Jonas Vingegaard is the main choose and as we speak it looks like misfortune could also be a larger menace to his possibilities of profitable total than any rival rider.
Lots can come unstuck within the subsequent three weeks and if it’s straightforward to think about the winner, it’s more durable to quote the names alongside him on podium in Rome so right here’s a take a look at Vingegaard’s mission and the opposite contenders.
Solely Tadej Pogačar, workforce mates and misfortune have stopped Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-LAB) profitable stage races in recent times. Within the Slovenian’s absence he ought to be away from the sphere and he’s been fortunate earlier than beginning the race as João Almeida who pushed him shut on the Vuelta final 12 months, and Richard Carapaz who can gamble with assaults whereas different defend, have opted to not race.
As we noticed in Paris-Good his type is to not snipe time bonuses however to assault mid-climb and open up a niche so he can flip a handful of alternatives into minutes of benefit. Technically stable for positioning and descending, he comes with a powerful workforce in service undistracted by dash phases. He’s planning to trip the Tour de France too so will he attempt to win with financial system to be more energizing for July? Solely his workforce nonetheless don’t have a title sponsor for subsequent 12 months and must be seen to win huge to entice any sponsors so one speculation is that they’ll goal for each alternative that Vingegaard or Sep Kuss can conclude; even lending out the maglia rosa mid-race might be a concession and if this concept stands they might steamroller the breakaways on mountain days.
The Giro is a must-win, he’s right here to keep away from basing his season round a confrontation with Pogačar and something lower than the maglia rosa in Rome might be awkward for him and the sponsor quest. He hasn’t raced since mid-March so it’s an enormous assumption is he’s able to go, however he received the Vuelta final 12 months nicely wanting his finest.
Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe convey earlier winner Jai Hindley as co-leader and he’ll quickly be again to the Blockhaus the place he constructed his victory in 2022. His win is fascinating as we speak as a result of to ponder “how did that occur?” is to open the door to tantalising surprises for 2026 too, not only for Hindley however for a number of rival contenders who we battle to see profitable as we speak however in three week’s time it’d all be completely apparent.
Giulio Pellizzari was sixth final 12 months and is fast-improving and blooming into an all-round GC rider who can maintain his personal in time trials when a 12 months in the past he was shedding time. He’d like to win however can equally ignore the Dane to accept second place as this might be an enormous consequence and would delight Italian audiences each for the consequence and the hope it invitations, La Gazzetta dello Sport already manufacturers him la nostra grande speraza, “our nice hope”. In addition they have a Aleksandr Vlasov as a 3rd prong, he’s struggled with accidents final 12 months however this season he appears able to bounce again. This offers them choices however it’ll be laborious to isolate Vingegaard.
With João Almeida off form, UAE convey Adam Yates as their chief when he’s usually been a assist rider, a job he excels in. He’s simply received the Gran Camiño race however the laborious half is to see him getting forward of Vingegaard. The workforce include choices in Jay Vine and Jan Christen however can these two maintain GC challenges? Vine is saying no to this already however he can match the perfect climbers and and rival the perfect time triallists too, however his finest end in a grand tour is thirtieth total, partially as a result of he’s taken on assist roles however it’s not a stretch to think about him going up the street on a mountain stage and being laborious to drag again whereas Yates sits tight. Aged 21, Christen rides his first grand tour and is a energetic prospect with a repute as a person in a rush; he’s been injured this spring however has been posting some spectacular rides to Strava of late.
Felix Gall (Decathlon-CMA CGM) is huge expertise with among the finest lab numbers going however his problem is exploiting this out on the street and never shedding out due to errors with positioning or descending. Fifth within the 2025 Tour de France confirmed us what he can do however there’s a fragile facet for a grand tour problem, plus he’ll dread the 40km time trial stage.
Ben O’Connor was fourth right here in 2024 and like outdated workforce mate Gall a brittle rider but additionally looking out to recuperate the type of his final 12 months at Decathlon-Ag2r. One in all his strengths is stamina and endurance, he’s thrived on marathon phases and lengthy climbs however it is a Giro with brief phases but when issues flip chilly and moist he can thrive when others shiver. He’ll nonetheless cope and he can usually beat expectations for time trials too.
Ineos convey previous winner Egan Bernal however post-accident nonetheless on a protracted path again to victory, even his Vuelta stage win final 12 months was when the end was modified mid-stage due to protest, not his fault however he’s not beating the perfect but, nonetheless he’s trying higher, the problem is to transform this right into a podium end or a stage win alongside the way in which. Thymen Arensman has twice been sixth total within the Giro however a 3rd time could be a disappointment until he can take a stage or two alongside the way in which, he’ll recognize the very long time trial and the comparatively softer third week.
Bahrain convey veteran Damiano Caruso for a valedictory Giro, a resilient rider who appears to cover in plain sight till the third week when he’s all of the sudden a GC contender however aged 38 he’s slower and extra a street captain for Santiago Buitrago who’s aiming for a top-5. Afonso Eulalio is a promising climber to look at too.
Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) was fourth final 12 months when La Gazzetta Dello Sport was branding him il sottomarino, “the submarine”, as he was laborious to identify however at all times among the many fleet of contenders. This 12 months he’s been more durable to identify among the many leads to current weeks however he’ll just like the very long time trial. Giulio Ciccone (pictured) has given up on going for the general as when he tried he’s by no means cracked the top-10 total, however what if this simply eases the stress and he finally ends up well-placed? He may additionally go for the mountains competitors as he packs a great dash on climbs.
Enric Mas (Movistar) begins his fifteenth grand tour however first Giro. He’s usually appeared to make use of the Tour as prep for the Vuelta so looks like an unknown amount for Might, a clean canvas. Is he higher within the second grand tour or is that residence benefit? Will he like this Giro’s Vuelta-like brief distances route? In all probability sure to this query and he’s backed by a stable workforce together with Javier Romo.
Tudor tandem Michael Storer and Mathys Rondel are fascinating for his or her completely different types. Storer appears temperamental and risky for kind as a result of at his finest he can push Vingegaard within the mountains however twice tenth within the Giro exhibits delivering throughout three weeks is tough, whereas Rondel begins his first grand tour and is a shy rider looking for his means.
Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarché) appears to have misplaced his means of late. Stated to be available on the market, the Giro is an efficient store window for his abilities but when he may be again at his finest he’s a punchy rider extra prone to thrill for stage wins than trip to a gentle top-10.
Lastly a point out for Alessandro Pinarello (NSN) who was Pellizzari’s colleague at Bardiani and enhancing too, he’s in kind and in a discipline of simply 41 Italian starters – the bottom ever – one other one for the tifosi to cheer.
