“Things went seriously wrong” - Visma react after Giro d’Italia opener proves Jonas Vingegaard strategy right
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike emerged from the chaotic opening stage of the 2026 Giro d’Italia believing their conservative approach to the finale in Burgas had been fully justified after a huge crash tore through the peloton inside the final kilometre.
While Paul Magnier sprinted to victory and the Maglia Rosa from a reduced front group, Jonas Vingegaard and the rest of the Visma team deliberately stayed deeper inside the bunch throughout the tense run into the finish rather than fighting for position alongside the sprint trains. That decision ultimately kept the Giro favourite out of trouble as the expected bunch sprint descended into chaos.
Speaking afterwards in the team’s post-stage press release, sports director Marc Reef admitted avoiding risk had been the team’s primary objective throughout the day. “The most important thing for us today was reaching the finish safely,” Reef explained in a post-stage press release. “The guys made it into the final five kilometres without any issues, so there was no longer any risk of losing time.”
The Giro opener in Bulgaria had already been widely viewed as a dangerous stage for the GC contenders despite the relatively flat profile, with the combination of fresh legs, nervous positioning and sprint teams fighting for the first Maglia Rosa creating a tense atmosphere throughout the afternoon.
That tension exploded inside the final kilometre when a major crash forced most of the peloton to stop almost completely, leaving only around 10 riders able to continue sprinting for victory.
“We decided to stay in the background”
Throughout the final phase of the stage, UAE Team Emirates-XRG remained visible near the head of the peloton around Antonio Morgado and Adam Yates, while Vingegaard and Visma consistently stayed deeper inside the bunch on the run toward Burgas.
Reef confirmed afterwards that the positioning had been entirely deliberate. “There is always a lot at stake in the opening stage of a Grand Tour,” he said. “Things went seriously wrong in the final kilometre. We decided to stay in the background during the finale.”
The strategy reflected Visma’s wider approach to the opening days of this year’s Giro around Vingegaard, with the team placing a clear priority on avoiding unnecessary risks before the race reaches more selective terrain later in the first week.
The five-kilometre safety rule also reduced some of the pressure on the GC contenders heading into the finale, allowing teams like Visma to avoid taking major risks for position during the final run-in. All Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders ultimately crossed the line safely.
Attention already turns toward Stage 2
Although the team avoided disaster on the opening stage, Reef suggested Visma are expecting another tense day when the Giro continues in Bulgaria on Saturday.
“Tomorrow’s stage has a difficult finish with several technical sections,” Reef said. “There are many riders who can dream of victory. For us, the main thing remains getting through the first three days in Bulgaria as well as possible.”
That cautious approach may not have delivered the Maglia Rosa on Stage 1, but after the scenes in Burgas, Visma will likely view the opening day as mission accomplished.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 16visitors 13
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
Loading
3 Comments