The fourth day in Italy was all about the final climb, the legendary Passo dello Stelvio. "We had a good plan for today, and it worked perfectly. Per Strand Hagenes was part of the early breakaway, and when we arrived at the foot of the Stelvio, Staune-Mittet, Tijmen Graat and Menno Huising were still well in front of the already thinned-out peloton”, sports director Robert Wagner said.

"In the end, I was left with a few riders”, Staune-Mittet added. "In the last few kilometres, it didn't seem to go that fast anymore. It was more about attacking back and forth in the final hairpins. Then I realised I could win.” In a sprint-a-deux with Alexy Faure Prost, the Norwegian proved the strongest. "It's so special. The Stelvio is a legendary climb in cycling. I've worked so hard for this. I had this stage circled red on my agenda for a long time.”

Wagner underlined his rider's words. "Johannes has won a few races in the last few years, but this is legendary. If you can win the Giro Next Gen on the Stelvio, you have a great future. It is great for him to be the best here at an altitude of over 2,700 metres. This is perhaps his most beautiful victory.”

"It is certainly one of the best”, the 21-year-old Jumbo-Visma Development Team rider said. Staune-Mittet will be wearing the pink leader's jersey tomorrow. "I'm looking forward to pinning my number on tomorrow and riding around in the pink jersey. It will be great. I also have to thank my teammates and the staff. Without them, today would not have been possible; it was a great team effort.”

There are still four stages to go in the eight-day stage race. Securing the final classification is the goal of the Jumbo-Visma Development Team. "We dreamed of this. It is fantastic that we have achieved it”, Wagner beamed. "We will do everything possible to bring the pink jersey to Trieste. We already have a good plan for tomorrow's stage.”