Vingegaard downplays Giro dominance ahead of key summit finish: 'I'm not in the lead'

There has been plenty of talk around Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) leading the mountains classification ahead of the 42km individual time trial on the other side of the rest day. Before then, the peloton will tackle the second summit finish of the race on Sunday's ninth stage, where there are plenty of mountain points on offer. 

If Vingegaard still leads the classification, the Dane will likely have to ride in a skinsuit supplied by the race organisers rather than his specific kit designed by his team, with teammate Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike) making his feelings on the matter clear. 

Vingegaard, unconcerned by the dilemma, was asked if the plan was to let those who are close in the classification, including Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti VisitMalta), who sits one point behind, into the breakaway to get points to take the jersey off his shoulders. 

“Well, I mean, as I said yesterday, for me, it's nice to have the blue jersey. It's nice to have a jersey to ride in, and I'm happy for every day I can have a leader's jersey,” Vingegaard told reporters. 

The Danish star was asked if the impetus was on Visma | Lease a Bike to control the stage, but Vingegaard suggested that there are plenty of other teams who could be looking to do something as well. 

“I mean, I don't think we're the only team here. There are a lot of other teams, so we're not the only ones to decide, but yeah, I guess you guys will see what our plan will be,” said Vingegaard.

With a summit finish on the horizon, it is not out of the equation that Vingegaard could also find himself closer to Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious) and the pink jersey at the end of the stage. The final climb to Corno alle Scale is one that Vingegaard isn’t particularly familiar with. The Dane, however, does expect a tough test before the second rest day. 

“I haven't seen it before, only on paper. So, yeah, it will be quite interesting. It looks like a very hard climb in the end,” said Vingegaard.

Despite winning on Blockhaus as the pre-race favourite, Vingegaard also dismissed the idea that he would simply dominate the race from here on out and suggested that the Giro remains open.

“No, I think it's still quite an open race. I'm not in the lead. So obviously it's still open,” said Vingegaard. “I don't have the biggest lead over the other GC guys yet, so in my opinion, it's still quite open.”

On whether he feels he is at his best level, Vingegaard kept his cards close to his chest, suggesting that his legs will do the talking.

“I think I'm in a very good place for sure,” said Vingegaard. “I mean, this we will see later on if I'm in the best version or not.”