'Most important we win GC, it's not a goal to dominate' – Emulating Pogačar's all-conquering Giro d'Italia not a focus for Jonas Vingegaard with pink as priority

Jonas Vingegaard is approaching the 2026 Giro d’Italia with a clear focus on securing the overall General Classification (GC) victory rather than attempting to replicate the dominant style of his rival Tadej Pogačar. While Pogačar’s 2024 Giro debut was marked by an extraordinary level of control—winning six stages and holding the pink jersey from early on with a record margin—Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike team are prioritising endurance and strategy over outright domination. Their aim is to win the race overall, with stage wins seen as secondary bonuses rather than primary objectives. Visma’s sports director, Marc Reef, emphasised the importance of managing energy and adapting to the unpredictable nature of a three-week Grand Tour. He highlighted that while the team would like to add a few more stage victories, the ultimate goal remains the GC title. Reef also pointed out that the race often changes dramatically in the later stages, referencing recent editions where the standings shifted on the penultimate day. This measured approach reflects Vingegaard’s style, which contrasts with Pogačar’s aggressive and prolific stage-winning record. Vingegaard, who has twice beaten Pogačar at the Tour de France, has demonstrated his ability to win stages but has never matched his rival’s prolific rate of victories. His most successful Grand Tour campaign in terms of stage wins came at last year’s Vuelta a España, where he took three stages en route to the overall win. Reef noted that Vingegaard’s motivation is centred on winning and showing the results of his hard work, with the Giro serving as a crucial step towards the ambitious goal of completing the Giro-Tour double—a feat Pogačar managed two years prior. The recent stage atop Blockhaus confirmed Vingegaard’s status as a leading contender, supported by a strong team including riders like Davide Piganzoli and Sepp Kuss. However, Reef acknowledged that rivals such as Felix Gall remain close challengers, with Gall lying just 19 seconds behind Vingegaard in the GC. The upcoming second week of the Giro, particularly the time trial on stage 10, is expected to be pivotal in shaping the race’s hierarchy. The time trial could expose weaknesses in current race leader Afonso Eulálio and potentially allow Vingegaard to take firm control of the pink jersey. Looking ahead, Visma’s strategy remains flexible but focused on the ultimate prize. Reef stressed that while careful planning is essential, the unpredictable nature of the race demands that Vingegaard be ready to respond to any attacks or shifts in momentum. With the defending champion Simon Yates having shown the value of resilience and tactical nous in previous editions, Visma is well-positioned to back Vingegaard’s bid for Giro glory, keeping their sights firmly on the GC win rather than stage dominance.