Teamwork and tactics: Visma | LaB has a game plan for the rest of the Giro and it's paying off

Olav Kooij, Robert Gesink, Christophe Laporte and Cian Uijtdebroeks are out, but that doesn't mean Visma | Lease a Bike will go into hiding for the rest of the Giro. On the contrary, the team made their presence known again on Friday: Tim van Dijke impressively finished fourth in a bunch sprint won by Jonathan Milan.

Van Dijke was originally one of the key riders working for Kooij, but the Naples stage winner is now out and back at home. Watching from his couch, he saw his Dutch compatriot contesting the front positions. "It's thanks to Edoardo Affini that I got into a good position in the final," Van Dijke said afterward. Affini and Van Dijke had already made a name for themselves a few days ago by spending the entire day in the breakaway together.

"Together with him, I worked my way through the peloton from the back. It's great to see that despite various setbacks, we don't let ourselves get discouraged," Van Dijke concluded on behalf of the remaining riders, which also includes Jan Tratnik and Attila Valter.

Visma | Lease a Bike approaches every Giro stage with specific goal

"We start every day with a goal. We always pursue that specific goal with one hundred percent effort. Today we aimed for a sprint, tomorrow in the time trial Edoardo wants to achieve a good result. Next week, I hope to be able to sprint again in the final stage towards Rome," he clarified.

"If everything falls into place, we might come close to a podium finish again. Today we were very close. It has certainly boosted our confidence," said the ever-realistic and outspoken Van Dijke, still competing in his first grand tour after a busy spring season with almost all the classics.