Sepp Kuss Returns as Mountain King for Vingegaard at Tour de France
Sepp Kuss re‑joined Team Jumbo‑Visma’s mountain squad on **July 5, 2026**, positioning himself as a key climbing ally for Jonas Vingegaard as the Tour de France entered the Pyrenees. The Danish champion, fresh off a strong showing in the previous week’s Critérium du Dauphiné, now has his trusted domestique back to set a relentless pace on the toughest ascents.
After missing the first two weeks of the 2026 Tour due to a lingering knee issue, Kuss announced his return on July 4, confirming he felt fully recovered. Team director Christian Prudhomme highlighted the rider’s “exceptional climbing form” during a press briefing, noting that Kuss had logged over 200 kilometers of altitude training in the Alps during his downtime. The timing aligns perfectly with the race’s transition to high‑mountain stages, where a strong domestique can make or break a GC bid.
Kuss’s role mirrors his 2023 performance: he will sit at Vingegaard’s wheel, sheltering the leader from wind and pacing him over long climbs. On the Col de Portet‑e‑Charcone, Kuss is expected to pull the peloton into a hard tempo, forcing rivals like Tadej Pogačar and Primo Žandár to chase. By keeping Vingegaard in a protected position, Kuss gives the Danish rider the chance to launch a decisive attack in the final kilometers.
The duo’s chemistry has already produced a stage win and a podium finish in the 2024 Tour, and their combined climbing prowess is feared by the competition. Analysts at CyclingNews point out that Vingegaard’s time‑trial strength paired with Kuss’s relentless mountain pacing creates a rare balance of power. If the pair can dominate the upcoming Alpine stages, the overall classification could tilt heavily in Vingegaard’s favor.
The next three stages feature climbs exceeding 2,000 meters, with gradients hitting 9% on average. Rival teams have stacked their rosters with climbers like Romain Bardet and Alejandro López, meaning Kuss will need to work harder than ever to control the tempo. Additionally, weather forecasts predict rain on the Col du Tourmalet, a factor that could make the road treacherous and test Kuss’s bike‑handling skills.
Kuss will ride the remaining mountain stages before shifting to a support role in the final flat circuits. If Vingegaard secures the yellow jersey, Kuss could celebrate a team victory, adding another Grand Tour win to his résumé. Should the race unfold differently, Kuss’s performance will still be measured by his ability to keep the leader in contention through the toughest terrain.
The stage is set, the mountains loom, and Sepp Kuss is back where he belongs-at the front of the pack, pulling Vingegaard toward another possible Tour triumph.