"I was suffering like a pig" - Visma uncover cycling's new climbing super-talent, guiding Jonas Vingegaard to Giro victory

Team Visma | Lease a Bike bet big this winter on riders from smaller teams, trying to increase their level out of a bigger focus on nutrition and training. They hit the jackpot with Davide Piganzoli who is racing the Giro d'Italia at an incredibly high level, and becoming Jonas Vingegaard's new right-hand man.

Already on stage 2 the former Polti rider launched the Dane's attack on the Bulgarian hills, impressing from the start, but it only went up from there. Piganzoli put in a big stint at the front on Blockhaus; rode to third at Corno alle Scale alongside Vingegaard's own GC rivals; and this Saturday in the Valle d'Aosta the Italian turned himself inside out to deliver the best climbing performance of his career.

"We had a plan and we followed it. It worked 100 per cent. I want to thank the team and especially Jonas. He really is a machine," Piganzoli told Eurosport after the stage. Visma took full responsibility on the race's first multi-mountain stage, to deliver Jonas Vingegaard to a third stage in Pila.

This was the fruit of a long day at the head of the peloton for the Dutch team's men. Even though the attacks only came on the final climb, they certainly did not wait until then to push the pace. "After two hours of racing I was suffering like a pig. We have a truly super-strong team, so we pushed through with the plan. With that, we showed that we are the best team in the race."

Piganzoli, after dropping off Jonas Vingegaard, briefly followed Felix Gall. After dropping back, he then rode to the finish together with Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari - all podium contenders.

His climbing prowess thus far this Giro has already taken him up to the Top10, and even into a position where the white jersey seems to be within reach. However he doesn't feed that individual ambition, stating the race win is the ultimate goal: "I'm not thinking about that. We are focused purely and solely on the pink jersey."

Sepp Kuss made the trip to Italy to be Jonas Vingegaard's main supported in the mountains. The weight is now not as strong on the American's shoulders, as he's become the third most important cog in the wheel.

“We knew how good he is and how much potential he has, but this is the next level from that,” Sepp Kuss told Domestique after the stage. “Hopefully he just keeps taking it day by day and enjoying it. We don’t have any pressure on him, but for sure he can do some really big things as this race goes on.”

Kuss typically improves as the Grand Tours progress, however Piganzoli has stepped in to perfectly fit his role in addition to the American's own good form. Visma is in control of the race in the mountains. “This was only the first true mountain stage, really. It went well, but there are still some even bigger ones to come. We’ll just enjoy this one and stay focused tomorrow. There are some hard days coming.”

Kuss himself contributed greatly to the team's success with his pull on the final climb, and is happy with how the second week's sole mountain stage played out. “We knew how motivated Jonas was for today. All day he said how good he was feeling. For sure he showed it on the last climb.”

Jonas Vingegaard has improved from his illness and stamped his authority once again on his rivals, putting the Dutch team in a comfortable position heading into the final week of the race.

“I think it’s just pressure that he puts on himself because he knows how bad he wants to win and repay the effort. He doesn’t take stock too much of what other people want him to do or expect him to do. He just expects a lot of himself and wants to deliver and compete," Kuss concluded.