Fourth high mountain finish of the Giro and fourth victory for Jonas Vingegaard. With his rivals unable to respond to his accelerations: at the finish line Gall is second at 1'07" and in the general classification the Austrian is now 4'03" behind the phenomenal Dane.

«I promised I would win in the pink jersey, and I took the first opportunity I had – explains a happy Vingegaard, 29 years old, with his blonde beard growing day after day -. And then this is a special place for me, not so much in this valley, but I lived for a while in Switzerland».

Vingegaard is certainly at his highest level: «I am very proud of this victory achieved in the pink jersey. It is very important, I have improved day after day here at the Giro and I feel better and better. I am truly happy about it for everything that will come after the Giro. And then winning four stages (he had never won so many in a single edition of a Grand Tour, editor's note), winning in the pink jersey, also having the blue jersey of the climbers: it's all very beautiful».

But is this victory a sort of gift for the King of Denmark, Frederick X, who is celebrating his 58th birthday today? «Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know».

THE PRESS CONFERENCE. He won in his home garden, considering that for a while Jonas Vingegaard lived in Switzerland, not far from Lugano. «I know this area very well, and it was nice to receive the support of Team Galli fans who cheered me on the roadside». The Danish superstar smiles more and more: unstoppable on the climbs, happy and relaxed after the stage in Carì. Four high mountain finishes and four victories, first victory in the pink jersey. Master of the Giro with 4'03" over Austrian Gall, second in the general classification.

Vingegaard, you had promised to win in pink.
«I took the first opportunity I had: because if I had failed, I would have had other options available anyway. We had already planned before the Giro to be able to win here, this was one of those stages. Just like Pila was. Then two days ago we made the final decision to try».

On today's Gazzetta dello Sport your trainer Jacob Verhoeven said that you have returned to your best level, the one before the crash in the Netherlands. It's being said that today's performance was perhaps your best climbing performance.
«Yes, I would say so, perhaps even better than two years ago. Of course, cycling has also evolved. I think I've already said it: the accident penalized me much more than I initially thought, because it took me about two years to get back to the same level. At that moment, when I had the collapse, I was in a phase of strong ascent and my level was improving a lot. And I'm happy to be back at the same level, or perhaps even better».

You won four stages, and there was a rider, Pogacar, who in 2024 won the Giro with six stage victories. Between Andalo tomorrow and Piani di Pezzé and Piancavallo he would reach seven and beat you.
«No, I don't think too much about what happened in history. Now I have four stage victories. Of course, I would like to win another one. But I think I would also be very happy to see my teammate Davide Piganzoli win, perhaps even with the white jersey. That would also be something that would make me very happy. Davide is an exceptional teammate, he's a good guy, he would absolutely do anything for me. And now he's in an excellent position in the standings (8th at 7'57", editor's note). So, if I had to help him a bit, that would be something that would make me very proud».

What does it mean for you to win in Switzerland, in a place you know very well like the Ticino Canton?
«It's certainly very special for me. I stayed for a while near Lugano, and I felt great, I really appreciated the moments I spent here. We also have friends here. So yes, it's really beautiful for me to race on these roads. And winning here is something special».

Thinking about your plan for the Giro d'Italia, do you think you can come out stronger from the pink race?
«I believe so. I think I have somehow evolved and made a step forward during the Giro. Basically, this was fundamentally our whole plan, which is to try to make a further step forward after the Giro. That's what happened to me when I participated in the Tour and then went to the Vuelta: my total power increased. My weight also increased a bit, but that's something I can avoid, of course. So I think for now we're on the right track for the Tour». Pogacar is warned.