Giulio Pellizzari on Red Bull's mission to stop Jonas Vingegaard dominating the Giro d'Italia

If Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe and Giulio Pellizzari have anything to say about it, Jonas Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike are going to have a very hard time at the Giro d'Italia. The German team is putting together a formidable squad. And unlike in previous years, they have a team leader who appears to have taken a crucial step forward. The 22-year-old Italian is not prepared to concede defeat before the race has started.

Pellizzari already competed well in two Grand Tours a year ago — but a sixth place at both the Giro and the Vuelta a España left him a few steps short of the very best. At the Vuelta he came up against Vingegaard, and where the Dane went on to win overall, Pellizzari just missed the top five.

"Riding two Grand Tours in one season was quite demanding," he said after winning the Tour of the Alps. In the five-day race through South Tyrol he was the clear best, taking the leader's jersey with a stage win on day two and wrapping things up in style on the final day — riding away on the climb and securing the stage and overall victory on the descent.

"This race has reminded us what we can do at the Giro, as a team too. When I look at Tour of the Alps winners, it was always riders who went on to have great careers," Pellizzari said in various media appearances, including with IDL Pro Cycling. He always had his facts ready — and always made a happy, patient and engaged impression on the press.

His results and his words reflect the hunger of Pellizzari, who showed his hand at the Tour of the Alps when it comes to the steps he has made since 2025. "It's mainly in the mental side. After Tirreno-Adriatico I thought about it quite a bit — I actually wasn't very happy with third place there. I was more disappointed not to have won."

"Maybe I was missing that emotion a little in recent years — that winning mentality," he said openly and honestly. On the final day he repeated those words: that in 2026, nothing less than winning will satisfy him. That attitude also comes with the team leadership he has been given a prominent role in at Red Bull this year.

Now Pellizzari must genuinely give everything every day, stay focused, and waste nothing. "It is very different when you have to perform rather than just get to perform. Last year it was still about wanting to — now I have to. That makes a big difference. I understand better what it means to be a leader because of it. They give everything for me, so I give everything for them. You can no longer say you don't have the legs."

That new mindset extends to the Giro battle with Vingegaard and others. The new Red Bull leader is not shying away from it. "I hope I'm not too far from him. I'm still missing something, so there's still room to improve before the Giro. I hope — for myself, the team and the fans — that the Giro will stay open until the end."

No settling for a top five or a podium place: Pellizzari goes all-in in May. And why not — two sixth places in Grand Tours in 2025 taught him enough. "After the season I didn't touch the bike for a month and started this year at a higher level. I've grown physically and in my approach to racing. And I'm not yet at my best."

After the Tour of the Alps, Pellizzari sought one final altitude boost over six days alongside teammate Gianni Moscon. Then it's packing the bags for Bulgaria. At Red Bull they believe they have done everything to bring the full Giro squad to the right level. "I feel that many people are supporting me. They help me and give me extra motivation — and I hope that will be the case at the Giro too."

On paper, Pellizzari shares the team leadership — primarily with Jai Hindley. The Australian went through the Ardennes Classics as his Giro preparation, and was co-leader alongside Pellizzari at the 2025 Vuelta, where he finished fourth. At the Giro they will have Aleksandr Vlasov and Giovanni Aleotti as climbing support. Aleotti flew at the Tour of the Alps; Vlasov confirmed there that he too has his best legs back.

"We have Giulio for the GC — he is without doubt our best chance. With Aleotti, Hindley and myself we have a strong climbing core; together we go for the best possible result," the Russian said in turn at the Tour of the Alps, also speaking to IDL Pro Cycling. "At the Giro we'll see — it's a long and hard race."

During an altitude camp in March and April, Vlasov got to know his young team leader well. "Giulio is a relaxed guy — I don't think the pressure from Italy reaches him. He's young, but so is everyone these days. I think it'll be fine." Pellizzari, in turn, got a good read on Vlasov. He called him "a friend and a good guy." "We have a nice connection — I enjoy racing with him."

The two became friends on the Teide, and with his experience Vlasov can add a lot to the Giro squad. But he is not purely a domestique, as he made clear when pressed: "I won't immediately give up on the GC — if only as a precaution. In some races I've had the classification in mind too, but more often I'm a helper."