“This is really incredible”, the 29-year-old rider says afterward. “My teammates and I were extremely motivated. We had set ourselves the goal of winning a stage in the pink jersey during the final week of this Giro d’Italia. We seized the first opportunity with both hands.”

The riders in yellow and black did so by taking control of the race right from the start in Bellinzona. Several groups attempted unsuccessfully to form the breakaway of the day. Eventually, five riders managed to go clear, but Team Visma | Lease a Bike didn’t allow the attackers to gain a significant lead. After strong work from Timo Kielich, Tim Rex, and Bart Lemmen, Victor Campenaerts set a fierce pace on the final climb.

On the way to the summit finish in Carì, the attackers were reeled in, leaving only a select group of favorites at the front. Vingegaard then launched his attack with just over six kilometers remaining. With a lead of more than a minute, the Dane eventually crossed the finish line. In doing so, he strengthened his leading position in the general classification. Teammate Davide Piganzoli moved up to eighth overall.

“It was a beautiful but demanding final climb. The team did an amazing job today. We stayed attentive from the start and never really gave the breakaway a chance. We rode the final climb at a very high pace, and after that I had to finish it off. I’m happy that I could once again repay my teammates for all their hard work”, Vingegaard concludes.

It marks the first time in Vingegaard’s career that he has won four stages in the same Grand Tour. Another difficult stage awaits tomorrow in northern Italy, with the peloton set to finish in Andalo after 202 kilometers.