Jonas Vingegaard reveals he was hit by illness during Giro d’Italia

Speaking after stage 12, the Dane said he had felt unwell earlier in the race, at a time when illness appeared to be spreading through parts of the peloton.

“I had a little bit of it as well, but that was already before the rest day, so it is behind me now,” Vingegaard said to Eurosport. “It is much better now than it was.”

Reports of sickness in the bunch have circulated in recent days, and Vingegaard confirmed that it has been noticeable inside the race.

“There has been quite a bit in the peloton,” he said. “You can feel that many riders have had something, so it is definitely something you have to be careful with.”

Sports director Marc Reef had already shared his observations with Domestique earlier this week. “After the cold days, I think the whole bunch is dealing sometimes with a small cough or sometimes a bit of sneezing, but I think that’s nothing,” Reef said.

The illness concern also adds context to comments Vingegaard made earlier in the Giro, when the race transferred from Bulgaria to Italy after the opening three stages. At the time, the Dane said he would rather have avoided the long journey and revealed he was taking precautions.

“I would rather have avoided the travel,” Vingegaard said then, adding: “I have brought my mask and hand sanitiser.”

Visma have also had cases within the team, though Vingegaard said the issue had not derailed their Giro plans.

“We have had a little bit, but it is already improving, so it is not something that is stopping us from doing anything.”

For Vingegaard and his team, stage 12 was mainly about staying out of trouble and getting through the day safely. Visma achieved that, even if the stage proved less straightforward than expected.

“We got through safely today, and that was what we wanted,” Vingegaard said. “It became a little harder than we expected, but that is how it is.”

The Dane remains firmly in control of his race despite the brief health concern, with Visma continuing to manage the Giro carefully as the decisive mountain stages approach.