Jonas Vingegaard Targets Grand Tour Slam as Giro d’Italia Begins in Bulgaria Jonas Vingegaard’s bid to complete a rare Grand Tour grand slam by winning the 2026 Giro d’Italia begins in Bulgaria on Friday, marking his debut in the race. The double Tour de France winner, who claimed victory in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Tour, is the overwhelming favorite for the final stage in Rome on 31 May. His chances are bolstered by the absence of Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian rider who has dominated this season with nine wins in 11 races. Pogacar’s absence, along with other top contenders, has created a void in the peloton, positioning Vingegaard as the most likely contender for the maglia rosa. Vingegaard’s bid is further complicated by the departure of several key rivals. Remco Evenepoel, the double Olympic champion, and Paul Seixas, the prodigious French teenager, have prioritized the Tour de France, with Seixas set to make his debut as the youngest rider in the race in 89 years. Notable absentees from the Giro include Tom Pidcock, who finished third to Vingegaard in the 2025 Vuelta a España, and Florian Lipowitz, a rising German rider who claimed a podium finish in Paris last July. Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro is also absent, leaving the Giro’s field significantly weakened. For Vingegaard, the Giro represents an opportunity to reassert his dominance after being overshadowed by Pogacar’s recent success. At 29, he faces the challenge of staying ahead of Seixas, a rider 10 years his junior who has already demonstrated the ability to match Pogacar’s aggressive racing style. However, Vingegaard’s recent form suggests he is returning to his peak.#tadej_pogacar #jonas_vingegaard #giro_ditalia #netcompany_ineos #visma_leaseabike
