"Cycling isn't just the Tour de France" - Vingegaard and Evenepoel should race Giro d'Italia according to Vincenzo Nibali

The grand reveal of the 2026 Giro d'Italia route is today in Rome and what the riders will get to know will have a great influence on their calendar decisions for the upcoming season. Take Jonas Vingegaard who is likely to race it, and Remco Evenepoel who is in doubt. Former winner and Italian legend Vincenzo Nibali argues that both should take part in the Corsa Rosa.

"I've thrown away some successes. I think back to 2010, if I hadn't crashed on the dirt while leading the general classification... And then 2019, when Primož Roglic and I had a fierce rivalry (and Richard Carapaz won in the end, ed.)," Nibali recalls in words to Gazzetta dello Sport. "Anyway, Primoz and I are friends now, but in reality, we were friends back then too. In most cases, cycling is like that; the disagreements are 'only' on the bike."

Nibali is a legend of the sport and in the 2010's he was a monument winner as well as taking GC triumphs in all three Grand Tours. In his 'home' race, he has taken the pink jersey on two occasions, and he remains closely attached to the current leaders in the peloton and their Grand Tour choices. With Tadej Pogacar skipping the 2026 Giro and focusing on the Tour de France once again, he believes it's a no-brainer for his main rival to choose.

"I'd tell Jonas Vingegaard to come to the 2026 Giro with the goal of winning, he'd be joining a truly exclusive circle," Nibali is clear. "Then, I'm curious to see if a very strong young rider like Isaac Del Toro will try again. And I'm also curious to see what Simon Yates, the defending champion of the Giro d'Italia, does".

The startlist of the Giro should begin to form itself more accurately over the coming weeks with the reveal and also the training camps of several teams giving the opportunity for calendars to be discussed more seriously. This includes Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, in which Remco Evenepoel will announce his, and the 'Shark of Messina' believes the Belgian should also take part. "Cycling isn't just the Tour de France. The Giro d'Italia is also tough, but it has a more human dimension and can still be satisfying."

As for the Italians, they don't have realistic chances of succeeding yet in 2026 but in Giulio Pellizzari there is a very bright hope for the future, and Nibali hopes to see his compatriot impressing once again at the Corsa Rosa:

"If I were Giulio Pellizzari, I'd return to the Giro d'Italia. He has room for growth and has already achieved important results. And I wouldn't forget Antonio Tiberi: he had a difficult season, but he deserves a chance to prove himself."