Giro specialist Nibali gives Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike firm advice ahead of Italian job
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Follow us on GoogleVincenzo Nibali is not convinced that Jonas Vingegaard will simply ride to victory at the Giro d'Italia. The Visma | Lease a Bike leader makes his debut at the race this year — a race Nibali won twice during his own career. The Shark of Messina knows the dangers that lie in wait, even for the heavy favourite.
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Nibali, now 41, speaks from experience when it comes to the Giro. He started the race eleven times in total, winning in 2013 and 2016, and reaching the podium in four further editions — third in 2010 and 2017, second in 2011 and 2019. In eleven appearances, he finished in the top ten nine times.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, Nibali sees Vingegaard as the clear favourite, as does almost everyone else. A two-time Tour de France winner and reigning Vuelta a España champion — the pedigree is undeniable. But three weeks of racing in Italy, Nibali warns, always produce surprises.
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Nibali advises Vingegaard to build a lead early
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Nibali was direct: "Nothing is simple in the Giro, so Vingegaard should make an impact as quickly as possible and try to control the race. Perhaps on day seven, with the finish on top of the Blockhaus. He will want to make differences there."
If Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike leave it until the second half of the Giro — as they did at the 2025 Vuelta — they could find themselves caught out. "There is always the risk of dangerous breakaways, so you want to have some margin over your rivals already."
Weather could also be a factor. "There can be bad conditions, and Vingegaard has the Tour de France to think about as well. If he already has a lead, he can race a little more conservatively. Because in the third week everyone will be exhausted — and in the Giro, nothing is ever decided."
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Nibali hopes for Pellizzari at the Giro
Among Vingegaard's potential rivals, Nibali highlights Egan Bernal, who finished second overall at the Tour of the Alps for INEOS Grenadiers. The winner there was Giulio Pellizzari — Italy's great hope at the Giro for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
Nibali is backing his compatriot. "He has taken a big step forward at last year's Vuelta, with that stage win in the final week. He is developing steadily, but he can challenge for the podium at the Giro. This is the race where stars are born — even when there is one clear favourite."
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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