Davide Piganzoli realizes his dream and on July 4th will make his Tour de France debut with Vingegaard, with the intention of helping his captain conquer the yellow jersey.

From Morbegno to the Tour de France, the step has been short and for Davide Piganzoli next July 4th will be a date impossible to forget. The young Lombard talent will indeed make his absolute debut at the Grande Boucle wearing the Visma-Lease a Bike jersey, one of the strongest teams in the world, called upon to support Jonas Vingegaard in the challenge to conquer the yellow jersey.

At just 23 years old, Piganzoli will present himself at the start in Barcelona after a season that has definitively established him among the most interesting prospects of Italian cycling. First the eighth place achieved at the Giro d'Italia (best Italian athlete in the general classification, despite having worked to escort the Giro king Vingegaard, ed. note), then the prestigious final victory at the Route d'Occitanie: results that convinced the Dutch team to reward him with a call-up for the most important race on the calendar.

News that arrived almost unexpectedly and that the Valtelline rider welcomed with disbelief. "A few days ago they called me to say I was going to the Tour and it was really special - he said during the team presentation - I have to say my response was like: 'What? I'm going to the Tour!".

A moment that will remain imprinted in his memory forever. As often happens in the most beautiful stories, the first person to share the emotion was the closest one.

"The first person I told was my girlfriend. Then I had to wait a few days before calling my family because I wasn't sure how to tell them".

In the end Piganzoli found an original way to announce the news to his loved ones. "I asked them if they were busy on July 1st. They said no and then I told them: if you're not busy we'll go together to Barcelona, because I'll be racing the Tour de France".

Simple words that tell the full extent of a goal pursued since childhood and that now becomes reality. The Tour arrives at the end of an exceptional first part of the season. At the Giro d'Italia Piganzoli demonstrated maturity, endurance and climbing qualities, managing to finish eighth in the general classification. A result that attracted the attention of insiders and confirmed his value even alongside a champion like Jonas Vingegaard.

On the great Italian mountains the Lombard stood out for determination and spirit of sacrifice, characteristics that made him one of the team's most reliable men.

"I'm really proud of what we did at the Giro - he explained - Even going back home and thinking about how I worked during the Giro is really special and I feel proud of everything that came after as well".

That "after" has a precise name: Route d'Occitanie. On the French roads Piganzoli achieved the most important victory of his young career, a success that gave him additional confidence just weeks before the Tour.

"Winning in Occitania was fantastic, especially because I already knew I was going to the Tour". Extra motivation to push beyond his own limits and present himself at the French appointment with morale at its peak.

Now, however, comes the biggest challenge. At the Tour de France Piganzoli will be called upon to work for Jonas Vingegaard, two-time winner of the Grande Boucle and main rival of Tadej Pogacar in the fight for final victory. For the young Italian it will be an extraordinary opportunity to grow alongside one of the best riders of his generation. An experience to live intensely, without forgetting his own ambitions.

"I just want to do well and my intention is to give the whole team a masterpiece".

A phrase that perfectly captures his approach: putting himself at the service of the collective, contributing to the team's success and learning from the greatest. Alongside Vingegaard and Piganzoli, Visma-Lease a Bike will field a top-level formation composed of Edoardo Affini, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail, Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson and Per Strand Hagenes. A group built to support the Danish champion in the hunt for the yellow jersey and to counter Pogacar's dominance.

For Piganzoli it will be his first Tour de France, but also the first chapter of a story that Italian cycling hopes can become very long. After shining at the Giro d'Italia and conquering the Route d'Occitanie, the talent from Morbegno is ready to measure himself against the most prestigious stage in the world and this time, the dream has become reality.