Jonas Vingegaard has already won three stages on his Giro d'Italia debut and holds a commanding lead of nearly two and a half minutes heading into the final week. Despite conserving energy for the Tour de France, the 29-year-old Dane says he wants at least one more stage win.
"I want to honor this race," Vingegaard told reporters on Monday's rest day. "Now I have the pink jersey, and I also want to try to win a stage in the pink jersey. For me, that would be a special feeling."
Vingegaard's three victories have all come at summit finishes, with three mountain stages remaining. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider took the overall lead from Afonso Eulalio after stage 14.
Despite his dominance, Vingegaard remains cautious. "The race is not over before it's over," he cautioned. "Everything can happen. I can have a bad day, I can crash, I can get sick."
The Tour de France, which Vingegaard has won twice, starts July 5. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar is expected to provide a stiff challenge, making the Giro a key part of Vingegaard's preparation.