"The Giro d’Italia always has an element of surprise" - Who will Visma choose to lead their Corsa Rosa lineup?
Cycling
Visma | Lease a Bike certainly liked what they saw when the Giro d'Italia route was revealed on Tuesday, boasting seven mountain-top finishes in a course suited to defending champion Jonas Vingegaard. But will the Dane return in 2027 to defend his title?
A climbing-heavy route was announced including a brutal final week that kicks off with a queen stage that will see the legendary Mortirolo climb and Passo Gavia combined before the riders take on the Mortirolo again.
This season, Vingegaard dominated the general classification, taking five stage wins and holding the pink jersey comfortably throughout the final two weeks of the race - completing the set of overall victories at all three of cycling's Grand Tours.
For Visma, the route's strength is that it offers an array of opportunities for their riders next May. Reacting to the route, Marc Reef underlined the stage seven mountain time trial as the stage he's most looking forward to. However, Reef did not indicate what riders could be selected for the race.
“It is a beautiful route, offering opportunities for all types of riders. To win this Giro d’Italia, you need to have a wide range of qualities. That makes it a really exciting challenge,” Visma's Head of Racing said in his reaction to the route presentation.
Vingegaard completed the Grand Tour treble by winning the Giro d'Italia
Visma look forward to Giro
“The opening weekend offers opportunities for several types of riders to make their mark, followed shortly afterwards by the first real mountain stage. However, the mountain time trial is the stage I am particularly looking forward to. It is a discipline we do not get to see very often, but it always provides plenty of excitement.”
Reef reiterated his appreciation for the diversity of stages around the difficult mountain stages. He also pointed to a Tuscan mountain stage as an unfamiliar prospect.
“The toughest part of the race comes in the final week, with an extremely demanding mountain stage and a long time trial,” Reef said.
“The great thing about this route is the mix of different types of stages. It adds another dimension to the race. I am also really looking forward to the mountain stage in Tuscany, finishing at Zum Zeri. It is always great to tackle climbs that are less familiar to us.”
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Will Vingegaard return to the Giro
The history and lure of the queen stage is one that attracts Reef. In Vingegaard, the team have a potential contender to win the race due to Tadej Pogacar's confirmation that he won't ride the race. Reef also praised the penultimate stage ascent of Monte Zoncolan as an attractive prospect.
“The queen stage featuring the Mortirolo and the Gavia is, of course, a fantastic stage with a great deal of history. To then head to the Monte Zoncolan in the final weekend as well is really special. It makes for a spectacular conclusion to the Giro.
“The Giro d’Italia always has an element of surprise, and this year the organisers have once again put together a great route. Alongside the well-known climbs, they are once again exploring less familiar terrain. We will study the route carefully before putting together the best possible plan."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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