The 2026 Giro d’Italia arrived in Rome for the traditional final catwalk, with the last stage intended for sprinters and concluded with a sprint on the streets of the capital which saw the first victory in this Corsa Rosa for our Jonathan Milan. A day of celebration that did not change the balance of the general classification, already definitively decided after the penultimate mountain stage.
Taking center stage was Jonas Vingegaard, the true dominator of the virtually unrivaled pink race. The Danish champion of the Visma-Lease a Bike team won his first Giro d’Italia by imposing himself with a huge advantage over his rivals, over 5 minutes, and winning five stages, all achieved in the mountains where he made the difference thanks to his superiority in the hardest climbs.
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Vingegaard in the history of cycling
With his success at the Giro, Vingegaard joins a very small elite in world cycling. After having already won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 and the Vuelta a España in 2025, the Dane completes the so-called Triple Crown, becoming the eighth rider in history to win all three major stage races at least once. The final general classification sees Felix Gall in second place with a delay of 5 minutes and 22 seconds, while Jai Hindley completes the podium 6 minutes and 25 seconds behind the winner.
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Ciccone wins the blue jersey
Among the most positive notes for Italian cycling stands out the result of Giulio Ciccone, who won the prestigious blue jersey for best climber. The Abruzzo native was one of the great protagonists of the Alpine and Apennine stages, animating numerous breakaways and accumulating decisive points in the main Mountain Grands Prix. Despite failing to achieve a stage victory despite trying in every way, Ciccone was rewarded for his consistency and offensive spirit with one of the most prestigious awards of the race.
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The other shirts: white for Eulalio and cyclamen for Maigner
The white jersey reserved for the best young rider went to the Portuguese Afonso Eulalio, author of a very solid Giro which allowed him to finish in sixth place in the general classification after a classic “bad escape” which led him to wear the pink jersey for 9 days.
The cyclamen jersey, awarded to the leader of the points classification, was instead won by Paul Maigner, protagonist in the sprints and intermediate finishes. Second place for our Jonathan Milan.
Two Italians in the top 10
As regards the general classification, however, unfortunately there was little Italy with the worst result ever: in fact, it had never happened before that there was no Italian in the top 7. Hopes were concentrated in Giulio Pellizzari who, after the first encouraging days, fell ill and was no longer able to find his best legs.
The best of the Azzurri was 23-year-old Davide Piganzoli, eighth overall and fighting for the white jersey for a long time. A result of great value considering that the young Lombard was mainly engaged in the role of luxury wingman at the service of Vingegaard, often the last man to support him before the decisive attacks uphill.
Immediately behind, in ninth place, was the eternal Damiano Caruso. At 38 years old and in his last Corsa Rosa, the Sicilian once again confirms his competitiveness at the highest levels, achieving the fourth top ten at the Giro in the last six years and demonstrating extraordinary sporting longevity.
Four successes for our standard bearers
On the victories front, there were four stage successes: Davide Ballerini in Naples, able to avoid a fall in the top positions of the group, Filippo Ganna with a monstrous performance in the individual time trial, Alberto Bettiol with an attack on the final climb after a breakaway from afar in the thirteenth stage arriving in Verbania and finally the final success, as mentioned, of Jonathan Milan in Rome.
And so, between Vingegaard’s dominance, Ciccone’s blue jersey and the presence of two Italians in the final top ten, the 2026 Giro d’Italia ends with a Rome in celebration and with its gaze already turned to the next great challenge: the Tour de France, where Vingegaard will meet his great rival, Tadej Pogačar.
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