After three days that primarily suited sprinters and punchers, today marked the first major test for the general classification contenders. The route climbed almost continuously, making effective pacing and strong climbing ability crucial factors.

For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the focus was on a strong performance from Femke de Vries. The Dutch rider had already indicated before the race that she arrived in Italy in excellent form, and she demonstrated that on the steep roads leading to Nevegal. From the first intermediate checkpoints, De Vries rode a steady and controlled time trial. On the long climb, she paced her effort perfectly and was therefore pleased with her performance afterward: “I felt really good. I started calm and could immediately tell that my legs were feeling strong. At first, I thought I was going too slow, but fortunately that wasn’t the case. On the climb, I kept pushing myself and gave everything I had, that was the goal.”

At the finish, her strong ride was rewarded with seventh place among the peloton’s best climbers. In a time trial where time gaps had an immediate impact on the battle for the pink jersey, De Vries proved she can compete with the strongest riders in this year’s Giro. Her performance also moved her into seventh place in the general classification.

Teammate Marion Bunel also delivered a solid time trial. The young French rider had not been feeling her best in recent days but noticed encouraging signs during the climb to Nevegal. “I haven’t felt one hundred percent over the past few days, but I’m happy that I was able to maintain a very consistent pace on the climb,” Bunel said afterward.
Looking ahead to the upcoming mountain stages, she remains confident. “I’m looking forward to the next few days. I’m feeling better and better, and I hope I can help the team in the coming stages.”

For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, De Vries’ performance provides an excellent platform to continue building toward a strong result in the general classification over the coming days. De Vries’ objective is already clear: “My goal for the next few days is to finish as high as possible in the general classification. We’re aiming for a strong top-five finish!”