Teams & Riders Sepp Kuss is the next Sepp Kuss thread

[Red Rick]

2 minutes is basically what most people expect him to take.

 

[FroomeWagon]

2 minutes is basically what most people expect him to take.

Johan Bruyneel said on his podcast earlier this week that he estimated the time gap between Kuss and Remco would be around 2:00, so I don't think Remco is being unrealistic in his estimates. Having said that, maybe wearing red will give Kuss wings.

Even if Kuss does lose a lot of time, it still doesn't eliminate him as a GC threat. QS is going to have to view him as a threat for the remainder of the race.

 

[theyoungest]

He's been pretty clear over the years that he is not temperamentally suited to being a GC leader. Now, you may say this is ex post facto rationalization, 'covering' for his suboptimal TT skills, but it fits with what he know of his (public) persona.

No need to be so disparaging. Besides, were Wonder Boy to take back 2 mins, who's to say he can keep all of it? We may not know until the 3rd week.

I'm not being disparaging, in fact I like Sepp Kuss. He's one of my favourite riders. But perhaps for that reason I know more or less what he's capable of, and not. He has said that the TT position is problematic for him because it differs so much from his natural position on the bike. He just can't deliver the power that way.

I don't understand fans who think that he has never done a good flat TT because he hasn't tried. He has.

 

[Sciatic]

That sounds like you are up for a bet. May I propose that the loser of the bet is barred from posting for a week?

I think the reason some arguments or debates go on for so long in the online world is because there isn’t an easy way to just say “let’s put some money on that.” Of course even in person some arguments—like, who’s the GOAT of this or that, never really get settled. But if you’re in a bar with of bunch of friends and acquaintances and folks are debating with fervor about an event that will have a specific outcome and due to happen tomorrow or next week, one can just say “how much you want to bet?” and that allows them to move on.
For folks who are thinking, “there are literally a gazillion betting sites out there to use,” that’s true but not the same as a face-to-face (online or in the physical world) bet.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Remco said he could take 1 or 2 minutes on Kuss, but I can read between lines and tell you, that he actually meant somewhere between 12 seconds and 4 years.

 

[Sciatic]

Strange that everyone is acting like Kuss and Jumbo have an overall objective of Sepp Kuss holding the lead..pressure is not on Kuss but on Remco and Mas, couple of others that have to cover everything because now Jumbo is suddenly a triple threat.. Kuss getting spanked in an individual time trial would not be great, but it still leaves Jumbo with lots of options and if Kuss holds form for another few days..3 out of top 10 riders.. Pretty awesome.. Sponsor exposure for Jumbo to be on camera, every website and the podium constantly, fantastic results for the team.. Other guys probably wondering why they didn't bring Alaphillipe.

I completely agree. Even if Kuss loses his entire advantage to Remco in the TT, that still means he’ll have to outclimb Kuss for the rest of the Vuelta. And while I think he probably will, it still means Remco/SQS have tough decisions to make if Kuss goes up the road on one of the big mountain stages. In some ways, it may be better for Remco if Mas, Ayuso, Almeida remain close in GC, because he can at least hope that one of them will chase.

As for Kuss, I’m thrilled for him that he’s in this spot, already with a stage win and getting to experience being in red (with the bonus of all that champagne). Like anyone, he will have desire to end up on the top step, but unlike for most of the other favorites, if he falters it’s not a disaster because he know he can still play an essential role in getting a Jumbo rider the win.

 

[Sciatic]

Could have got better each GT without the Tour crash.

2016 Valverde; 3, 6, and 12 with one noncrack away from all 3 top 10

Next best
2010 Sastre; 8, 20, 8
2008 Bruseghin, 3, 27, 10
1958 Bahamontes; 17, 8, 6
1957 Nencini; 1, 6, 9
1955 Geminiani, 4, 6, 3

I never realized Sastre was able to hang that close in those GT TTs.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Riders like Heras, Mancebo, Sastre and Valverde always rode brilliant TTs in the Vuelta and would then get pretty much spanked in time trials in TdF. Weird thing

 

[Potomac]

It's easy to guarantee, we simply ask @Red Rick to enforce it by banning the loser for a week.

Are you up?

Alternatively, you can admit that it's very likely that Kuss will lose 2 minutes to Evenepoel, and thus that there was nothing outrageous about his statement.

A week after the vuelta? There's nothing to post about. This "ban" has got to be in a week in a GT next year.

 

[RedheadDane]

A week after the vuelta? There's nothing to post about. This "ban" has got to be in a week in a GT next year.

Surely, the "ban" would start immediately after the ITT tomorrow.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

Go Sepp! I really hope he holds it. If Wednesday in red the man could grow wings and go all the way.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

After reading the last few pages, I can say with confidence that most of you are temperamentally unsuited to ride for GC.

 

[RedheadDane]

After reading the last few pages, I can say with confidence that most of you are temperamentally unsuited to ride for GC.

I am physically unsuited to ride for GC...

 

[Potomac]

He's not the strongest rider in the race, but I would be ecstatic if he ended up winning.

 

[Sciatic]

I am physically unsuited to ride for GC...

I am unsuited in every way, shape, and form. Particularly the restrictive diet thing

 

[Oldermanish]

Valverde in 2016, 3rd in the Giro, 6th at the Tour and 12th in the Vuelta.

....As the designated leader, not domestique.

 

[Oldermanish]

That's not it. Kuss just isn't a very good time trialist. He's just an oldschool pure climber. Very un-American, but he is.

People think that Jumbo doesn't give him a chance or whatever, he has had the chance to be a GC guy and he has failed every time. Partly because of his TT.

