A homecoming celebration for famed Durango cyclist Sepp Kuss, who became the second-ever American to win the Vuelta a España men’s cycling race in Spain earlier this month, on Oct. 19 at Buckley Park.

The celebration will feature a speech from Kuss and others and a bike parade down Main Avenue, along with live music, food, drinks and Kuss merchandise sales, a city of Durango news release says.

Durango Devo executive director Levi Kurlander said in the release the cycling nonprofit “is proud of all our alumni, and we’re certainly proud of Sepp Kuss!”

“We are honored to host the Vuelta a España champion and Tour de France stage winner and celebrate his achievements in his hometown,” he said.

Kuss’s speech is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Buckley Park. A question-and-answer session will also be held.

The bike parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Buckley Park, head south on Main Avenue to the train station, left, then left on East Second Avenue, and north on East Second Avenue back to Buckley Park.

The party will really kick off at 5:15 p.m. back at Buckley Park following the parade, with autograph signings and live music. The celebration formally ends at 7 p.m. when the park closes, the release says.

The city warns parking will be limited and attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes to the cycling celebration.

Kuss made history by winning the Vuelta a España’s general classification on Sept. 17. The team he competed with, Jumbo-Visma, completed a unique trilogy with Kuss’ final victory in the Vuelta a España, The Durango Herald previously reported. For the first time in cycling history, the same team won all three grand tours in the same season.

cburney@durangoherald.com