Felix Gall: a Giro podium is more than a dream

He’s not a prolific winner – with two professional victories to date – but he is almost always up there, rubbing shoulders with the very best in the world. Month after month, Felix Gall keeps raising his level and getting stronger, especially in the mountains, his natural terrain. This season, he finished 5th overall at the UAE Tour and 6th at the Volta a Catalunya, placing 3rd on the queen stage in the Emirati race and 2nd on the key mountain stage in Catalonia.

All of this builds on a very strong 2025, which established him as one of the top Grand Tour contenders. His 5th place at the Tour de France and 8th at the Vuelta a España confirmed his ability over three weeks. This year, he will change his schedule, targeting the 2026 Giro d’Italia before returning to the Vuelta.

“It’s true, last season was very good, but I think there’s still room to improve,” said the Austrian rider from Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale. “With the Giro and the Vuelta, things change a bit, and the goal is to try to finish on the podium in at least one of the two races. That’s the next step I’ve set for myself in my career, and I believe this could be the right year to achieve it.”

Memories of the Giro

The 28-year-old from Tyrol has raced the Giro only once, in 2022, during his first year with AG2R. Those three weeks were mainly about learning how Grand Tours work; he went on the attack on the Blockhaus stage – which will return in 2026 – and on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo stage, although without securing any notable results.

“It was my first-ever Grand Tour, and I wasn’t anywhere near the level I’ve reached today,” Gall recalls. “That’s why I see this year’s race almost as a new experience, even if I don’t really know what to expect. I’m a bit concerned about bad weather – I definitely prefer the heat – but it will be my first major goal of the season, and I’ll go there aiming to perform at a high level.”

Taking on the best

The feeling is that Gall still has room for improvement. On several occasions, he has shown he is not far off the very best riders in the world. And while, as things stand, Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida are the main favorites for the Giro d’Italia, the Austrian looks like much more than just an outsider.

“It’s true that the Giro favorites might have a little bit more than me, especially in terms of consistency, but I believe in my abilities and, with the right work, I’m convinced I can compete with the very best,” concluded the Decathlon team leader.

Discover The Route 2026!