Kuss does not seem to agree with opinions about 'new' Vingegaard: "He doesn't always get to show it"

First up was Kuss himself, who was returning to racing after almost two months. "I'm doing well," the American told CyclingProNet about his form. "I feel good, and I'm ready to enjoy the race. Today will be a hard stage, especially with the difficult first part,” said Kuss about the third stage, from Brioude to Charantonnay. “I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend to see where we stand."

According to the climber from Durango, the preparations for the Dauphiné are going well. Visma | Lease a Bike traveled to the French stage race with a very strong team. "We have trained a lot with the team, and everyone is in good shape. We had some really good training rides and a good atmosphere, so no complaints there."

Kuss is clear about his own goals. "I'm just trying to enjoy this race and get the feeling of competing back. I know how tough the Dauphiné is, just to get through it. I'll do my best in the weekend stages and then see where I am, but the tough stages in the Tour are still a few weeks away."

With Vingegaard at the start, Visma | Lease a Bike has a clear leader in the Dauphiné. The Dane immediately made his presence felt in the first stage on Sunday, to the surprise of many. "He always has a decent kick, but he doesn't always get to show it,” Kuss laughs. “I think that first stage was really intense, especially on that last climb. If you have the legs, you can accelerate over the top. We've seen that the strongest riders in this race can do that. It just confirms how well Vingegaard is doing."

Not only his racing style but also the seemingly relaxed impression of the Dane caught the eye of many. "He always looks pretty relaxed," says Kuss. "He's focused and won the Dauphiné before, so he knows what it means to win heading into the Tour. I'm sure he's trying to enjoy it too. He's in good shape, and when there's a tough moment like Sunday, it's never wrong to try it. It gives him confidence after not racing for a while. All signs point to him being on the right track."