How Sepp Kuss Became Pro Cycling’s Chillest Champion
From OutsideOnine.com
A relaxed, charming kid from Durango may make Americans fall in love with the Tour de France again
Sepp Kuss appears at the door wearing a pair of fuzzy slippers and a warm grin. “Did you find the place OK?” he asks, leading me inside. “How was your drive down?”
The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the hallway as we walk past paintings of wooded mountains and snowy landscapes. It’s as if we’ve entered a ski chalet in this tucked-away neighborhood of Durango, Colorado, and not the home of Kuss’s parents, Sabina and Dolph. But they’re here, too, lounging in comfy chairs, waiting to watch their son be interviewed about an incredible feat of athleticism and willpower. His historic victory at the 2023 Vuelta a España last September, when Sepp became just the fourth U.S. rider to officially win one of cycling’s three-week grand tours, is what we’re set to discuss. I’ve driven six hours from Denver to Durango to talk about the Vuelta, and also to attend a festival and parade in Sepp’s honor. But right now the Kuss family just want to know if I’d like a cup of joe and maybe some breakfast.
“I tell you, we were not even low-level fans of cycling before all of this,” Dolph says. “We’ve had to learn everything.”
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
