One of the finest moments of the professional cycling year is about to arrive. On Friday, the Grand Tour season opens with the Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia 2026. The edition will start with every eye on the same name: Jonas Vingegaard. But who will be his rivals in May?
The Dane will make his Corsa Rosa debut, aiming to complete his three-week race collection. With two Tours de France and one Vuelta a España already secured, Vingegaard will tackle the Giro d’Italia as one of his two main goals for 2026. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike star will hit the maglia rosa battle in peak form.
As noted, Jonas Vingegaard is the leading candidate for the overall. In fact, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t finish with a gap similar to Tadej Pogacar’s when he won his Giro in 2024 (10 minutes over second-place Daniel Felipe Martínez). But over three weeks, anything can happen, and the Visma leader certainly hasn’t won the Corsa Rosa yet.
Despite the withdrawals of Joao Almeida, Mikel Landa, and Richard Carapaz, the list of contenders for the general classification remains deep: Giulio Pellizzari, Adam Yates, Enric Mas, Egan Bernal, Felix Gall, Jai Hindley, Santiago Buitrago, Thymen Arensman, Giulio Ciccone, Michael Storer, Ben O'Connor... But who are the five major threats to Jonas Vingegaard?
1. Giulio Pellizzari
The clearest rival to Jonas Vingegaard seems obvious. Of all the contenders, the one arriving in the sharpest form is Giulio Pellizzari. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider heads to the Giro d’Italia after winning the overall at the Tour of the Alps, including two stages.
Pellizzari has also been 3rd overall at Tirreno–Adriatico this year, 4th at Milano–Torino, and 3rd overall at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The 22-year-old diamond keeps taking giant steps towards the stardom he hinted at in 2025, when he was 6th at the Corsa Rosa in which he started out as Primoz Roglic's domestique, and 6th as well in his first Vuelta a España.
He will also benefit from racing as Italy’s great hope. That extra lift from the tifosi roadside could be crucial in trying to topple Jonas Vingegaard. This year marks a decade since the last Italian winner of the Giro: Vincenzo Nibali in 2016. Will Giulio Pellizzari be the one to end the drought?
2. Adam Yates
With Simon Yates absent to defend last year’s title, his brother Adam will try to carry the family name back to the top of the Giro d’Italia. Following Joao Almeida’s withdrawal, the Briton leads UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the Corsa Rosa, and the good news is he will fight for the overall at a good moment for him.
Adam Yates started racing early this season, posting strong results at the Muscat Classic (2nd) and the Tour of Oman (3rd overall). However, after a quieter UAE Tour, the 33-year-old stopped competing for two months. That reset worked wonders, and he returned in style at O Gran Camiño, where he won the overall plus a stage.
What makes Yates so dangerous for Vingegaard is the sense that this could be his last real shot at winning a Grand Tour as a pro. In fact, he wasn’t slated to lead at any of the three in 2026. But Almeida’s absence, and Isaac del Toro targeting only the Tour de France with Tadej Pogacar, have handed him a golden chance.
3. Felix Gall
Paul Seixas’s rise to stardom at Decathlon CMA CGM Team is a serious warning to Felix Gall. The Austrian knows he must deliver a great Giro d’Italia if he wants to keep his leadership role within the French team. It’s already confirmed that Seixas will ride the Tour de France 2026, cementing his status as a team star.
So what must Gall do? Prove at the Giro d’Italia that he can contend for victory in a Grand Tour. The Decathlon rider will reach the Grande Partenza with only two race outings in 2026. Even so, he posted strong results in both: 5th overall at the UAE Tour and 6th overall at the Volta a Catalunya.
He also showed high level last year in the three-week races he contested: 5th overall at the Tour de France and 8th at the Vuelta a España. Felix Gall is a serious Grand Tour threat, and Jonas Vingegaard will surely mark him down as one of the key obstacles in the fight for the maglia rosa.
4. Thymen Arensman
The INEOS Grenadiers rider had a tremendous Tour de France last year, winning two mountain stages and showing a climbing level that few others could match. At his best, the Dutchman can impress in the mountains and be a victory contender in a lot of races.
Consistency is often his issue, but at the recent Tour of the Alps, he looked in very strong form from start to finish, ending the race in third position behind Giulio Pellizzari and his teammate Egan Bernal. In his terrain, however, the high mountains and the third week, he can be a headache to his rivals.
5. Egan Bernal
Egan Bernal’s form in 2026 is genuinely encouraging. The Colombian was runner-up overall at the Tour of the Alps, then finished fifth at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, won by Tadej Pogacar.
The Colombian champion knows exactly how to ride a Grand Tour. Before his serious injury, he was one of the best in the world; let no one forget that. He won the 2019 Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in 2021. Last year, he already offered strong flashes at the Corsa Rosa, finishing seventh without the condition he has right now.
For these reasons, these are Jonas Vingegaard’s five main rivals to win the Giro d’Italia 2026. Of course, none should be at the Dane’s level. But, as mentioned, anything can happen in a three-week race. Crashes, hunger flats, colds, or race incidents can completely change the picture in a race where the weather has also plays a big role.
Egan Bernal in 2026
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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