"So far, I've survived" - With the opening days out of the way, Thymen Arensman can aim high at the 2026 Giro d'Italia

Thymen Arensman has historically struggled throughout the first days of a Grand Tour. That has not been the case at the 2026 Giro d'Italia, and after breaking that negative trend, the Dutchman can hope for higher results in the lead of Netcompany INEOS throughout the upcoming weeks.

It hasn't been a race without its major incidents, with the first two stages seeing mass crashes in the peloton. On the second day, the British team was on the right side of the road and avoided the fall that took down over half of the UAE Team.

However it is not something that went unnoticed to Arensman at the time. “That sound of the crash will cause some nightmares,” he wrote in his Strava activity on that day. But he escaped Bulgaria without any crash or unnecessary time loss.

"So far, I've survived. I'm calm and in control. I had good preparation. I'm not overdoing it, but I'm doing enough," Arensman shared with AD.

"I'm just trying to do the right things every day. I'm taking good care of myself. I'm taking all the experience with me, and as I get older, I know more and more what works for me."

Currently fourth in the overall classification, it is the best sign the best sign the 26-year old could have. Time and time again he has entered Grand Tours struggling to find his best legs and lost time before being forced into making comebacks. Almost every single Grand Tour he has started since 2022 had that unusual trend - whereas most riders struggle towards the end of it.

In 2025 he lost almost a minute on the opening stage in Albania, before riding himself into the Top10 on stage 15 - whilst riding in support of Egan Bernal - only to then fall back down. At the Tour de France he was rather absent in the first week, before turning the race around and winning two stages in the second half.

Now, with his traditionally difficult days out of the way, he will stand better chances of fighting for a place on the podium in Rome. The route also benefits him, and with a modest set of competitors in the time trial, it could end up being a talisman day for him. "It's a beautiful course with a long time trial, which should suit me well."