Van Aert, Kooij, and Yates impress: According to the Italian press, Visma is writing "stories that will never be forgotten"

Let's start with Belgium. Renaat Schotte reflects on the Giro d'Italia on Sporza. "He's in a new environment, which in itself is not spectacular. But he's joined Richard Plugge's team, which sets the standard when it comes to performing in Grand Tours," he says of Simon Yates, winner of the Giro.

"They already had seven to their name, so this is the team's eighth overall victory in a Grand Tour," the Belgian analyst continues. "It's not that Yates has suddenly become a completely different rider, but his environment has changed. And that has allowed him to achieve something extra."

In addition to the overall victory, the Dutch team also won stages with Van Aert and Kooij. "That team is in a winning mood. Kooij won two stages, and Wout's victory was fantastic in Siena. He also played a great role in the lead-out yesterday after receiving a great setup from Affini. The team's motto is winning together. And that proved to be the case once again."

It's not just in Belgium that they are impressed by the performances of Yates and co; the Spanish Sport.es also has words of praise. "Simon didn't get nervous, not once during the entire Giro. He rode discreetly in the peloton but never lost much time and waited for the right moment. He turned the whole race around on the climb to Colle delle Finestre."

"When he put Del Toro and Carapaz behind him, he knew that Van Aert was still ahead of him," the Spanish media outlet continues. "His lead wasn't that big at the top of the climb, but suddenly, there was a superhuman waiting there: Van Aert, who every sports director wants on his team. Yates could count on a team that never failed tactically in this Giro."

The Spanish newspaper AS also speaks highly of Yates's performance, particularly on the Colle delle Finestre. "Yates was not only the smartest for three weeks but also simply the best. Even if no one believes it, just look at the stats on the Finestre. No one else has ever climbed this climb in under an hour."

In Italy, too, there is a lengthy analysis of 'their race'. "Visma | Lease a Bike and the other teams ensured a race full of spectacle. Stories have been written that will never be forgotten. It was a great Giro — and the fact that the Pope called the riders role models for young people around the world completes the picture," writes La Gazzetta dello Sport.