{"id":571912,"date":"2026-05-07T23:01:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T23:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/571912\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T23:01:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T23:01:14","slug":"nine-burning-giro-ditalia-2026-questions-how-deep-will-jonas-vingegaard-need-to-go-kaden-groves-v-jonathan-milan-for-maglia-ciclamino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/571912\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine burning Giro d’Italia 2026 questions: How deep will Jonas Vingegaard need to go? Kaden Groves v Jonathan Milan for maglia ciclamino?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of Saturday\u2019s grande partenza in Bulgaria, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max<\/a>, there are plenty of burning questions on the Giro d’Italia.<\/p>\n

Starting in the ancient Black Sea city of Nessebar on Friday, May 8 and finishing just over three weeks later in Rome, the 109th edition of the Giro seems ripe for the taking for Jonas Vingegaard.<\/p>\n

The double Tour de France winner and reigning Vuelta champion from Denmark is the overwhelming favourite to complete his Grand Slam, as you can see in our comprehensive maglia rosa preview here<\/a>. Six key stages \u2013 outlined in this preview<\/a> \u2013 stand between Vingegaard and the first half of a potential Giro-Tour double this season.<\/p>\n

But while the Dane\u2019s debut in the Giro is on the tip of everyone\u2019s tongue, it\u2019s not the only talking point ahead of a race that should still throw up many twists and turns.<\/p>\n

Here are nine key questions ahead of the first major stage race of 2026\u2026<\/p>\n

Will Bulgaria be worth the detour?<\/p>\n

Albania last year, Hungary three years before that, Jerusalem in 2018\u2026 The Giro d\u2019Italia has not shied away from starting outside the host nation, with nine such jaunts happening in the last two decades. <\/p>\n

The 109th edition will feature the 15th foreign grande partenza with Bulgaria doing the honours.<\/p>\n

The first of three stages hugs the coastline between Nessebar and Burgas and should conclude with a bunch sprint. <\/p>\n

The second heads inland via lumpier terrain and features a punchy ramp to the line in Veliko Tarnova. The third finishes in the capital city of Sofia and tackles the Borovets Pass.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen if yet another foreign start proves a success for the Giro. While in the financial interests of the organisers and in the touristic interests of the hosts (whose government shelled out \u20ac12.5 million for the honour), these forays often prove stressful for the riders, teams and race entourage \u2013 not least with the additional day, the extra travel and the unfamiliar roads.<\/p>\n

While these three stages playing out almost 1,500km east of Rome should have little bearing on the ultimate destiny of the maglia rosa, fans could at least see a trio of very different finishes over the course of three days that will showcase the sights of Bulgaria, putting the Balkan nation on the map.<\/p>\n

A lot will depend on the weather and the appetite of the riders to put on a spectacle. In fairness, the racing is invariably a little subdued, with the consensus among the peloton that things will only really get going once the Giro touches down in Italy.<\/p>\n

One thing\u2019s certain, though \u2013 these lucrative trips abroad have become part and parcel of Grand Tour racing and won\u2019t be going anywhere fast.<\/p>\n

How will Unibet Rose Rockets fare on debut?<\/p>\n

Overlooked for the Tour de France in favour of Spanish outfit Caja Rural-Seguros-RGA, the Dutch-registered Unibet Rose Rockets will make their Grand Tour debut this May bent on proving that Christian Prudhomme has made a mistake.<\/p>\n

Besides Dylan Groenewegen and Wout Poels, the team has just six pro wins between them \u2013 and it\u2019s hard to see that changing over the three weeks. <\/p>\n

The Dutch duo offer Unibet the best chance of victory, notably sprinter Groenewegen, who already has four wins to his name in his first season with the ProTour team. <\/p>\n

Groves v Milan for the maglia ciclamino?<\/p>\n

The aforementioned Groenewegen has the experience and speed to be a factor in the sprints, but probably not the consistency to push for the maglia ciclamino. <\/p>\n

The 32-year-old has only once ridden the Giro, his best result in 2021 being fourth place before he withdrew with a week remaining.<\/p>\n

On paper, the points classification looks like it could be a two-way battle between Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech).<\/p>\n

With four stage wins to his name, Italy\u2019s Milan has twice won the maglia ciclamino in 2023 and 2024 before snaring the green jersey in his Tour debut last summer. He will be as much a favourite for ciclamino as Vingegaard is for pink. <\/p>\n

