Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike head to Italy with a confidence boost — and face masks

Visma | Lease a Bike and Jonas Vingegaard can look back on a successful opening weekend at the Giro d'Italia. The yellow-and-black squad stayed out of trouble as much as possible, and on day two Vingegaard was already going on the attack. The one blemish was Wilco Kelderman's heavy crash — though the Dutchman is making the trip to Italy with the rest of the team.

"The final Giro stage on Bulgarian soil passed without incident," Visma | Lease a Bike wrote on their official channels. Sports director Marc Reef was able to reflect on the three days outside Italy with a sense of satisfaction.

On day one, Reef saw a "calculated risk" taken and managed well; on day two, an attacking Vingegaard; and on day three, a team that came through cleanly. "The goal was to get through the opening stages safely. With Jonas, that went well."

Reef had described stage 2's finale as "a strong finish" from leader Vingegaard. "That gives a lot of confidence for the rest of this race. The downside is that Wilco went down hard in stage 2. We'll have to see how that develops over the coming days."

The Dutchman came across the finish line on Saturday badly cut up, but he did get back on his bike on Sunday. Kelderman even managed to finish in the front group, though his injuries will no doubt be making themselves felt during Monday's rest day in Italy.

"All in all, we're in a good position and we're looking forward to the rest of the Giro in Italy," Reef concluded ahead of the team's departure for southern Italy, where stage 4 takes place on Tuesday — a potentially explosive stage with crosswinds in the forecast. First, though, a day's rest in the home of the Giro.

Speaking to Danish cycling outlet Feltet after stage 3, Vingegaard briefly touched on the journey from Bulgaria to Italy. "I've packed my face mask and hand sanitiser," he said. He is also hoping for better hotels in Italy. "Last night was the first time I've slept well."

"There was a lot of noise in the first hotel, but that's part of it. That's no problem really. Bulgaria was fine. The people created a good atmosphere, but there were a lot of crashes. The roads here are a bit more dangerous than elsewhere, but that's just how it is. I'm glad we've done it."