"Beat Pogacar in the Tour again" - Johan Bruyneel says Jonas Vingegaard has one major goal left
Cycling
The route for the 2027 Giro d’Italia has been unveiled, raising one of next season’s biggest questions: which stars from the peloton will choose the Italian race? Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin discussed the possibilities on The Move podcast, focusing in particular on Jonas Vingegaard and his potential plans for the season.
The race, which runs from 8 to 30 May 2027, features a demanding route with plenty of climbing, two individual time trials with 57 kilometers in total, and a particularly daunting stage. Riders will tackle the Mortirolo twice and cross the Gavia before a summit finish on stage 16 alone. The parcours could prove highly appealing to the leading climbers and, in the analysts’ view, may attract a top-class field.
For Bruyneel, however, the biggest uncertainty lies not so much in the route as in the riders who will line up at the start. The former professional rider and sports director believes it is too early to know which team leaders will target Italy, though he is fairly certain Tadej Pogacar will not take part in this edition.
Vingegaard could add another Grand Tour to his palmarès
The discussion about Vingegaard produced one of the programme’s most interesting observations. Bruyneel suggested the Dane might prefer to avoid races where he would come up against Pogacar, while noting that he is not the only one who decides his race schedule.
Jonas Vingegaard won the 2026 Giro d'Italia
“If he could really do what he wanted, although of course he isn’t the only one making the decisions, he would prefer not to race in any event where Pogacar is competing,” the Belgian explained.
Bruyneel’s reasoning is that the Giro would represent a major opportunity for Vingegaard. He was particularly emphatic about the Dane’s chances: “If he races the Giro, he’ll win it again. It would be another Grand Tour on his palmarès.”
However, the former sports director believes France should be Vingegaard’s main objective. Having won the Tour twice and also claimed the Giro and Vuelta, he feels the Dane has just one major sporting challenge left: beating Pogacar again in the French race.
“If you’ve won the Tour twice and now you’ve won the Vuelta and the Giro, there’s only one thing left: beat Pogacar in the Tour again,” Bruyneel said.
So, while the Italian route could be highly appealing to Vingegaard, his participation will depend on how he wants to shape a season in which another duel with the Slovenian appears to take priority.
Pogacar not targeting the Giro; Del Toro and Almeida among UAE’s options
Another point on which the guests of The Move agreed was Pogacar’s likely absence. Bruyneel believes the Slovenian’s schedule will revolve around the Tour de France, the World Championships and the Vuelta a España; as well as the spring classics.
“We know for certain that Pogacar won’t race the Giro,” he said, adding that there are signs the Slovenian could also take part in the Spanish Grand Tour.
His absence would leave UAE Team Emirates with an intriguing decision over who should lead its Giro campaign. Bruyneel named three candidates: Isaac del Toro, Adam Yates and Joao Almeida.
The choice will be significant, particularly given the demands of the route. Del Toro is an intriguing option after his progress, while Almeida and Yates have the experience to take on the responsibility of fighting for the general classification.
When Spencer Martin considered a scenario without Pogacar or Vingegaard and asked who would be favourite among Del Toro, Felix Gall, Almeida, Richard Carapaz and Giulio Pellizzari. Bruyneel’s first pick was the Mexican. However, both agreed that the route could also suit the Austrian particularly well.
Felix Gall, a major threat in the general classification
Beyond the two headline names whose participation remains uncertain, Bruyneel and Martin singled out Felix Gall as one of the riders best placed to benefit from the route. The Austrian has finished on the podium in both of the Grand Tours he contested and could find an opportunity in Italy to pursue his first victory in a three-week race.
Spencer Martin believes the parcours suits Gall particularly well because it includes an individual time trial finishing on a climb. Bruyneel also likes the prospect, noting that Gall could take a leading role with his new team, Lidl-Trek.
“His next goal is to try to win a Grand Tour, and I think the Giro is probably his best opportunity if the biggest names are absent,” the Belgian said.
In his own prediction, Bruyneel named Isaac del Toro as favourite if Pogacar and Vingegaard do not take part. However, he acknowledged that Gall has the credentials to challenge him for victory.
Other riders mentioned in the analysis included Richard Carapaz, Giulio Pellizzari, Joao Almeida, Jai Hindley, Egan Bernal and Michael Storer. The two pundits believe the route could particularly suit the Australian rider in his bid for a podium finish.
Felix Gall was second at the 2026 Giro d'Italia and is expected to come back with Lidl-Trek
A demanding route, but with fewer marathon stages
Spencer Martin broke down many of the route’s key features. The 2027 edition will start in Trieste, briefly pass through Slovenia and then return to Italy. The route includes six stages suited to sprinters, eight hilly stages and five mountain stages.
One feature that particularly caught Martin’s attention was the number of summit finishes. There are seven, along with two time trials: an individual test finishing uphill on stage seven and a completely flat course from Monza to Milan on stage 15.
He also pointed to a change from previous editions: only three stages will exceed 200 kilometres. “They have just three stages over 200 kilometres this year,” Martin said, noting that the organizers had shortened several transitional stages.
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Stage 16 will be one of the race’s biggest challenges. Two ascents of the Mortirolo, followed by the Gavia and a summit finish, make for an exceptionally tough day. However, Bruyneel recalled a recurring Giro problem: snow can force changes to the route over the major Alpine passes.
Martin also noted that stage 20 features another demanding mountain stage, with an end on the mythical Monte Zoncolan, so the fight for the general classification will not depend solely on whether the queen stage can be raced in full.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- What a travesty ! That little deviation did nothing to impede Brand !frieders307-11-2026
- I also wanne beat Pogacar in the tour but it aint gonne happen. Jonas unfortunately getting dropped by del toro and seixas several times this TDF and jonas team is very weak and joinas on way down, it aint happening thats clear. its also clear it only happened cause Pogacar was hurt and had a broken wrist that time everytime both full strenght its not close we just have to be honest about it :/miguel07-11-2026
- They do this but literally let cars on courses to run over riders.mij07-11-2026
- Looking at that photo she appears to be several feet from her. I’m not sure how that impeded brands sprint.mij07-11-2026
- I hope you are wrong but I suspect you will be proved correct. It might do something for Scottish tourism - although due to logistics the route skips the most spectacular parts of Scotland. It will bring in short term money no doubt, but will cycling overall in the U,K benifit? I doubt it. Even at £2 a litre the bits love thei cars,Cyclingsbestfan07-11-2026
- Lucky to not get disqualified
leedorney07-11-2026 - The road from Holyrood to Edinburgh Castle is a nice steady climb of just over a mile that is cobbled in many parts. (Very slippery if wet!) If the teams are going by one by one that will give fans an even better view of the riders up close than the castle esplanade.Cyclingsbestfan07-11-2026
- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026
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