Despite going from super domestique to Grand tour winner last summer in the Vuelta España with the biggest win of his career, Seppuku (Visma-leased bike) still holds firmly that the Tour de France leadership is another beast.

Kuss agreed with what Visma DS Grischa Niermann told Cyclingnews yesterday, sticking to Plan A and saying he hopes jonas Vingegaard will return from injury in time for the tour to lead the Dutch team.

Americans believe that Visma-Lease renting a bike to win the 3rd Tour de France in a row is "most likely" only with Vingegaard at the start line.

Twice defending champion Vingegaard is currently in the altitude camp of Tignes on his long journey back from injury and Kuss Visma at Critérium du Dauphiné with US compatriot Matteo Jorgenson

"Of course it will change a bit [his tour status]. I hope Jonas can do the tour, I think it gives us all a great purpose," Kuss told reporters at Gannat ahead of Stage 2 in France.

"It's certainly easier for me to be with Jonas than to be alone. But if he's not there, I'm ready to adapt, but you have to adjust your expectations a bit.

But without his leader and last year's winner, there is no stress at the moment from the Americans Vingegaard Dauphine and just 26 days ahead of the tour.

In fact, he only exuded composure on the opening two stages of the eight-day race and almost missed Stage 1's départ fictif to respond to the media, hoping to enjoy his first race since itzulia Basque Country, where Vingegaard suffered broken collarbones and ribs and collapsed lungs. "I'm not going to let that happen."

Kuss also tried not to pigeon-hole himself for certain goals at the Tour de France, recognizing that Vingegaard's still undecided presence would change everything.

"I don't know," he replied with a smile when asked how high he could finish if he was tasked with taking on something like Tadej Pogağar (UAE Team Emirates) overall.

"It depends on so many things. I always want the best shots, but on tour it has to be realistic," Kuss said. "It's the hardest race to win and the hardest race to stand on the podium.

However, Cuss did not want to predict how his current form will carry to the Grand Departmental in Florence on 6/29, but he said

"I just have to see in the moment how I feel and I think I know myself well enough -" Whether I have a foot or not, it

"If I have the opportunity, I will go for it."

Kuss finished with a group of leaders in Stage 2 of the Dauphine, and Jorgenson was on the 3rd overall as a pair challenge for an overall victory.

However, despite his outstanding climb, Kuss said that the 4km time trial at Stage 34 was his strength. "I could lose quite a bit of time."

And while the American defended his Vuelta lead at TT last year, this disadvantage on the way to secure the first grand tour victory in the United States for a decade

He is suitable for most of the 2024 parkour, but with a flat race with the clock in stage 7. The 59km between the final time trial from Monaco to Nice will only compete in the hands of Poganyal, Primoš Logric (Bora Hansgrohe) and Lemco Evenepoel (Sudar Quick Step).

Cox's best result on the tour was 12th overall from last year's race, and only a crash in stage 20 denied him a top 10 finish.

In that race, vingegaard cruelly dominated the tough, boiling hot Côte de Domancie it and placed him as the only viable Visma option against top-form Poganyar after Slovenia blitzed the GC field in last month's Giro d'Italia time trial. .

Not to mention his repeated dominance over Pogagnard's most difficult and longest climb to heights in the past 2 editions of La Grande Boucle

"GCX" could still be the main choice, but the focus at Visma is certainly their full leader, Vingegaard. While nearly 100% are trying to claim a Tour de France hat・trick back, in the process Pogagnard has denied the historic Giro Tour double.