The riders are already in Bulgaria, and on Friday the 2026 Giro d’Italia finally gets underway. This year there is a clear favorite, simply because his palmarès already includes two Tour de France titles and a Vuelta a España – and because in recent years he has been one of the very few riders capable, at times, of keeping Tadej Pogačar in check on the climbs.
Jonas Vingegaard will line up at the Corsa Rosa for the first time in his career, with the clear objective of hitting the jackpot straight away. Bringing the Maglia Rosa back to Denmark would mean completing the Grand Tour set, even ahead of Pogačar. When he’s at his best uphill, he’s virtually untouchable, and between the Alps and Apennines he’ll find terrain perfectly suited to his strengths. Team Visma | Lease a Bike will support him with a strong squad featuring Sepp Kuss, winner of the 2023 Vuelta, along with Davide Piganzoli and Wilco Kelderman, who will act as his key mountain domestiques.
Behind him, there are at least ten riders with realistic ambitions of stepping onto the podium in Rome. In recent weeks, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) has seen his stock rise sharply after winning the Tour of the Alps and delivering a very consistent start to the season. Last year he finished 5th after starting as a domestique for Roglič, but this time he’ll lead the team himself, with Jai Hindley, winner of the 2022 Giro, and Aleksandr Vlasov ready to back him up.
Two riders, meanwhile, have openly stated their ambition to target the podium: Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), 5th at the Tour and 8th at the Vuelta last year, and Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco AlUla), who hasn’t hit top form yet this season but knows exactly how to fight for the top spots in a Grand Tour.
Derek Gee (Lidl-Trek) will aim to improve on last year’s 4th place, while his teammate Giulio Ciccone, on paper, is expected to shelve GC ambitions and focus on stage hunting. A new name and new colors for Ineos Grenadiers (now Netcompany Ineos), who will have a two-pronged attack with Egan Bernal, winner of the 2021 edition and looking lively at the Tour of the Alps, and Thymen Arensman, 6th in both 2023 and 2024. That same race also highlighted Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), who is chasing a breakthrough Grand Tour performance to make the leap to the next level.
Adam Yates will have a golden opportunity to lead UAE Team Emirates-XRG following João Almeida’s withdrawal. The Emirati squad may be missing its top leader, but it still boasts a formidable lineup, with Jay Vine, Jan Christen, and Marc Soler ready to light up the mountain stages. Bahrain Victorious will look to do the same, with team leader Santiago Buitrago supported and guided by veteran Damiano Caruso.
There is also plenty of curiosity surrounding Enric Mas (Movistar Team), making his Giro debut. A four-time Vuelta podium finisher, he has recently struggled with crashes and physical setbacks that have prevented him from performing at his peak. It’s been over a year since he’s shown his very best, but perhaps the Giro’s climbs will allow him to rediscover the level needed to battle with the world’s top climbers.
Unlikely to fight for the overall classification but still riders to watch are Einer Rubio and Javier Romo (Movistar), Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick-Step), Mathys Rondel (Tudor), Harold Martín López (XDS Astana), Chris Harper (Pinarello Q36.5), and Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost).
