Jonas Vingegaard begins his quest for cycling history today as the Giro d'Italia gets underway. The Danish star is making his debut at the Italian Grand Tour, aiming to become only the eighth rider ever to win all three major stage races: the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, and the Giro d'Italia.
He enters the three-week race as the clear favorite, a status solidified by the absence of his primary rival, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates. According to DR Sport cycling expert Brian Nygaard, even with a full field, Vingegaard would be the top contender. "There is a level difference between him and everyone else, so it is Vingegaard's Giro to lose," Nygaard stated.
Despite the Danish rider's dominant position, the battle for the podium promises fierce competition. UAE Team Emirates, though missing Pogačar, fields a strong squad including experienced stage racer Adam Yates and Australian climber Jay Vine. Nygaard describes them as a "winning team" that consistently performs at a high level.
Italian hopes rest on 22-year-old Giulio Pellizzari, who rides for the powerful Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team alongside former Giro winner Jai Hindley. Nygaard suggests a podium finish would be the expectation for the young talent, though he notes Pellizzari may lose time to Vingegaard in time trials and mountain stages.
Another contender is Egan Bernal of Netcompany-Ineos. The Colombian, a former Tour de France and Giro winner, has shown promising form following his serious crash in 2022. While a overall victory seems unlikely, Nygaard believes a strong podium challenge is within reach for Bernal and his team, which also includes Dutch climber Thymen Arensman.
The race's first major mountain test arrives on Stage 7, a 244-kilometer leg finishing atop the Blockhaus climb. Nygaard expects Vingegaard to assert his authority there. However, he cautions that winning a Grand Tour demands relentless focus. "He must be attentive on all stages. There are no days where he can just relax and not sit at the front of the peloton. He cannot really make any mistakes over three weeks," the expert explained.
The Giro d'Italia begins with three stages in Bulgaria before moving to Italy, with the first stage starting in the city of Nessebar. Based on reporting from Sport | DR.