The 2026 Giro d'Italia is shaping up to be a thrilling race, with Jonas Vingegaard of Team Visma-Lease a Bike showcasing a calculated and measured approach that has echoes of the 1980s stage racing contenders. This is according to former Grand Tour participant and now commentator Brian Holm, who raced his first Grand Tour at the 1987 Giro d'Italia. Holm praises Vingegaard's strategy, noting that he is riding smart and clever, staying calm and avoiding unnecessary risks. This calculated approach has allowed Vingegaard to win the two toughest summit finishes in the first week of the race and maintain a strong position in the overall standings.
Vingegaard's closest rival, Felix Gall, is expected to lose a lot of time in the time trial, while Jai Hindley is in third, 2:08 adrift. Holm points out that Vingegaard's measured approach is likely to net him the overall victory without burning himself out excessively, especially given his objectives in July. He also believes that others will step up when needed, as evidenced by Davide Piganzoli's impressive performance on the Blockhaus and Sunday's summit finish.
However, Holm acknowledges that not everything is going Vingegaard's way, as he has lost Wilco Kelderman, a former Giro podium finisher and excellent climbing support rider, to injury. Despite this setback, Holm remains optimistic, noting that the team will survive and that others will step up when needed.
As for the time trial on Tuesday, Holm believes that Vingegaard will show that the race is going to be for him. He expects Vingegaard to gain several minutes on his rivals, even if he didn't beat Gall or Hindley. Holm concludes by stating that he believes Vingegaard will win the Giro d'Italia, despite the ongoing discussion about his strategies and tactics.
