‘I did them proud and I gave it everything’ – Josh Kench goes from racing in China to almost winning a Giro d’Italia stage

Last year, New Zealander Josh Kench was racing in Asia for a third-division Chinese team, competing in races in Uzbekistan, Thailand and the UAE.

It’s quite a contrast to stage 13 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, where the Groupama-FDJ United rider was fighting for his first Grand Tour stage victory.