'It's a special day for our team' - Jonas Vingegaard celebrates Sepp Kuss' stage victory but remains focused for final Giro d'Italia mountain stage

Jonas Vingegaard expressed immense pride as Sepp Kuss secured victory on stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia, marking a significant milestone for the American rider. Kuss, a steadfast mountain domestique who has supported Vingegaard through multiple Grand Tour triumphs, finally claimed a stage win in all three Grand Tours. With Vingegaard comfortably leading the general classification, the Visma-Lease a Bike team tactically allowed Kuss to seize this opportunity, celebrating the achievement as a special moment for the squad. Vingegaard highlighted Kuss’s unwavering loyalty and selflessness throughout their partnership, emphasising how the victory was well deserved. He described Kuss as an exceptional teammate who consistently sacrifices his own ambitions for the benefit of the team and praised the completion of Kuss’s Grand Tour stage win trilogy as a crowning achievement. The stage win not only rewards Kuss’s dedication but also strengthens the bond within the Visma-Lease a Bike team, which Vingegaard lauded as a “dream team” given their dominant performance so far in the Giro. Despite the celebrations, Vingegaard remains firmly focused on the remaining challenges, particularly the final mountain stage to Piancavallo. With a commanding lead of over four minutes ahead of Felix Gall, he is intent on defending the maglia rosa and securing overall victory in Rome. Vingegaard also acknowledged the strong showing of teammate Davide Piganzoli, who is in contention for the white jersey and has demonstrated promising form in recent stages, signalling potential for further team success. The Visma-Lease a Bike squad’s control over the race has been evident throughout the three weeks, capitalising on rivals’ misfortunes and maintaining a consistent level of performance. Vingegaard stressed the unpredictable nature of cycling, noting that plans do not always unfold perfectly, but his determination to maintain focus until the very end remains unwavering. With just a few stages left, the team’s strategy and resilience will be crucial as they aim to conclude the Giro d’Italia on a high note.