“We must free ourselves from dependence on the Tour” - New Giro d'Italia boss makes definitive Tour de France statement
Cycling
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.
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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