“We must free ourselves from dependence on the Tour” - New Giro d'Italia boss makes definitive Tour de France statement
CyclingFriday, 11 September 2026 at 10:00
The Giro d’Italia wants to open a new chapter under Luca Guercilena’s leadership. The former Lidl-Trek manager has joined RCS Sport & Events as the new head of cycling and already has a clear vision for the path the ‘Corsa Rosa’ should take in the coming years. His main goal is to give the Italian race a stronger identity and reduce its dependence on the Tour de France.
In an interview with the Corriere della Sera, Guercilena outlined the pillars of a project that aims to reshape both the race planning and its slot on the international calendar. “We are a major event that must free itself from the Tour’s shadow,” said the new head of cycling at RCS Sport & Events.
One of Guercilena’s proposed changes concerns how the race is presented. The aim is to reveal the route earlier and communicate a clear vision of what the next edition will offer well in advance.
“We should unveil, with increasing lead time, an attractive, well-structured route that offers certainty,” Guercilena explained. For the new Giro chief, this is key to consolidating the race’s identity and giving teams and riders more room to plan their seasons.
Vingegaard completed the Grand Tour treble by winning the Giro d’Italia title.
A Giro route for every rider type
His most ambitious proposal, however, is to shift the Giro’s calendar position. Guercilena believes bringing the race forward could deliver several benefits, from better weather in the high mountains to greater appeal for certain riders.
“It would allow us to make the most of 02.06, as they do in France with 14.07, give us a stronger chance of good weather in the big mountains, and put more distance to the Belgian races to attract more riders,” he said.
The changes outlined by the new RCS Sport & Events chief go beyond the calendar. Guercilena also wants a Giro route that offers opportunities to riders with different skill sets, avoiding an excessive tilt toward a single profile.
“I want it balanced, where every climber, sprinter, time trialist can find their space and not feel shut out,” he noted.
The plan is to build a ‘Corsa Rosa’ in which the various specialties feature across the three weeks. That way, climbers, sprinters, and time trial specialists can all find stages suited to their strengths within the same edition.
Not chasing the world’s biggest names
This new philosophy also shapes the strategy to attract the peloton’s leading riders. Guercilena argues the Giro should not simply try to persuade the biggest stars to add the Italian race to their schedules, but rather create an event compelling enough that they want to be there.
“We shouldn’t go hunting the big names; we should design a race that draws them in,” stated the new head of the ‘Corsa Rosa’.
Guercilena’s arrival at RCS Sport & Events thus opens a new era for the Giro d’Italia, with a clear intent to reinforce its identity, set it apart from the Tour de France, and make it increasingly attractive to every type of rider.
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Puzzled what mental illness has to be going for stage win. Crashes in the peleton have no link to mental illness just poor judgement riding or not paying attention. Please do not link mental illness to crashes .paultryan200211-09-2026
- I swear to god if Roglič does the same thing to Mas as he did to Thomas at the Giro, I'll fkn laugh my head off. LET HIM HAVE IT, ROGLA... crush him like your compatriot, Pogi The Great, would crush him. Baby Hulk would say "SMASH !!!"PogiSloFans11-09-2026
- I swear to god if Roglic does the same thing to Mas as he did to Thomas at the Giro, I'll fkn cry. LET HIM HAVE ONE, ROGLAwrsty11-09-2026
- It's called "supply and demand". People tend to be paid what they're worth (their discounted marginal value product). Just because he's the greatest cyclist, doesn't mean he would ever get paid what the greatest tennis player would be paid. There is more to the calculation than talent and hard work.acem8211-09-2026
- You’re going to have to come to correct often, CHF is dropping like a Tête de Moine rolling down from Bellelay.Mistermaumau10-09-2026
- So, I see despite my request that not only haven’t you reviewed your figures or commented since someone here did some better maths than you (thanks) but you made zero effort to think about the costs involved in collecting the fines. The original expression stems from written statements and promises that can’t be trusted but in the era of automation it received a second life when people started complaining about receiving bills (in the days when everything was done by post) to pay that didn’t cover the price of the stamp on the envelope let alone the costs of sending the bill, e.g rectification bills or utility bills for unoccupied lodgings. The minimum monthly salary in the poorest part of Switzerland is over 4000€ which sets employers back close to 6000€. UCI employees are unlikely to be on minimum salary, being sent abroad is likely to be associated with higher wages but also expenses to pay (travel & lodgings (different location every day), food & drink & a stipend) plus unseen expenses like insurance, min 4000km worth of fuel, etc. Then you forget office, admin & personnel costs, costs of enforcement and collection, accounting, bank fees, etc. run a company a while and see how money leaks out invisibly non-stop. Once there, a commissaire needs a vehicle, and a driver (can’t drive and officiate or write notes simultaneously) Up to stage 18 they fined 12400CHF, 3 stages left. EVEN if they sent only ONE commissaire, they’re not breaking even at this rate. With just 2, they’re losing. Of course by your calculation of raking in over 60k, yeah you could call it that way but you could also just write a fiction in your snazzy UCI office about a golden egg laying goose and earn far more from selling that than doing this, if it didn’t infringe copyright. Now, there is a possibility that these people aren’t even UCi employees but just officials paid fir missions. The going rate for that is 250CHF/day. Add 100 for hotel and 100 for expenses and you’re billing 450 a day for 30 days almost without the other necessary costs, same result.Mistermaumau10-09-2026
- Thought you you retired cuz your golden boy is out for the year? Dang now we get more of your nonsense for free!frieders310-09-2026
- Oh boy, still here? Here’s an idea, donate 1 Euro to each team for every post you’re making since your supposed retirement here. If that’s not enough, they can sell autographs or auction off their paraphernalia. I think compared to similar sports (swimming, triathlon, running) they do pretty well these days. They probably also earn better than rugby or cricket. Did you see what people were prepared to pay for the WC, Superbowl or Tennis finals? Where will cycling rake in that kind of money without Infantinotising its soul? LIV has applied for bankruptcy, Michael Johnson’s reputation has taken a big hit, the enhanced games won’t be enhancing much more, Saudi laundromoney is drying up, bike sales are plummeting, it’s not the best time to be asking for pay rises. Besides, there are plenty of others willing to take any freed up places for lower wages and it’s rare to get offered much better for the same performance by switching employer (perhaps because employers got burnt a few times in the past). And now excuse me, I have to go take care of this golden goose crapMistermaumau10-09-2026
- From none to 2 stage wins in a Grand Tour. Chapeau, Tudor. Maybe it'll be more by the end
Rafionain-Glas10-09-2026 - Chapeau to Mas for an amazing ride! Yes, if Pog were here he’d be ahead by 20 minutes now, but he’s not.Crashjames10-09-2026
Loading
Write a comment