While he hasn't ripped up a TT he may have motivation to limit damage this time.
As it stands, JV would be unwilling to jeopardize Vingo or Rog to help Kuss limp back if he dropped too much time on another stage if he was still in Red. That would destroy their huge advantage that they need the others to pursue.: Martinez, Soler and Landa fit into that equation for now. Where they all sit in GC after the TT will clarify things and Kuss may not be in Red nor an advantage.

 

[Unchained]

I think that the CN Remco comments say lots about homework and experience.
Is Sepp Kuss of Remco caliber and credentials? No. But bike races are not always won by the strongest rider, don't need to dig too far into history to prove that point.
Light study, would tell Remco that Kuss has lots of training kilometers of quality in the very terrain that he took the jersey, still more study would confirm that Kuss' TT times are not Tony Martin he doesn't get door matted either and as for future climbing, Kuss doesn't need history, just ability and a few good days and a great supporting cast..So even w a strong TT showing by Remco he still has to pick his poison amongst the Jumbo riders and all 3 have different abilities and reasoning for riding style for the balance of the race.
I am only guessing but Remco's subtle dismissal and disrespect of Kuss will only act as motivation.. as if he and Jumbo need additional reasons to feel good about their chances.. I see most of Remco's race issues happening off the bike and by off the bike I mean when he beefed into the lady after the race for no reason..
I am definitely a Remco fan boy but lately he is really acting and talking like the evil anti hero

 

[Sciatic]

I think that the CN Remco comments say lots about homework and experience.
Is Sepp Kuss of Remco caliber and credentials? No. But bike races are not always won by the strongest rider, don't need to dig too far into history to prove that point.
Light study, would tell Remco that Kuss has lots of training kilometers of quality in the very terrain that he took the jersey, still more study would confirm that Kuss' TT times are not Tony Martin he doesn't get door matted either and as for future climbing, Kuss doesn't need history, just ability and a few good days and a great supporting cast..So even w a strong TT showing by Remco he still has to pick his poison amongst the Jumbo riders and all 3 have different abilities and reasoning for riding style for the balance of the race.
I am only guessing but Remco's subtle dismissal and disrespect of Kuss will only act as motivation.. as if he and Jumbo need additional reasons to feel good about their chances.. I see most of Remco's race issues happening off the bike and by off the bike I mean when he beefed into the lady after the race for no reason..
I am definitely a Remco fan boy but lately he is really acting and talking like the evil anti hero

From what we get to see of Kuss in post -race interactions with teammates and in interviews, he doesn’t strike me as a Michael Jordan type who will use the slightest bit of perceived disrespect as nitro fuel for his next performance.

In fact, if he was on the team bus watching a video of Remco’s comments (and has a teammate translate them), I can totally imagine him saying, “yeah, that sounds about right.”

 

[dennisdy]

I'm not being disparaging, in fact I like Sepp Kuss. He's one of my favourite riders. But perhaps for that reason I know more or less what he's capable of, and not. He has said that the TT position is problematic for him because it differs so much from his natural position on the bike. He just can't deliver the power that way.

I don't understand fans who think that he has never done a good flat TT because he hasn't tried. He has.

I agree that his previous flat TTs haven't been very good. But in an interview today he said that he hasn't gone all out on a flat TT in quite a while. I expect that he will do better than most pundits expect. He is in a strange position. He is the race leader in a grand tour, but he isn't under great pressure!

 

[tobydawq]

Riders like Heras, Mancebo, Sastre and Valverde always rode brilliant TTs in the Vuelta and would then get pretty much spanked in time trials in TdF. Weird thing

Motorcycle close in front of local heroes thing.

 

[Volderke]

Even if Kuss loses 2 minutes and e.g roglic and Vingegaard less than a minute, Kuss will still be have some time on Evenepoel so Evenepoel still has to drop him, with roglic and Vingegaard not far

I think that the CN Remco comments say lots about homework and experience.
Is Sepp Kuss of Remco caliber and credentials? No. But bike races are not always won by the strongest rider, don't need to dig too far into history to prove that point.
Light study, would tell Remco that Kuss has lots of training kilometers of quality in the very terrain that he took the jersey, still more study would confirm that Kuss' TT times are not Tony Martin he doesn't get door matted either and as for future climbing, Kuss doesn't need history, just ability and a few good days and a great supporting cast..So even w a strong TT showing by Remco he still has to pick his poison amongst the Jumbo riders and all 3 have different abilities and reasoning for riding style for the balance of the race.
I am only guessing but Remco's subtle dismissal and disrespect of Kuss will only act as motivation.. as if he and Jumbo need additional reasons to feel good about their chances.. I see most of Remco's race issues happening off the bike and by off the bike I mean when he beefed into the lady after the race for no reason..
I am definitely a Remco fan boy but lately he is really acting and talking like the evil anti hero

oh boy. You're going to preach from higher ground now...
Let me just tell you that SQS know what Kuss can push, what's his CdA (more or less) and thus have calculated what the time difference would be on a normal day for both. That's no disrespect.
It's like saying a weather forecast is disrespect, and convincing yourself that you are right if said weather forecast had it wrong.

It is true though that we don't have enough references on Kuss, as he had too many TT where he was able to (or even had to) soft pedal in order to be ready for the next mountain domestique duty.

 

[Elos Anjos]

I would like Roglic to win La Vuelta, but I wish that Kuss makes the TT of his life. Go Kuss!

 

[parabolizer]

with 2 GT's already in his legs, what are the chances that really pushing himself in this TT causes him to not be able to climb like he normally would in one of the big mountain stages? Maybe that is what Remco is counting on.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Motorcycle close in front of local heroes thing.

To be fair, Sastre rode some decent one in TdF, and Valverde has also had periods where we was close to a specialist in short-mid length TTs. Never in TdF though.