After a breakthrough Giro d'Italia where he played a key role supporting race winner Jonas Vingegaard, rising star Davide Piganzoli is set to reprise that role on an even bigger stage this July. Visma-Lease a Bike unveiled its roster for the Tour de France on Tuesday, where the biggest news was that Piganzoli has been chosen to replace Wout van Aert, who was ruled out of the Tour with an elbow injury.
"Marc [Reef, Visma's head of racing] called me a few days ago and it was really special," Piganzoli said during the video announcement of Visma's Tour team. "I have to say that my answer was 'What?! I go to the Tour?' It's amazing."
Most of Visma's lineup for the Tour was already decided, but the selection of Piganzoli to fill in for Van Aert came a few weeks after the 23-year-old Italian rode to eighth overall at the Giro, where he was a constant fixture pulling at the front for Vingegaard in the high mountains. Ben Tulett and Wilco Kelderman were among the other riders in the mix for the open roster spot at the Tour.
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