Teams & Riders Sepp Kuss is the next Sepp Kuss thread

[RedheadDane]

No, it just makes me realize how old I am!

Sorry...

 

[Extinction]

Sorry...

Oh, don't worry about it dear, cause I still look good!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Another scenario, which I think Is the more likely one, is that higher powers determined Kuss must win, because of the lucrative opportunity greater exposure to the rich US market provides. Either from sponsorship or governance pressure or both, Jumbo-Visma had to call off the racing in favor of a greater scheme, thus favoring the colossal business interests over the human aspect of sport. It's to be expected, mind you, but it doesn't make the miserable outcome any less scandalous!

That's as may be, and it might go some way to explain the characterisation of some of the most mundane things as some higher act of humanitarian sacrifice, but it's not just the media stating these things but the audience following them.

I mean, I've already ridiculed the "he let someone else sit in the front seat of the car. He's too good for this world" thing, but there's also the whole "omg he has a cute dog!" thing. Which, while it is quite sympathetic and the kind of thing everybody can get behind, just makes me think of the contrast to the treatment people gave Cadel Evans in 2008 for being protective of his dog.

Not that Kuss himself can help this characterisation, but it just seems like a concerted effort that every crumb of him not being a total a-hole is being portrayed as some great act of generosity.

 

[theyoungest]

That's as may be, and it might go some way to explain the characterisation of some of the most mundane things as some higher act of humanitarian sacrifice, but it's not just the media stating these things but the audience following them.

I mean, I've already ridiculed the "he let someone else sit in the front seat of the car. He's too good for this world" thing, but there's also the whole "omg he has a cute dog!" thing. Which, while it is quite sympathetic and the kind of thing everybody can get behind, just makes me think of the contrast to the treatment people gave Cadel Evans in 2008 for being protective of his dog.

Not that Kuss himself can help this characterisation, but it just seems like a concerted effort that every crumb of him not being a total a-hole is being portrayed as some great act of generosity.

Where exactly does this disdain for Kuss come from? To me it seems obvious that he really is quite a nice guy. He's not pretending to be when the camera is on him. Everyone on the team, and outside of it, seems to agree.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Where exactly does this disdain for Kuss come from? To me it seems obvious that he really is quite a nice guy. He's not pretending to be when the camera is on him. Everyone on the team, and outside of it, seems to agree.

Him in races.

Outside of races, I think my biggest problem with him would be the one Boardman had with Indurain.

And the more the media pushes this Mary Poppins narrative and the more of an audience starts swooning at his every move no matter how mundane, the more entrenched my position becomes.

Just as I hated Michael Albasini just as much as Peter Sagan, but only one of those became a forum meme, because Sagan's continued prominence, and seemingly everybody else shoving what a wonderful guy they found him down my throat, caused me to get triggered.

Also I'd hate the way this Vuelta has panned out with social media dictating the outcome and robbing us of the only intrigue left even without the rider profiting being one I have such antipathy for. And as toby is fond of pointing out, I excel at overreacting to things I feel passionate about.

 

[theyoungest]

Him in races.

Outside of races, I think my biggest problem with him would be the one Boardman had with Indurain.

And the more the media pushes this Mary Poppins narrative and the more of an audience starts swooning at his every move no matter how mundane, the more entrenched my position becomes.

Just as I hated Michael Albasini just as much as Peter Sagan, but only one of those became a forum meme, because Sagan's continued prominence, and seemingly everybody else shoving what a wonderful guy they found him down my throat, caused me to get triggered.

Also I'd hate the way this Vuelta has panned out with social media dictating the outcome and robbing us of the only intrigue left even without the rider profiting being one I have such antipathy for. And as toby is fond of pointing out, I excel at overreacting to things I feel passionate about.

