“This is one of the victories I will remember for a long time,” Vingegaard reflected afterwards. “I didn’t have a specific plan about when I wanted to attack, but I knew the final part of the climb was steeper. That’s where I really wanted to try and make the difference. I felt strong today and it’s great to start tomorrow in the pink jersey.”

In the fourteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia, the Dutch team immediately showed itself at the front of the race. In the short but extremely demanding stage, Team Visma | Lease a Bike set a high pace early on in support of team leader Vingegaard, preventing the early breakaway from playing a major role in the battle for the stage win.

Approaching the final climb, strong teamwork saw the pace increase significantly. Vingegaard received the perfect lead-out on the decisive climb of the day, after which the Dane launched his attack and delivered a powerful ride on the ascent to Pila. The 29-year-old rider eventually soloed to victory and also claimed the pink jersey.

After the finish, Vingegaard also praised his teammates: “I’m incredibly proud of the team. They controlled the entire stage and everyone did a fantastic job. This victory belongs to the team; they all deserved it.”

Sports director Marc Reef was equally proud of the team’s performance. “The goal was to win the stage today. The guys did an amazing job. As a team, we showed how strong we are. Winning the stage and taking over the lead in the general classification is very special. We are in a good position, but nothing has been decided yet. We will stay focused every single day.”