"He’s racing like in the '80s" - Brian Holm analyzes Jonas Vingegaard’s caluclated approach to Giro d’Italia

Jonas Vingegaard is building his bid for the 2026 Giro d’Italia with a formula many see as old-fashioned, but which for Brian Holm captures the purest essence of Grand Tour racing. The former Danish pro, now a commentator, sees in his compatriot’s racing style a direct line to the tactics that ruled the peloton in the 1980s.

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider heads into the second half of the race after leaving a clear mark in the mountains. With the decisive time trial in Tuscany still to come and two weeks ahead, Vingegaard has dominated the most demanding summit finishes so far.

Although he remains 2:24 behind the leader, Afonso Eulálio, the general feeling is that the Dane holds real control of the general classification and that the fight for the maglia rosa inevitably runs through him.

Holm, who debuted at the Giro d’Italia in 1987 and completed ten Grand Tours in his career, believes Vingegaard’s tactical blueprint stands apart from the trends of modern cycling marked by "attack first, think later" tactics employed by many of his fellow co-stars.

According to the ex-professional, the Visma leader opts for a far more conservative, cerebral energy management, always prioritising efficiency over spectacle or long-range attacks. A philosophy that, in Holm’s view, connects directly with how GC contenders raced four decades ago.

"He’s riding like in the 1980s," Holm told Cyclingnews when analysing Vingegaard’s performance in this first phase of the Giro. "He keeps the race from the back."

The Dane also defended his compatriot against those who question his limited presence at the front of the bunch on less decisive days. For Holm, there’s no need for Vingegaard to waste energy on the flat when his true terrain is in the mountains.

Comparing him to other leading figures of today’s peloton, Holm highlighted the clear differences between Vingegaard and riders like Tadej Pogacar or Remco Evenepoel. While both often harden the race from far out and go on the offensive even on flat terrain, the Visma leader backs a much more contained approach.

"Pogacar and Evenepoel attack on the flat, but Jonas stays calm," Holm summed up. "It’s about not getting carried away by emotion."

That ability to sit out collective wear and tear and save energy for truly decisive moments is precisely what the former sports director considers one of the greatest strengths of the two-time Tour de France winner.

Holm also noted that many of Vingegaard’s rivals force their teams to ride constantly on the front and then launch long-range offensives from as far as 50 kilometres out. It can be spectacular, but it does not fit the Dane’s competitive model.

"There’s no reason for him to do that," he said. "He races with a lot of intelligence and craft."

Holm’s comments arrive at a key moment in the race. After a first week in which Vingegaard has already shown superiority in the mountains, the time trial now looms as the ideal stage to land a decisive blow in the general classification and unseat Afonso Eulálio from the lead.

Beyond the time that still separates him from the maglia rosa, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider’s form suggests he has the race’s rhythm under tight control. Without unnecessary attacks or constant showmanship, his Giro is being built on patience and efficiency.