As Jumbo-Visma domestique Sepp Kuss found himself leading the General Classification of La Vuelta a España this month, Tour of the Gila reflected on our race’s role in professional cyclists’ escalation to grand tour teams.

And now, with Kuss leaving La Vuelta with the maillot rojo on his back, we recall the memory of his rides. Kuss first raced Tour of the Gila in 2016 and placed 8th overall at Tour of the Gila the following year. He made history in 2023 as the first male US Grand Tour winner since Chris Horner (who has also ridden Tour of the Gila) won the same race a decade ago.

Asked in 2016 about Tour of the Gila as a showcase for young riders, Kuss said, “Being able to ride in bigger races like this is incredible. You always want to be challenged with top-end competition. The Gila is a testament to that. All the best riders come.”

The interview below was conducted ahead of the stage five Gila Monster Road Race, and especially as the cycling community prepares for our gran fondo on some of the same roads, some wonder now what Kuss would’ve said at the finish line of our famously challenging course.

Click here to watch another interview that Tour of the Gila conducted when American cycling fans were just getting to know Kuss. In this video, he appears at the start of stage two in the Tour of the Gila Best Young Rider Jersey.