It takes a special talent to hate Sepp Kuss I have to admit he's my favourite rider, although I didn't see anything wrong with Vingegaard or Roglic trying to beat him, and I hate this online mob that's accusing them of backstabbing and so on. But I just love his style on the bike, no more graceful climber than Sepp Kuss. Of course saying this will only increase your dislike for him even further, I know how that works

 

[yaco]

It's been the traditional media such as TV, newspapers etc who has been supporting the holder of the red jersey which is Kuss - Social media has nowhere near the impact of traditional media in this case

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It takes a special talent to hate Sepp Kuss I have to admit he's my favourite rider, although I didn't see anything wrong with Vingegaard or Roglic trying to beat him, and I hate this online mob that's accusing them of backstabbing and so on. But I just love his style on the bike, no more graceful climber than Sepp Kuss. Of course saying this will only increase your dislike for him even further, I know how that works

Oh he's a graceful rider, no doubt about it. I just hated his usage for years and saw him as emblematic of a type of racing I really hate, and now the fact he's become some kind of cult hero whose every move must be praised like he's Mother Theresa of Calcutta is drawing a counter-reaction from me.

And of course, the fact that I get called out as obsessive and a terrible person, when as I said in the stage 18 thread, there's somebody under one of Benji Naesen's recent posts who proudly states they were hunting down various social media accounts from anybody they could find who was associated with Jumbo-Visma to send them abusive messages demanding they support Kuss. I have never done anything like that, I've never interacted with Sepp personally at any race I've been to, online or otherwise, and do not wish to. I don't wish harm on him. All I do is express repetitive negative opinions about him on here, many of which outside of actual race scenarios (where I freely admit my emotions can get the better of me) are self-aware and exaggerative. So why am I the villain, and not the people actually threatening violence and taking action against people directly?

 

[Potomac]

What's so funny about the fact that I wasn't born in 1985? Did you actually believe the joke that I'm old?

You post so much, I always thought you just never were allowed to leave the retirement home.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

A Sepp Cuscus is cute, therefore he should be allowed to win if he wants to.

https://imgur.com/HuijjLz

 

[theyoungest]

Oh he's a graceful rider, no doubt about it. I just hated his usage for years and saw him as emblematic of a type of racing I really hate, and now the fact he's become some kind of cult hero whose every move must be praised like he's Mother Theresa of Calcutta is drawing a counter-reaction from me.

And of course, the fact that I get called out as obsessive and a terrible person, when as I said in the stage 18 thread, there's somebody under one of Benji Naesen's recent posts who proudly states they were hunting down various social media accounts from anybody they could find who was associated with Jumbo-Visma to send them abusive messages demanding they support Kuss. I have never done anything like that, I've never interacted with Sepp personally at any race I've been to, online or otherwise, and do not wish to. I don't wish harm on him. All I do is express repetitive negative opinions about him on here, many of which outside of actual race scenarios (where I freely admit my emotions can get the better of me) are self-aware and exaggerative. So why am I the villain, and not the people actually threatening violence and taking action against people directly?

The online mob has definitely gone completely insane regarding Sepp Kuss, that much is true. And the (American) cycling media are definitely doing their part in fanning the flames. Finally someone is reading and watching them, gotta give the people what they want.

 

[Extinction]

That's as may be, and it might go some way to explain the characterisation of some of the most mundane things as some higher act of humanitarian sacrifice, but it's not just the media stating these things but the audience following them.

I mean, I've already ridiculed the "he let someone else sit in the front seat of the car. He's too good for this world" thing, but there's also the whole "omg he has a cute dog!" thing. Which, while it is quite sympathetic and the kind of thing everybody can get behind, just makes me think of the contrast to the treatment people gave Cadel Evans in 2008 for being protective of his dog.

Not that Kuss himself can help this characterisation, but it just seems like a concerted effort that every crumb of him not being a total a-hole is being portrayed as some great act of generosity.

Probably Kuss is a really nice guy, who, put in a different position, had to take out the cohones to assert himself in an impossible situation. On the other hand, Vingo and Rogo are probably nice enough blokes, even though I don't know them personally, but that's not what this is about. It's about class and a GT should be won on that and not a personality contest!

 

[perico]

If you subtract the breakaway he is about 1:10 up on Ayuso and he didn't have to do all that riding that day. He was (is) the third best climber in the Vuelta. Replace Roglic and Vingegaard with two more strong climbing doms. and he definitely has a good chance. The question I guess is would Mas and Ayuso be stronger if it wasn't for the pummeling that Roglic and Vingo gave them?

