Vuelta winner.
Sepp Kuss Vuelta challenge grows in the mountains
Tadej Pogačar has already created a large separation at the top of the standings. The Slovenian holds a 3:21 advantage over the rest of the field and has shaped the race around himself. That leaves a different contest behind him, with the podium places still open.
Kuss recognizes that reality. He said the race feels different when riders are not truly racing for victory. He described Pogačar as “untouchable” and pointed instead to his closest rivals.
For now, Kuss wants to defend his place among the leading climbers. He said his goal is to “stay with the best guys” and reassess as the race develops. The next block of stages should reveal whether his podium challenge can last.
Visma keeps options open with Kuss
Visma-Lease a Bike did not enter the Vuelta with Kuss as an outright leader against Pogačar. The team has already taken two stage wins with Matthew Brennan. Wout van Aert also remains available for later chances as the race opens up.
That gives Kuss freedom to follow the GC fight without forcing the team into one rigid plan. Sport director Maarten Wynants said Visma started with an “open mind” because Kuss is racing his third straight grand tour of 2026.
Wynants also noted that Kuss has shown he can handle multiple grand tours in one year. He pointed to 2023, when Kuss raced all three and won the Vuelta. Still, the team knows fatigue can arrive quickly. Visma plans to review his ambitions at each rest day.
Steep finishes will test the podium picture
The Vuelta now enters a decisive run of climbing days. Stage 6 finishes on a first-category ascent of 9.4 kilometers at 7 percent. Stage 7 ends at the category 1 Aramón Valdelinares climb.
Sunday’s stage closes the opening week on the category 1 Alto de Aitana. Its final 6.6 kilometers average 7.8 percent. Those stages should sort the riders chasing the places behind Pogačar.
Kuss has already built his best season since his 2023 Vuelta victory. In May, he won a Giro d’Italia stage and completed his set of grand tour stage wins. He became only the second American man officially to win stages in all three grand tours.
His Tour de France did not bring a stage win, despite aggressive rides on the double Alpe d’Huez finales. Yet those attacks suggested his climbing legs were returning. Andorra offered stronger evidence that Kuss can again follow elite GC riders.
Pogačar may be moving toward control of the red jersey contest. Behind him, Roglič, Felix Gall, Oscar Onley, Richard Carapaz, and Kuss still have much to race for. Two podium steps remain available in Granada, and Kuss is back in that fight.
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