“Vingegaard will put more time into everyone” - Bruyneel gives no one a chance on gruelling Giro d’Italia queen stage
Cycling
Stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia is the queen stage of the race for its brutal difficulty. On their THEMOVE+ podcast, Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin dug into what they expect in the Dolomites and agreed on one key point: they see Jonas Vingegaard as the standout favourite.
The conversation came after a far livelier stage 18 than expected, but both made it clear the real Giro will reach its climax at altitude in a heart-stopping Friday–Saturday doubleheader.
Spencer Martin highlighted the extreme severity of the route, stressing the long spells riders will spend above 1,500 metres: “Until now we’d only had about 15 kilometres above 1,500 metres. Tomorrow we’ll have almost 50 kilometers at that altitude.”
Bruyneel agreed that the stage marks a radical shift from what we’ve seen so far: “It’s a completely different game. You have mountain stages and then you have high-mountain stages.”
“It’s a completely different game”
The former sports director explained that altitude can produce unexpected gaps between riders who have looked solid until now: “We could see one of those riders who’ve been very good so far drop out of the top three or top four.”
When it came to predicting the queen stage, Johan Bruyneel was emphatic. For him, Team Visma | Lease a Bike have been so dominant throughout the Giro that he expects another tactical masterclass. “I think Visma will control and Jonas will win his fifth stage.”
He also revealed that Vingegaard is hungry to keep stacking wins: “I saw an interview where he said it would be nice to win two more stages. That must be in his head.”
Jonas Vingegaard won stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia
Bruyneel has no doubt: “Visma will control and Jonas will win”
Bruyneel insisted the Dutch team have executed their strategy perfectly all race: “In this Giro, I’d say the plan Visma have before each stage is usually what they deliver. They usually execute exactly what they want.”
He wrapped up with a clear forecast: “I think tomorrow Vingegaard wins the stage and takes more time on all his rivals. It’s the most logical outcome.”
Martin offered a near-identical assessment and said he doesn’t expect a balanced fight. “I think Jonas is going to win the stage and I don’t think it’s going to be especially close.”
Spencer Martin also expects total control
The American journalist added that, even if the official gaps look modest, the on-road control will be absolute: “Maybe in time it might seem tight, but physically it won’t be close. He’s going to have control for the whole stage.”
Bruyneel even ventured a sizeable margin at the finish: “I think tomorrow it will be at least another minute.”
Both analysts believe the real fight will be for the podium, not the lead. Bruyneel expressed doubts about some riders who have hung tough so far.
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Doubts about the rivals
About the youngster Eulalio - whom he sees as especially vulnerable to altitude and accumulated fatigue - he said: “These short efforts are his preferred terrain, but the consequences of today’s crash will be felt tomorrow.”
He also weighed the podium battle among climbers like Felix Gall, Jai Hindley and Thymen Arensman: “On a five-kilometer climb at 10%, the pure climber counts more than the big engine.”
The queen stage packs almost 5,000 metres of elevation gain and mythic ascents such as the Passo Giau, the Cima Coppi of this Giro at over 2,300 metres. For Bruyneel and Martin, it looks like the perfect stage for another Vingegaard showcase.
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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