I don’t think so. Both came in after crashing the last two months with terrible preparation

 

[FroomeWagon]

The people have spoken.

Sepp Kuss "the people's champion." Vuelta '23

 

[Hugh Januss]

Another scenario, which I think Is the more likely one, is that higher powers determined Kuss must win, because of the lucrative opportunity greater exposure to the rich US market provides. Either from sponsorship or governance pressure or both, Jumbo-Visma had to call off the racing in favor of a greater scheme, thus favoring the colossal business interests over the human aspect of sport. It's to be expected, mind you, but it doesn't make the miserable outcome any less scandalous!

He's as American as apple pie/firearms! Actually he's one of my favorites, but I can not recall a time before when a loyal Lieutenant was ever gifted a GT win, no matter how loyal or effective. So while I'm happy for Sepp I'm not as happy for Roglic who doesn't win his record tying 4th Vuelta or Vingegaard who doesn't become only the 4th ever to do the Tour Vuelta double in the same year. Seems to me they were both asked to give up on a little bit of history, and I'm pretty sure they would be okay with it if they were beaten fair and square because every cyclist gets practice at coping with that.

 

[Hugh Januss]

The online mob has definitely gone completely insane regarding Sepp Kuss, that much is true. And the (American) cycling media are definitely doing their part in fanning the flames. Finally someone is reading and watching them, gotta give the people what they want.

Hey take it easy on us Americans it's been 10 years since the last American, that old fart Horner, won a GT.

 

[Unchained]

Official merch

https://twitter.com/x/status/1702806652486107230

View: https://twitter.com/naywilliams/status/1702806652486107230

I will buy 2

 

[RedheadDane]

Hey take it easy on us Americans it's been 10 years since the last American, that old fart Horner, won a GT.

Yeah, can't always be the major cycling nations - like Denmark and Slovenia - getting all the big wins.

 

[Rackham]

I still think Kuss had the greatest birthday ever.

Watching him lose the wheels of his teammates on the Angliru, calling (whatever) on the radio (was a dramatic moment).... & seeing the zero sh*ts given by Rog & Vingegaard (who even glanced back... & was unmoved by what he saw) as they rode away into the fog. Beautiful.

"chef's kiss"

 

[Bolder]

An alternative view is that his TT, Tourmalet and Angliru performance earned Kuss the right to win. It's not as if Roglic and Vingegaard had to actually help him. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

[theyoungest]

Hey take it easy on us Americans it's been 10 years since the last American, that old fart Horner, won a GT.

I feel like an honorary American watching Sepp Kuss win, I've followed him for years, watching a crappy livestream from the Tour of Utah where he won three (?) stages and thinking: f.ck me, that guy is good. That's why I don't like the online mob embracing him, it feels like he's gone mainstream

An alternative view is that his TT, Tourmalet and Angliru performance earned Kuss the right to win. It's not as if Roglic and Vingegaard had to actually help him. Quite the opposite in fact.

They certainly had to help him. Is there any doubt in your mind that Roglic or Vingegaard could have won this Vuelta? But they didn't. That's how they helped him.

 

[Unchained]

The people have spoken.

Sepp Kuss "the people's champion." Vuelta '23

I get what Libertine is saying but I hardly think that Kuss would want to be cast as Mary Poppins, Kuss could never have known that he would be completely dismissed and ignored but Remco and others. Would certainly not categorize being part of a 40+ rider roll off as hyper aggressive or overly intelligent. He made lemonade out of lemons when he was astonished to be in the red jersey, He won but Remco also lost, wasn't Sepp's responsibility to alter the media and Remco that he has been climbing at the front for a couple of years, and that his ITT times are not horrible. In the Spanish interview after, he thanked his teammates, named them, and said that the winning experience was made better by doing it w them. So if being polite and considerate is a character flaw, he is certainly really really F'ed up..

 

[CyclistAbi]

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don‘t think I can make that facial expression, does that mean Kuss is a robot?

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don‘t think I can make that facial expression, does that mean Kuss is a robot?

Nop. It just mean that Rogla and Jonas would never ride for you. Kuss is the only cyclist in the world having that privilege. If you would ever have that privilege, you would make such facial expressions easily.