Vingegaard's textbook climbing tactics and a final week full of opportunities – Philippa York's Giro d'Italia analysis

Jonas Vingegaard continues to assert his dominance in the Giro d’Italia, particularly on the mountain stages where his climbing prowess and tactical acumen set him apart from his rivals. His well-timed attacks, typically launched several kilometres from the summit, allow him to conserve energy for the final push, a strategy that has been executed with textbook precision by the Visma-Lease a Bike team. With the penultimate stage featuring a challenging mountain finish, Vingegaard appears poised to consolidate his lead unless he opts to support his young teammate Davide Piganzoli, who has been instrumental in setting a strong pace and could be rewarded with a stage victory. The race’s design, featuring fewer brutally demanding mountain stages in the latter half, has opened up opportunities for breakaways and aggressive racing from non-GC contenders. This shift has encouraged teams like Movistar and Uno-X to invest heavily in breakaway efforts, recognising that with the sprinters largely eliminated from contention, the race is more open for opportunists. Alec Segaert’s surprise win on stage 12 exemplifies the unpredictable nature of these stages, while the sprint finishes have been less straightforward, as seen with Lidl-Trek’s struggles to control the final circuits and secure victories. Competition for the remaining podium places and the white jersey for best young rider remains intense. Felix Gall is currently the most likely challenger for second place but is cautious about matching Vingegaard’s attacks, aware of the physical toll it would take. Meanwhile, riders such as Thymen Arensman and Jai Hindley are maintaining steady performances, while Afonso Eulálio, who had been a strong contender for the white jersey, is showing signs of fatigue despite support from Damiano Caruso. This opens the door for Piganzoli to make a significant impact in the young rider classification. The points classification battle has added another layer of intrigue, with Jhonatan Narváez closing in on Paul Magnier as the race approaches its final stages. With only one guaranteed sprint finish remaining in Rome, Magnier’s Soudal-QuickStep team is likely to focus on controlling breakaways to protect his lead. The remaining five stages, including two mountain days and two more open courses, promise further tactical battles and opportunities for aggressive racing, ensuring the Giro’s closing week will be far from predictable.