Groves, meanwhile, has just two Giro stage wins to his name, but the Australian is a two-time winner of the Vuelta\u2019s green jersey.<\/p>\n

Also in the frame in a race with up to eight bunch sprints are France\u2019s Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Germany\u2019s Pascal Ackermann (Team Jayco-AlUla), Italy\u2019s Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana Team), Denmark\u2019s Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM), Britain\u2019s Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team), Belgium\u2019s Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Intermarche), and Dutchman Casper Van Uden (Picnic PostNL Raisin).<\/p>\n

\"picture\"<\/p>\n

Voigt tips Milan for points jersey and opening stage victory<\/p>\n

Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n

How deep will Vingo go?<\/p>\n

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) could not be more of a favourite in his first ever appearance at the Giro. <\/p>\n

With the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, Paul Seixas and Florian Lipowitz keeping their powder dry for the Tour, and Primoz Roglic focusing on the Vuelta, the 29-year-old Dane looks to have a free shot at the pink jersey that would complete his Grand Tour grand slam.<\/p>\n

And rather than count against his chances of ending Pogacar\u2019s winning run at the Tour de France, Vingegaard actually believes it will put him in a better place ahead of the Barcelona grand depart on July 4.<\/p>\n

\u201dFor several years my training program has been very similar,\u201d Vingegaard told Gazzetta. \u201dI felt the need to change. The Giro is a major goal. Moreover, I am convinced that through these weeks I will arrive at the Tour in top form.”<\/p>\n

Victory in Rome would see Vingegaard pip Pogacar to make a slice of history by winning all three of cycling\u2019s Grand Tours. <\/p>\n

On his chances of the Triple Crown ahead of a third Tour title, he said:<\/p>\n

Achieving this treble is a goal for me… nothing more. It means making a piece of history. He [Pogacar] will do it too \u2013 it\u2019s only a matter of time. Tadej may be the greatest ever. But I\u2019ve beaten him before, and I\u2019m confident I can do it again.<\/p>\n

While there are two former winners in Egan Bernal (Netcompany INEOS) and Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe), it is the Australian\u2019s team-mate Giulio Pellizzari who looks like the biggest obstacle between Vingegaard and the pink jersey. <\/p>\n

With that in mind, Vingegaard should \u2013 on paper \u2013 be able to do enough without exerting himself too much ahead of the Tour.<\/p>\n

\"picture\"<\/p>\n

How Vingegaard should attack Giro – Voigt<\/p>\n

Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n

How will UAE approach the Giro following Almeida withdrawal?When Portuguese climber Almeida \u2013 the only rider to push Vingegaard in last year\u2019s Vuelta \u2013 pulled out of the Giro with sickness last week<\/a>, the idea that UAE Team Emirates-XRG might send talisman Tadej Pogacar to Bulgaria and Italy to thwart his nemesis was floated.<\/p>\n

In the end, Pogacar stuck to his plan of riding Romandie and the Tour de Suisse to prepare for the Tour, and it was the Dane Mikkel Bjerg, not the 2024 champion, who came in to replace Almeida.<\/p>\n

Where does that leave a UAE team already deprived of last year\u2019s runner-up, Isaac del Toro? A little short, it seems. <\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s Adam Yates will seemingly spearhead the team\u2019s GC push with Australian climber Jay Vine also in the frame for a top 10 spot. Neither are likely to replicate the achievement of Adam\u2019s twin brother Simon, though.<\/p>\n

In fact, perhaps UAE will instead try something wacky like winning stages with all eight of their riders. <\/p>\n

Yates and Vine are certainly capable, as are Marc Soler, Jhonatan Narvaez, Antonio Morgado and Jan Christen. Things might get a bit trickier with Igor Arrieta and Bjerg, though.<\/p>\n

What can we expect from the elder statesmen?<\/p>\n

The oldest riders in the race will be 38-year-olds Wout Poels (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious). <\/p>\n

Runner-up behind Egan Bernal in 2021, Italy\u2019s Caruso finished fourth in 2024 and fifth last year, although he hasn\u2019t won a stage in five years.<\/p>\n

Dutchman Poels, meanwhile, has never finished higher than 12th in his four Giro appearances, although a stage win will see him join the elusive club of riders with victories in all three of cycling\u2019s Grand Tours.<\/p>\n

Such is the open nature of the Giro and the relative weakness of the start list that both riders may taste some success over the three weeks. But the veteran most likely to get a win is perhaps Italy\u2019s Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Team).<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old\u2019s eighth and last stage win in the Giro may have come in 2020, but Ulissi has picked up at least one victory in each of his 16 previous seasons as a pro \u2013 a run he will be hoping to continue in 2026.<\/p>\n

