Meet Davide Piganzoli: Visma | Lease a Bike transfer target and Contador’s big GC hope for the Giro
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Follow us on GoogleTeam Polti VisitMalta is aware of the latest developments, as the first transfer rumors surrounding Davide Piganzoli are emerging. Visma | Lease a Bike is reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old Italian, whose contract expires in 2025 and who has his sights set on the WorldTour. But who is this climber, who has been making a name for himself on the team of Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso for two years now? IDLProCycling.com had a chat with him.
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Piganzoli is the next in line of top talents who (seem to) make an impression from the Italian cycling team to the WorldTour. Vincenzo Albanese now rides for EF Education-EasyPost, and Lorenzo Fortunato is employed by XDS-Astana. They secured impressive victories for Contador and co, just as Piganzoli did in 2024 when he claimed his first professional victories with stage and overall wins in the Tour of Antalya. But his potential was demonstrated in very different races.
When he made the transition from the development team of the then-EOLO-Kometa as a trainee to the pro-continental branch in 2021, he immediately caused a stir. However, together with the team management, it was decided to focus on U23 races in 2022. He finished fifth in the Tour de l'Avenir and became the Italian time trial champion in the U23 category. In 2023, it was time to move up to the next level.
Read more below the photo.
Piganzoli wins in Antalya and impresses behind Pogacar and Pidcock
In his first full year as a pro, Piganzoli finished ninth in the Tour of Hungary and performed even better in the Tour de l'Avenir, finishing third overall. In the Italian fall, he boldly challenged the big boys several times. In 2024, he achieved his first victories in the Tour of Antalya, a top-ten finish in the Tour of the Alps, and his Giro d'Italia debut. Piganzoli immediately finished thirteenth, demonstrating his potential as a stage racer.
In October, his third place in the Giro dell'Emilia, behind Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock, also impressed. With all his results, Piganzoli has established himself as an all-round rider. He climbs well but is also an excellent time trialist. He has a punch for the final, and his third week in the 2024 Giro was his best, demonstrating his ability to recover. Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG turned the Giro d'Italia into a brutal race.
Read more below the photo.
Piganzoli was able to compete with the best riders during the Tour of the Alps
Piganzoli aims for top ten in the Giro d'Italia
After finishing second in O Gran Camiño in 2025 and just outside the top ten in the Tour of the Alps, it is now time for the Giro d'Italia. Piganzoli aims to improve on his 13th place in 2024, so a top-10 finish is a realistic goal. "Before the Tour of the Alps, we trained hard for three weeks at altitude in Tenerife and I made a big step forward physically. Mentally, I also gained a year of experience, which is a lot in cycling when you're only 22 years old."
"Last year I finished thirteenth, so this year I’m aiming for the top 10. In addition, I’d really like to try and go for a stage win," he confirms. Piganzoli is well aware that this is a bigger challenge with a smaller team, using the time trial as an example. He has already put in solid race performances against the clock as a pro, but being on a ProContinental team naturally means he can’t compete with the WorldTour giants, especially when it comes to equipment. "Still, I’ve trained a lot for it, so I hope I’ve made a step forward."
Read more below the photo.
Davide Piganzoli at the 2024 Giro
Contador inspires Piganzoli
The equipment may not be exceptional, but at Polti VisitMalta, the climbers on the team can count on the expertise of Contador and Basso. Piganzoli agrees that they are inspiring sports directors. "They teach us a lot, for example, how to best prepare for a grand tour and maintain your level for three weeks. Having two former top riders on the team is very important because they can explain everything to us."
It could be the difference between 11th and 10th place in May. Piganzoli is not hiding the fact that his legs are in good shape. "I already showed my potential in the Giro last year, and at the end of the year, my watts were truly impressive in some races. But this year, I started with the metrics I discussed at the end of last year. So I'm confident that I've really grown this winter in the run-up to the Giro. I have a lot of confidence in myself and in the team."
Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026