'I want to win the Giro and make history' – Jonas Vingegaard targets Grand Tour trilogy at Giro d'Italia

Jonas Vingegaard arrives at the 2026 Giro d’Italia with a clear and ambitious objective: to claim the maglia rosa in Rome and complete a historic trio of Grand Tour victories. The Visma-Lease a Bike leader emphasised his desire to make history by winning the Giro, a race he has long admired but only recently decided to target. After years of a consistent race programme, Vingegaard sought a fresh challenge, confident that the three-week race will also serve as ideal preparation for the Tour de France later in the season. Despite limited Italian language skills, Vingegaard expressed a deep affection for Italy, recalling fond memories from a training camp in Tuscany early in his career. He hopes to win over the passionate Italian tifosi during what promises to be a fierce general classification battle, particularly against Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Giulio Pellizzari. Vingegaard’s respect for Italian culture and his enthusiasm for the country’s unique energy highlight his personal connection to the race beyond the sporting challenge. Vingegaard’s pursuit of the Giro title would place him among an elite group of cyclists who have won all three Grand Tours, joining legends such as Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Vincenzo Nibali. He acknowledged the looming presence of Tadej Pogačar, the only other rider poised to achieve this feat, but dismissed any rivalry, instead framing their competition as mutual respect. Vingegaard remains confident in his ability to overcome Pogačar, having beaten him in past encounters and anticipating further battles at the Tour de France. In preparation for the Giro, Vingegaard has trained extensively at altitude and studied the route in detail, despite lacking opportunities for reconnaissance rides. He highlighted the unpredictable nature of the race, pointing to key mountain stages such as Blockhaus and the Dolomites as potential decisive moments. While he acknowledged several strong contenders, including Adam Yates and Egan Bernal, Vingegaard stressed the importance of delivering his best performance to secure victory. Reflecting on his recovery from a serious crash in 2024, Vingegaard confirmed he is fully fit but voiced concerns about rider safety and race organisation. If he were UCI President for a day, he would focus less on creating new rules and more on enforcing existing regulations, ensuring race routes are safe and well-maintained. His comments underline ongoing debates within the sport about balancing regulation with rider welfare as he prepares to embark on one of cycling’s most demanding challenges.