Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) drops legendary Pogacar quote after attempting to follow the pink jersey

The day after the time trial around Lake Garda, where the team managed to place three (!) riders in the top twenty despite many setbacks, Visma | Lease a Bike went on the offensive again in the Giro d'Italia. This time it was (again) Attila Valter who represented the killer bees on the attack, eventually securing eighteenth place in the stage results. And he was quite satisfied with that, as it turned out.

"I had good legs today," declared the Hungarian champion in a reaction published on the team website. "I could always focus on being in the right group, where I could ride patiently each time. Due to the presence of some riders with GC ambitions in the chasing group, I could also take a wait-and-see approach."

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Visma | Lease a Bike stands out with Valter, Tratnik aims for the final week

Thanks to his sometimes cautious style, Valter was able to take a breather a bit more often, he indicates. "But then I heard that Pogacar was fast approaching on the penultimate climb. I prepared myself to try to follow him, but logically I had to drop back again a little later. It was a good way to test myself. From then on, it was just a matter of suffering until the finish, but I can look back on my day with satisfaction." After the stage, Valter also posted a humorous message on Instagram, where he described following Pogacar as "I'm gone. I'm dead."

Within the Dutch WorldTour team, Jan Tratnik also looked back with satisfaction on his grueling day in the saddle. "We wanted to fight for it again today," said the Slovenian time trialist in the same statement. "We could have chosen to spend a day in the peloton, but that is never the correct mindset. We tried again, with a great performance from Attila as a result. Personally, I feel I am getting better and better in this Giro. In the last week there are definitely still some opportunities for me to show myself." That sounds hopeful as we head towards the final week!

Must watch: Valter jokes on Instagram about attempt to follow Pogacar