Embracing the red leader’s jersey after the eighth stage, the American powerhouse retained his lead throughout the race. Witnessing the pivotal moment in Madrid on a Sunday evening were his teammates Vingegaard and Roglič, who shared the podium with Kuss. “This is like a fairytale. With Primož winning in Italy and Jonas winning in France earlier this year, I wanted to be part of this team chasing the overall victory in the Vuelta. Standing here as the overall winner is something I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams,” remarked for the team’s website an elated Kuss.
Celebrating the triumph, Richard Plugge, the CEO of Team Jumbo-Visma, echoed Kuss’ sentiments, stating, “This is phenomenal. The fact that we are also first, second, and third on the podium makes it truly exceptional…Winning together is not only our slogan but also our trademark.”
Overwhelmed with emotions, Kuss further expressed, “It will take a while for this to sink in. At some point, I felt it was possible. I was getting stronger and more confident every day. When you add that to the team’s strength, you can take on the whole world. I have grown wings in the last few weeks. I am eternally grateful to Jonas, Primož and the others for their support. This is an achievement I will remember for the rest of my life. The same goes for the support of the fans from all over the world. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success story. Together, we have made history.”
The team, which secured 62 victories in 2023, remains humble and driven, with Plugge adding, “Winning the three grand tours with three different riders in the same year is the crowning achievement of the last ten years…We have managed to do it together again.”
The monumental success was further highlighted with a change in the team kit, transitioning from yellow to a striking all-black ensemble embellished with pink, yellow, and red accents, symbolic of the Grand Tour victories that now firmly inscribed Team Jumbo-Visma in the annals of cycling history.
