Tim Rex and Visma-Lease a Bike's control and sacrifice delivers maglia rosa to Jonas Vingegaard - 'Face would get you a job haunting houses'
Published 23/05/2026 at 18:53 GMT+1
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Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike team produced a lesson in ruthless efficiency to win Stage 14 on Saturday and take leadership of the Giro d’Italia.
'Not even out of breath' - Controlled and clinical Vingegaard and Visma make big impression
Video credit: TNT Sports
During what was widely viewed as the first true GC test of the race, Visma controlled the peloton from kilometre zero - as they allowed a breakaway to form but never let it off the leash.
Visma upped the tempo as the stage progressed, with Tim Rex delivering one of the images of the year with his pained expression during a huge turn at the front of the peloton.
After Rex had done his turn, yellow jersey after yellow jersey took up the tempo as the break was reeled in.
Sepp Kuss’ spell at the front broke the maglia rosa as Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) lost contact and with it leadership of the race.
A huge effort from Davide Piganzoli thinned out the lead group further and laid the platform for Vingegaard’s decisive attack in the final five kilometres.
Vingegaard pulled the pin and went solo for victory to take the maglia rosa, in all likelihood for the remainder of the race as he chases a maiden Giro title.
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Highlights: Vingegaard powers away to win Stage 14 and take maglia rosa
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was huge effort from the Dane and his team and it made a big impression on the TNT Sports crew in The Breakaway.
”Such an impressive day from the whole team and certainly for this man [Vingegaard],” Orla Chennaoui said on TNT Sports. ”What staggers me is he comes to the line not even out of breath. He makes it look easy.”
In response, 12-time Giro stage winner Robbie McEwen said: ”It was controlled. The team was clinical all day. They had control of the situation the entire day and could choose their moments, and Jonas chose when he wanted to go.
”You saw behind, the heads did not quite bow. But they just went, 'There it goes, we’ll make our way to the finish.’”
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Matt Stephens picked out the effort of Rex for special praise.
He said: ”Across the board the team were amazing but a special shout out to Tim Rex, the way he took the race up.
”I think he’s learnt a lot about himself. Riders, when they have to step up and ride like this will find out new things about how deep they can go.”
With images of Rex’s pained expression playing out, Stephens continued: ”This lad has turned himself inside out. He is not known as a mountain climber.”
”Hang it in the Louvre,” commented Chennaoui.
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'A very nice feeling' - Vingegaard fulfils dream as he takes over maglia rosa
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stephens continued: ”Robbie is right about how they clinically set about this race, but there is nothing clinical about that. That is just romance. That is an example of sacrifice.
”Emptied the tank.”
McEwen added: ”I don't know about romance but that face would get you a job haunting houses. He is in such pain.”
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