Nibali believes riding Giro can help Vingegaard win the Tour

Vincenzo Nibali believes that it is the right time for Jonas Vingegaard to make his Giro d’Italia debut, after it was announced on Tuesday that the Dane will tackle both the Italian Grand Tour and the Tour de France in 2026.

Nibali, a two-time winner of his home Grand Tour, was asked in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport if the Giro has already found its winner with the confirmed participation of Vingegaard.

“It's too early to say, but Vingegaard certainly chose to debut at the right time, after winning the Vuelta in addition to the two Tours. And the Giro, compared to the Spanish race, is better suited to him,” said Nibali to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Nibali suggested that the “less explosive” route of the Giro is better suited to Vingegaard’s talents.

“The main reason lies in the technical characteristics of the Giro's climbs,” said Nibali. “They're less 'explosive' than those of the Vuelta, which are tough, but generally not as long as the Italian ones. In the last week this year, there are at least three long stages with perfect climbs for Vingegaard."

The 2026 Giro route features seven summit finishes in total, including stage 7 to Blockhaus, and the penultimate day of action, which finishes atop Piancavallo, long and arduous climbs that Vingegaard can get his teeth stuck into. 

The addition of the Giro to Vingegaard’s schedule gives the Dane a new challenge and a different approach heading into the Tour de France, where he has had to settle for second behind Tadej Pogačar for the last two editions, having won the yellow jersey in 2022 and 2023.

“The change of schedule will give him new motivation, and that's normal. An athlete can't always repeat the same pattern and benefits from breaking out of what becomes a routine,” said Nibali. “Therefore, it can help him ahead of the Tour. And if he manages to win the Giro, he might be more mentally free to challenge Tadej.”

Nibali knows better than most what it takes, as one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours in their career, alongside Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador and Chris Froome. 

If Vingegaard is successful in his quest for the pink jersey in May, the Dane will become the eighth member of this exclusive club, one which doesn't include Pogačar, who has yet to win the Vuelta.

Even so, Nibali believes that Vingegaard isn’t worried about getting one over on the world champion. "I don't think so. Both Vingegaard and Tadej are looking first at themselves, at their own path. And rightly so."