2026 Giro d’Italia Favourites for the Overall: The Giro d’Italia hasn’t even rolled out of Nessebar and the GC picture has already shifted dramatically. With João Almeida, Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz all missing, the spotlight falls squarely on Jonas Vingegaard—making his Giro debut as the clear man to beat. But Grand Tours are rarely that simple. From emerging Italian hope Giulio Pellizzari to resurgent former winners like Egan Bernal, the 2026 Giro still promises a three-week battle where tactics, depth, and endurance will decide who wears pink in Rome.
No Carapaz or Del Toro
The organisers of the 2026 Giro d’Italia must be pleased to have Jonas Vingegaard on the start sheet for the first time, but they have lost some of the top men before the start in Bulgaria: João Almeida, Mikel Landa, and Richard Carapaz will not be on the start line in Nessebar on Friday. Almeida was probably Vingegaard’s main rival, like last year in the Vuelta. The Portuguese rider has been sick during his build up to the pink race and will now not start.
Landa will also be missing due to a small fracture in his pelvis after his crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. Landa, who has podiumed in the Giro d’Italia in 2015 and 2022, needs more time to recover and will not start the Giro. It was announced last Wednesday that Richard Carapaz will also not be fighting for pink this year. The third-placed rider of 2025 Giro is still recovering from a previous operation and his EF Education-EasyPost team said he would now focus on the Tour de France.
It’s Vingegaard’s race too lose
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) – The Favorite
Who can stop Jonas Vingegaard from winning his first Giro d’Italia? The Dane starts as the No. 1 pick among the 2026 Giro d’Italia Favourites. In the absence of Tadej Pogačar, there is no one else with the Grand Tour Palmarés to match Vingegaard on the start list. It is Vingegaard’s race to lose. Having won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 and the Vuelta a España in 2025, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider can now put his name in the cycling history book with all three GTs. Vingegaard’s spring looked to be perfect for the Giro as he won Paris-Nice and the Tour of Catalonia, but they were the only races he rode in 2026. He also has a strong team, including Sepp Kuss, Wilco Kelderman, Victor Campenaerts, and Bart Lemmen.
And the Challengers
Can Adam Yates beat Vingegaard?
Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG)
Maybe the start list isn’t the strongest, but Vingegaard will not have an easy ride. UAE Emirates XRG had hoped to have João Almeida, but the Portuguese rider is missing and Adam Yates will be their main man. Can he battle against Vingegaard? Yates has always been a strong rider, but his last good final overall finish in the Tour was 2024, when he finished 6th. There hasn’t been much since then, but he has had to ride for Pogačar or Isaac Del Toro last year. Yates will probably be the UAE leader and be able to ride his own race. He did win the O Gran Camiño, but hasn’t raced that much this season.
Pellizzari – Italy hopes
Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
The last Italian to win the home tour was Vincenzo Nibali in 2016, but Giulio Pellizzari could be the next. The 22 year-old Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider has been building a strong upward trajectory. Pellizzari finished 6th in last year’s Giro and the Vuelta, so he is a Grand Tour rider and by all accounts has been working hard over the winter. He finished third in Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta a Valencianna and won the Tour of the Alps in the run up to the Giro. Although he will have the weight of the country on his shoulders.
Gall, the best climber in the Giro?
Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM)
The French team will be hoping that Felix Gall will be at his best in May as the Austrian is their leader for the GC. Can Gall threaten Vingegaard? He should be able to compete for the podium. Gall was 5th in the UAE Tour and 6th the Tour of Catalonia this year and has been showing his promise as a Grand Tour rider in recent years. His time trial can let him down and he has been caught out on the windy flat stages, but uphill he can be one of the best. It is crucial for Gall and Decathlon CMA CGM to get through the first two weeks without losing much time, then he can strike in the third week, when the Giro heads into the high mountains.
Arensman – Winner or worker?
Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers)
Dutchman, Thymen Arensman, has previously finished sixth twice in the Giro, but he will want to go for a podium places. If he reaches the level he showed in the Tour of the Alps, he will be a contender for the Giro GC. In the Alps, he finished 3rd, behind his teammate Egan Bernal and overall winner Giulio Pellizzari. At INEOS Grenadiers (Netcompany INEOS), he shares the lead with Bernal. This shouldn’t be a problem, as the British team is not expected to be a lead team. Arensman should benefit from his Colombian teammate and they could have the opportunity to fight Vingegaard together.
