“We are stronger, we have taken a step forward” - Jonas Vingegaard confident Tour de France battle with Tadej Pogacar will be closer after Giro success

Jonas Vingegaard believes Team Visma | Lease a Bike have taken a clear step forward ahead of this summer’s Tour de France, with the Dane already looking towards a renewed battle with Tadej Pogacar while he continues to control the 2026 Giro d’Italia.

Vingegaard has been the dominant figure of the Giro so far, winning four stages and building a commanding lead in the maglia rosa. Yet even with the Italian Grand Tour firmly in his hands, the wider question around his season is already tied to July, where Pogacar is expected to return as the defining rival in the fight for yellow.

Speaking to Marca during the Giro, Vingegaard made clear that his performances in Italy are also part of Visma’s preparation for a Tour de France showdown he expects to be closer than the last two editions.

“I think we are stronger, that we have taken a step forward,” Vingegaard said. “We have made very good steps.”

Vingegaard has already won in the yellow, red and pink leader’s jerseys across his career, with his Giro debut adding another major line to a palmares built around Grand Tour success. After his latest stage win in Italy, he described wearing the maglia rosa as a special moment in itself.

“It is a very special feeling for me to wear the maglia rosa,” he said. “It is a special jersey in cycling. I am extremely happy and proud to wear it. And also being able to win a stage yesterday with the blue jersey was something very special for me.”

For Vingegaard, those achievements still carry the weight of something he did not expect when he first started riding. “When I started cycling, I never thought I could be the wearer of these jerseys. No, definitely not. I never thought that could be a possibility for me. It is a dream come true,” he reflected.

Pogacar has not been part of this Giro battle, but Vingegaard knows the Slovenian will again set the highest bar at the Tour. “I expect him to be at a very high level at the Tour,” Vingegaard said. “He is a very tough rival and we have to do everything possible to try to beat him.”

Vingegaard’s Giro campaign has been ruthless, but he does not view his current level as the finished version of what he wants to bring to France.

Asked whether this is already his best form, the Visma leader gave a measured answer. “Yes and no,” he said. “I think I am at a very high level in this Giro and I hope I can still improve a little more. That is what we hope. That is why we are here: to win the Giro, obviously, but also to try to improve ahead of the Tour de France.”

There is also a team dimension. Visma have had to respond after Pogacar’s recent dominance, and Vingegaard’s comments suggest the Dane feels the gap has narrowed.

One rider he singled out was Davide Piganzoli, who has emerged as an important part of Visma’s Giro and Tour picture. “Now we have Davide, who is a very strong rider, and I think he has surprised everyone,” Vingegaard said. “Personally, I already had high expectations for him. After Paris-Nice, I already had the feeling that he was a very good cyclist. I also told the team that this guy was going to be very good.”

For now, Vingegaard still has the Giro to finish. But his message is already clear. Visma believe they are stronger than before, and the rider in pink sees his Italian dominance as part of the road back towards the biggest fight of the summer.