Just four days before the start of the Tour de France, American cyclist Sepp Kuss, winner of the Return 2023 and a key support rider for Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, will not be present at the start in Florence due to a Covid-19 infection.
A statement from the Visma team announced that Kuss has not fully recovered from the infection and will not participate in the Tour. He has been replaced by Dutch rider Bart Lemmen.
Kuss, a crucial member of the team, particularly in mountain stages, was forced to retire from the Dauphine after the seventh stage due to poor shape.
Despite being part of the original Tour team, Visma’s technicians have decided to give Kuss complete rest for his recovery.
Lemmen, Kuss’s replacement, is 28 years old and new to the Visma team. Although he lacks experience in grand tours, he finished second in the Norway Tour, showcasing his climbing skills.
The Visma team for the Tour will consist of Jonas Vingegaard, Wout Van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Christophe Laporte, Tiesj Benoot, Wilco Kelderman, Jan Tratnik, and Bart Lemmen.
