Jonas Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike Target Giro d'Italia

Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike team appeared ready to take control of the Giro d'Italia ahead of the first five-star-rated mountain stage around Val d'Aosta, scheduled for Saturday. Vingegaard, riding with a time deficit of just 33 seconds behind maglia rosa holder Afonso Eulálio from Bahrain Victorious, has let others fight for stage victories while focusing on the overall win in the Giro.

Following stage 13 to Verbania, Vingegaard expressed confidence in both his physical and mental readiness for the mountainous challenges ahead. "I'm ready, so is the team," he stated, emphasizing the importance of gaining the pink jersey by the end of the Giro. "Every day you wear a leader's jersey is an honour."

Sepp Kuss, a loyal teammate, noted that while he has had a quiet race thus far, the team is strategically poised to assert its dominance during stage 14. "It's the right time to take the pink jersey. We wouldn't turn it down," Kuss told Cyclingnews, acknowledging the challenges posed by Eulálio but affirming the focus on their performance in the race. He remarked on the significance of the short yet taxing stage to Pila, which includes several classified climbs.

Team directeur sportif Marc Reef remained cautiously optimistic but was prepared for action on stage 14. He noted, "If we take it on Saturday, it would be good. It's the first of four really hard mountain days." Reef also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Giro, recalling previous years when the leader's jersey changed hands in the final stages. He emphasized the need for vigilance, observing how quickly scenarios can shift in the race.

With the Tour de France approaching, Vingegaard's strategy involves precise effort management, reflecting lessons learned from both triumph and disappointment in past Giro contests. Through careful planning and strategic racing, Visma-Lease a Bike aimed to secure not only the pink jersey but also overall victory in Rome.