“I really had the goal to win this race”: Davide Piganzoli delivers first major victory for Visma | Lease a Bike at Route d'Occitanie

Davide Piganzoli secured the biggest victory of his career on Saturday by winning the overall classification at La Route d'Occitanie, sealing the title with an impressive performance on the queen stage to Loudenvielle. The 23-year-old Italian, who joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike ahead of the 2026 season, capped off a strong week in the Pyrenees after already showing his climbing ability at the Giro d'Italia, where he finished eighth overall while supporting Jonas Vingegaard.

The decisive third and final stage featured 172 kilometres of racing and more than 3,400 metres of climbing, including the demanding Hourquette d'Ancizan and Col de Val Louron-Azet. Piganzoli proved the strongest rider in the mountains, taking both the stage victory and the overall title.

The Italian ultimately secured the overall title by 1:51 over Ibon Ruiz, confirming the excellent form he has carried over from the Giro and giving Visma | Lease a Bike another promising option for the future in the mountains.

Piganzoli arrived in France as one of the favourites after an impressive Giro d'Italia and admitted that winning the race had been one of his main objectives. “I recovered really well after the Giro,” Piganzoli said after the finish. “I really had the goal to win this race. We worked really well as a team and I really enjoyed the race.”

The victory represents his first major success since moving to Team Visma | Lease a Bike from Polti VisitMalta. Piganzoli had already shown steady progress in recent years, finishing second overall at the 2025 edition of the race, but this time he managed to take the final step and secure the yellow jersey.

His adaptation to his new team appears to have gone smoothly. Reflecting on his first months with the Dutch squad, Piganzoli highlighted how much he has enjoyed the experience. “I started here in France with the first classic in Ardèche. I saw my activity with the team and I really enjoyed. It's super nice to be here in France with Visma and I really enjoyed the race here today.”

Piganzoli's strong performances recently had led to speculation that he could be called up to Visma | Lease a Bike's Tour de France squad. His name emerged as a possible replacement for Wout van Aert, who was ruled out earlier this week after developing an elbow infection following the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

However, the Italian suggested that a Tour debut is not currently part of his plans. “I have to say that now my programme is just to do Pologne and San Sebastián and maybe in the last part of the year the Italian races,” he explained.

That statement appears to rule out a late call-up for the Tour, with Visma | Lease a Bike expected to announce Van Aert’s replacement on 23 June ahead of the Grand Départ in Barcelona on 4 July. Per Strand Hagenes appears to be the most likely candidate to take Van Aert's spot, according to recent reports.