“I’d like to bring time trials back into the spotlight”: New RCS chief reveals his vision for a revamped Giro d’Italia
Cycling
Luca Guercilena has wasted little time outlining how he wants to reshape the Giro d’Italia. After 16 years at the helm of Lidl-Trek, the experienced Italian manager officially began his new role as RCS Sport’s Head of Cycling on September 1, and his early vision points toward a more balanced, international and commercially attractive Corsa Rosa.
One of the clearest changes he would like to see is an increased role for time trials. Guercilena believes the Giro should offer more opportunities for specialists against the clock rather than relying so heavily on climbing to determine the overall classification.
“I’ve always loved time trials, and I’d like to bring them back into the spotlight,” Guercilena said in a recent interview. “I’d like to strike a better balance between time trials and climbs, so as to broaden the range of potential winners.”
That philosophy forms part of a much broader objective. Guercilena wants the Giro to become more attractive not only to the riders capable of winning it, but also to teams, sponsors and broadcasters.
Jonas Vingegaard won the 2026 Giro d'Italia
A Giro designed to attract the biggest names
The 2026 Giro featured a single 42-kilometer individual time trial, while the Tour de France and Vuelta a España have also maintained significant amounts of racing against the clock. Guercilena now appears keen to ensure that future editions of the Italian Grand Tour provide a more diverse test for GC contenders.
“I think of balanced routes where every type of rider - climber, sprinter, time trialist, a role that I love very much - can have their own space and not feel excluded from the outset,” he said.
That approach could also help address one of the Giro’s recurring challenges: attracting the very best GC riders. Guercilena does not believe RCS should solve that problem by simply trying to recruit stars one by one. “We mustn’t go out looking for big names; we need to organise a race that attracts them.”
He also sees the calendar as an important part of that strategy. RCS intends to lobby the UCI for the Giro to start a week later, bringing the race closer to Italy’s June 2 Republic Day holiday.
“If the Festa della Repubblica on June 2 were always included, that would add value to the Giro,” Guercilena said. “The weather could be better too, and riders who target Flanders and Roubaix would also have an extra week of recovery so they could start.”
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Three priorities for Guercilena’s first years
Guercilena's ambitions extend beyond the Giro route itself. His three-year contract with RCS comes with three clearly defined priorities.
“We’ll look to strengthen the Giro start list, which is fundamental,” he said. “We’ll look to plan race routes further in advance, and we want to increase the economic attractiveness for sponsors and television broadcasters. It’s all connected.”
His management philosophy also marks a departure from the traditional image of the powerful Giro boss who personally controls every aspect of the race. “My role is not that of a traditional patron,” Guercilena concluded. “Cycling has changed and needs a different, global vision. I’m not a control freak: I believe in teamwork.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling forRafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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