Will De Lie finally fulfil his promise?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying Arnaud De Lie\u2019s talent, but the 24-year-old from Lotto Intermarche is still looking for his first major win, his only World Tour victories to date coming in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec in 2023 and the Bretagne Classic in 2025.<\/p>\n

With third place being his best finish in his two Tour de France appearances, Di Lie comes to the Giro having declared he will not ride beyond the second week in a bid to arrive at July\u2019s Tour in peak condition. <\/p>\n

The Giro\u2019s numerous sprints and punchy finishes should suit the Belgian, who will hope to open his Grand Tour account in style and get an increasingly heavy monkey off his back.<\/p>\n

De Lie has the ability to win \u2013 and the absence of a GC contender at Lotto should play into his hands. <\/p>\n

The question remains whether he has the temperament and tactical nous to get over the line ahead of the rest. He also arrives in Bulgaria laid low with a bug.<\/p>\n

With a bit of luck and by staying healthy and out of trouble, De Lie should soon be a Giro stage winner. But should he fail, then the pressure will surely mount.<\/p>\n

\"picture\"<\/p>\n

Highlights: De Lie powers to Famenne Ardenne Classic victory<\/p>\n

Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n

The best EF Education-EasyPost\u2019s jersey yet?<\/p>\n

When EF replaced Rapha with Assos after six seasons of collaborations that included \u2013 most notably \u2013 the zany cartoon duck jersey in association with Palace Skateboards, there were fears that their limited-edition Giro jerseys would become a thing of the past, or just not very good.<\/p>\n

Unfounded, it seems. This year, to bypass the annual clash with the Giro\u2019s pink jersey, EF will ride in an eye-catching fluorescent green and yellow top emblazoned with an alien\u2019s head and the message \u2018Ride in Peace\u2019 as well as an upside-down cow across the jersey pockets.<\/p>\n

“We made contact. A signal. A message: We ride in peace. Do you? Join us,” EF Pro Cycling said when revealing the Giro kit.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a clever move, given no other team at the Giro will be in green and that the points classification leader will sport the maglia ciclamino. <\/p>\n

All eight riders will certainly stand out as they look to get among the moves each day in the absence of a GC contender following Richard Carapaz\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\n

And whisper it quietly, but the Assos jersey certainly out-Raphas the last six years of Rapha jerseys. In fact, it might even beat the multicoloured tiles of the 2021 jersey, which was probably the pick of the Rapha bunch.<\/p>\n

“If we\u2019re going to change kits, it should actually say something,” EF team manager Jonathan Vaughters said:<\/p>\n

Assos gives our riders the performance, comfort, and technical quality they need to race at their best, and that allows us to have some fun with the design. With this kit, we\u2019re visually manifesting. Hide your cows. We\u2019re coming to this Giro with serious race ambitions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just a shame that the team\u2019s roster doesn\u2019t seem to reflect those ambitions\u2026<\/p>\n

Will Bardiani’s drive to broaden horizons work out?<\/p>\n

After two years of bringing an all-Italian squad to the Giro, wildcard team Bardiani CSF 7 Saber have opted for something a little different this year by including youngsters from Chile and Uzbekistan in their roster.<\/p>\n

Vicente Rojas, 24, will be the first Chilean since 2011 to ride the Giro, while 21-year-old Nikita Tsvetkov will be the first Uzbek since Djamolidine Abduzhaparov in 1996. <\/p>\n

Neither rider has ever won a pro race outside a national championship and both are making their Grand Tour debuts. Both are only the second riders from their nations to feature in the Italian race in history.<\/p>\n

Given Bardiani\u2019s track record, it won\u2019t be long before we see Rojas and Tsvetkov feature in a long-range breakaway on a sprinters\u2019 stage, no doubt. <\/p>\n

That is, provided they get permission from the usual suspects, Martin Marcellusi and Manuele Tarozzi\u2026<\/p>\n

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here<\/a> to enjoy more content like this.Stream every moment of the Giro d’Italia live on TNT Sports and\u00a0HBO Max.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ahead of Saturday\u2019s grande partenza in Bulgaria, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, there are plenty of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":571913,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,190521,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-571912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-cycling","tag-giro-ditalia-2026","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/571912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=571912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/571912\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/571913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=571912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=571912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=571912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}