Making history, pink jerseys and a childhood holiday: Vingegaard sets the scene ahead of his Giro debut

Rome wasn't built in a day — and in 2026, not all roads lead there just yet, but from Bulgaria the signposts are already clear: every one is watching Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma | Lease a Bike squad. The Dane explained how he is feeling on Wednesday evening in Burgas.

While most riders in the peloton are experiencing Bulgaria for the first time, the top favourite already has a head start — and used it to win a few local hearts. "When I was young, I once went on holiday here on the Black Sea coast. Somewhere along the coast — where exactly, I honestly can't remember. What I do know? It was on the beach, and it was fun."

What the rest of the field can expect is a sea of black and yellow. "It's going to be three tough weeks, and unpredictable ones too," Vingegaard summarised. "There are a lot of strong riders at the start and we have done everything we can to be at our best — but we are not underestimating anyone."

"I am here to win the race. The Giro is a big, important race that I have always watched with admiration, but never ridden. Being at the start with a genuine chance of winning it is already something special. That is our goal. It brings pressure, but no more than usual. That pressure comes mainly from myself."

Vingegaard will also ride the Tour de France in July — but stresses that it is not yet on his mind. "First, the Giro," says the man who has won the Tour twice and the Vuelta once. A victory in Italy would put his name alongside Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali — the only riders to have won all three Grand Tours.

"It would be something very special if it comes off, because there are seven great champions on that list. If I can add myself to it, that would be a dream come true. Actually, not even a dream — I could never have expected this to be possible."

"The times I rode the Vuelta after the Tour, I was always stronger in the Vuelta. After five years of doing the same thing I needed a change — and it might just work out well," the Dane reflected. "And if you ask my daughter, I think she'd say she finds pink even prettier than yellow. But I'm not choosing between the Grand Tours," he laughed — in noticeably good spirits in Burgas.

Understandably so, given what he had to say. "I'm in good form. Rumours that I've been ill? That's not quite right. After Catalonia — which was already five weeks ago — I took two days off the bike with a minor cold. That was all. That period was already a quiet one anyway. The build-up has been really good and I feel even better than I did in my last race."