Bernal back
Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
INEOS Grenadiers will also count on Egan Bernal at the Giro. After his crash in January 2022, it was questionable whether the Colombian would ever be able to walk again, but Bernal has come a long way since then. The 29 year-old rider hopes to come back to his previous position in cycle sport. Bernal must still be dreaming of a second Giro victory, that will not be easy, but a podium place is possible, as Bernal has had good form in the weeks before the Giro. A 2nd place in the Tour of the Alps, behind Giulio Pellizzari, and 5th in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. After his 7th place in the 2025 Giro, he will certainly have podium ambitions.
Look for Gee-West in the third week
Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek)
Derek Gee-West was 4th in 2025 and is back this year. The Canadian might improve on his performance of last year with his new team. Gee-West started the season with 7th place in the UAE Tour, but hasn’t done much since. Due to illness, he had to change his plans. He didn’t come close to Pellizzari, Bernal, and Arensman in the Tour of the Alps, but Lidl-Trek’s GT leader did improve to finished 12th in the final overall. Don’t be surprised if Gee-West improves as the the Giro progresses and has a strong final week in the mountains.
Giro’22 winner – Hindley
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jai Hindley has also been quiet so far this season. The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team has many leaders, so Hindley has not been the ‘top man’ in any races for the team in the spring. He rode for Pellizzari in Tirreno-Adriatico and for Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz in the Tour of Catalonia. In the 2026 Giro d’Italia, the Australian former Giro winner, will probably be a co-leader as the 29 year-old climber excels in the Grand Tours. Last year Hindley finished fourth in the Vuelta a España and had his sights on the final podium spot, but was narrowly beaten by Tom Pidcock. Never rule out Hindley in a three-week race.
O’Connor can be inconsistent
Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla)
Ben O’Connor, finished 4th in the Giro two years ago. The Australian hasn’t had a great spring, but he was 8th in the Tour of the Alps and was a contender for the overall victory in the Vuelta a España. O’Connor has what it takes to be a top Grand Tour rider, but can he win overall or is a podium place the best he can expect? His performance in the Tour of the Alps should give him some confidence for the Giro, but he can be inconsistent.
What can we expect for Mas?
Enric Mas (Movistar)
Enric Mas is a bit of a mystery when it comes to his race form at the moment. The Spaniard has always been a Grand Tour overall contender and appeared on many podiums. In recent seasons, the Movistar rider has been troubled by injuries. Last year, part of his season was ruined by phlebitis, and since then Mas has been searching for his form. The 31 year-old rider has competed in only four races this season, without any results. Can he do anything? We will have to wait and see.
Storer was good in the Alps
The Outsiders:
There is quite a few others we must look at for strong GC credentials: Michael Storer was 10th in the 2024 and 2025 Giri and was 4th in the Tour of the Alps. His Tudor teammate Mathys Rondel was also good in the Alps. The Frenchman finished 5th and is making his Grand Tour debut in the Giro. Pellizzari and Hindley will be leading Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, but there is also Aleksandr Vlasov, who was 4th in 2021. Then there is Movistar climber Einer Rubio who was 8th last year, Bahrain Victorious have Santiago Buitrago and Damiano Caruso (5th last year), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), Jay Vine (UAE Emirates XRG), Chris Harper (Pinarello-Q36.5), Alessandro Pinarello (NSN Cycling), Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick-Step), and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarché).
A Giro to add to the Tour and Vuelta for Vingegaard
Top 2026 Giro d’Italia Favourites:
No. 1: Jonas Vingegaard
Possible: Adam Yates and Giulio Pellizzari
Maybe: Egan Arley Bernal Gomez, Felix Gall and Thymen Arensman
Could Be: Ben O’Connor, Derek Gee-West, Enric Mas Nicolau and Jai Hindley.
*** Stay PEZ for all the 2026 Giro d’Italia action. ***
Giro d’Italia 2026: Who Actually Beats Jonas Vingegaard? by FloBikes
The post 2026 Giro d’Italia Preview: Vingegaard Leads the GC Favourites appeared first on PezCycling News.
