At the start of this Tour de France, Davide Piganzoli was for many just a footnote in the star ensemble of Visma | Lease a Bike. A young Italian, solid, talented, but primarily planned as a helper for Jonas Vingegaard. But with every mountain stage, with every day in the high mountains, the impression grows that there is far more growing up here than a reliable noble helper. By the 9th stage at the latest, a difficult mountain finish, Piganzoli had finally drawn attention to himself: He crossed the finish line just 34 seconds behind Vingegaard - in third place. Behind Felix Gall, he was the strongest rider in the entire field that day. A result that not only surprises, but impresses.
Respect from the captain for Davide Piganzoli
This trend is also reflected in the overall standings. Piganzoli is currently in eighth place, just three and a half minutes behind the podium. For a rider who is only contesting his third Grand Tour, this is more than just a respectable success. It is a statement. And it has not gone unnoticed: Vingegaard himself is said to have already signalled to him that he could ride for himself if he felt strong enough - a sentence that carries weight in a team with clear hierarchies.
In an interview after the 17th stage, the Dane even said that he would give up a stage win for his young team-mate Piganzoli so that he could race for the young rider's jersey. In this classification, he is currently 2:17 minutes behind Afonso Eulálio, who wore the pink jersey for a long time and is now slipping into the white jersey. Looking ahead to the upcoming stages in the high mountains, the time gap is definitely manageable if Davide Piganzoli continues to ride as strongly as he has so far.
A great future?
While Giulio Pellizzari, the great Italian hope, lost a lot of time early on and no longer plays a role in the overall classification, the tifosi are now focussing on Piganzoli. The 23-year-old epitomises exactly what Italian fans have been missing for years: a young, complete rider who can hold his own in the mountains, rides tactically smart and is not afraid of big names. His development seems unagitated but steady - and that is precisely what makes it so exciting.
It remains to be seen whether Davide Piganzoli will mature into a real GC candidate this year. But the question of whether he is the next great Italian tour hope is no longer just a side issue. It is in the air, loud and justified. And with every stage that he survives alongside Vingegaard or even rides at the front, it becomes a little more realistic.
Leon Weidner
Working student
