History of Sepp Kuss in Timeline

Sepp Kuss is an American professional cyclist who competes for Visma–Lease a Bike. His significant accomplishment includes winning the 2023 Vuelta a España, marking the first American Grand Tour victory since 2013. Notably, Kuss achieved the rare feat of winning a Grand Tour while also completing all three Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España) in a single season, an accomplishment only previously achieved by Gastone Nencini in 1957. This highlights his exceptional endurance and versatility as a cyclist.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1957: Gastone Nencini's Grand Tour Feat

In 1957, Gastone Nencini was the first cyclist to win a Grand Tour and finish all three Grand Tours in a single season, a feat matched by Kuss in 2023.

1963: Adolph Kuss Coaches US Ski Team

From 1963, Adolph Kuss, Sepp Kuss's father, coached the United States Ski Team.

1972: End of Adolph Kuss's Coaching Tenure

In 1972, Adolph Kuss's tenure as coach of the United States Ski Team ended.

1990: Adolph Kuss Inducted into Hall of Fame

In 1990, Adolph Kuss was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame.

September 13, 1994: Sepp Kuss Born

On September 13, 1994, Sepp Kuss was born. He is an American professional cyclist.

Others born on this day/year

2011: Tyler Farrar's Tour de France Stage Win

In 2011, Tyler Farrar won stage 3 of the Tour de France.

2013: Chris Horner's Grand Tour Win

In 2013, Chris Horner was the last American before Sepp Kuss to win a Grand Tour.

2013: Enrolls at University of Colorado Boulder

In 2013, Kuss enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder and continued mountain biking.

2014: Wins Collegiate Championships

In 2014, Kuss won national titles at the cycling collegiate championships in XC and Short Track.

2015: Andrew Talansky's High Placing

In 2015, Andrew Talansky was the highest placing American since Sepp Kuss in 2020.

2015: Wins Collegiate Championship and Competes Internationally

In 2015, Kuss won a national title at the cycling collegiate championships in XC and competed internationally.

2015: Splits Effort Between Road and Mountain Biking

In 2015, Sepp Kuss decided to split his effort between road and mountain biking, racing with an amateur team sponsored by Intermountain LiveWell on the road.

2016: Signs with Rally Cycling

Following a strong showing at the Tour of the Gila, Rally Cycling announced they were signing Sepp Kuss for the remainder of the 2016 season.

2016: Joins Gateway Harley Davidson / Trek Team

In 2016, Sepp Kuss joined the amateur Gateway Harley Davidson / Trek team and focused on road cycling. He also won the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

2016: Transition to Road Cycling

In 2016, Sepp Kuss transitioned to road cycling from mountain biking.

2016: Wins Mountain Stage in Tour de Beauce

In 2016, Sepp Kuss won a mountain stage and finished 6th overall at the Tour de Beauce in Canada. He also traveled to Europe for his first block of international road racing.

2017: Draws Attention from LottoNL-Jumbo

At the 2017 Tour of California, Kuss finished 10th and drew the attention of LottoNL–Jumbo director Merijn Zeeman, who reached out to Kuss for physiological testing.

2018: First Grand Tour at Vuelta a España

Following his performance in Utah, Kuss was selected to ride in the 2018 Vuelta a España, his first Grand Tour, supporting team leader Steven Kruijswijk.

2018: Joins LottoNL-Jumbo

In 2018, Sepp Kuss joined LottoNL-Jumbo to ride in the UCI WorldTour.

2018: Tour of Utah Win

In 2018, Sepp Kuss won the general classification at the Tour of Utah.

2019: Vuelta a España Stage Win

In 2019, Sepp Kuss won an individual stage at the Vuelta a España.

2019: First Grand Tour Stage Win

In 2019, Sepp Kuss won his first Grand Tour stage at the Vuelta a España on stage 15 and supported Primož Roglič, who won the general classification.

2020: Supports Roglič in Vuelta a España Victory

In 2020, Sepp Kuss continued to support Roglič in the Vuelta a España, who won the race for the second consecutive year.

2020: Wins Stage at Critérium du Dauphiné and Selected for Tour de France

In 2020, Sepp Kuss won stage 5 of the Critérium du Dauphiné and was selected for his first Tour de France as part of the Jumbo-Visma team.

2020: Kuss Recalls European Racing Toughness

In a 2020 interview, Sepp Kuss recalled being blown away by the toughness of European racing in 2016.

2021: Eighth Overall at Vuelta a España

During the 2021 Vuelta a España, Sepp Kuss supported Roglič, who won the race, and Kuss finished eighth overall, his first top 10 in a Grand Tour.

2021: Tour de France Stage Win

In 2021, Sepp Kuss won an individual stage at the Tour de France.

2022: Marriage to Noemí Ferré Fernández

In 2022, Sepp Kuss married Noemí Ferré Fernández, a Spanish former professional cyclist.

2022: Withdraws from Tour de Suisse

In 2022, Sepp Kuss was given team leadership at the Tour de Suisse, but the entire team withdrew from the race due to a COVID-19 infection.

2023: Supports Roglič in Giro d'Italia Win

In 2023, Sepp Kuss supported Roglič in the Giro d'Italia, who won the general classification. Kuss was credited as Roglič's top domestique.

2023: Vuelta a España Stage Win and Team Grand Tour Sweep

In 2023, Sepp Kuss won an individual stage at the Vuelta a España and Team Jumbo-Visma completed an unprecedented sweep of all three Grand Tours in a single season.

2023: Vuelta a España Win

In 2023, Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta a España, becoming the first American to win a Grand Tour since 2013, and also finishing all three Grand Tours in a single season.

2024: Cites Pressure and Lack of Results

In 2024, Kuss cited pressure and lack of results during the season as reasons for a shift to being a "super-domestique".

2024: Wins Vuelta a Burgos

In 2024, Kuss won the Vuelta a Burgos after winning on a mountain-top finish on stage 3 and then defending his lead to take the overall win. He was also originally named for the Tour de France, but scratched due to a Covid infection.

2024: Birth of Daughter Martina

In 2024, Sepp Kuss and Noemí Ferré Fernández had their first child, a daughter named Martina.

2025: Returning to Super-Domestique Role

At the start of the 2025 season, Kuss and his team announced that he would be returning to his "super-domestique role" rather than taking a leadership role during stage races.