Cycling

Giro d'Italia, Vingegaard wins again and strengthens lead. Pellizzari collapses

The Danish rider soloed to victory on the 16th stage of the Giro, the Bellinzona-Cari, 113 km all on Swiss soil, taking his fourth success in this edition

by Dario Ceccarelli

26 May 2026

Jonas Vingegaard Hansen, danese del Team Visma | Lease A Bike e detentore della maglia rosa, taglia il traguardo e conquista la vittoria della sedicesima tappa del Giro d’Italia, in programma martedì 26 maggio 2026 da Bellinzona a Carì, in Svizzera. (Foto di Massimo Paolone/LaPresse) LAPRESSE

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

There is nothing more to be done, let's put our minds at rest. In order to stop Jonas Vingegaard, on his fourth stage victory at the Giro d'Italia, this time in Switzerland, you would have to steal his bike.

Or chain him to a post and throw away the key. Or ask Tadej Pogacar, with whom he will battle at the next Tour de France, to join him in this final week of the race to make him realise that it is not always a party. That it's easy to put on a show when others, no offence intended, don't play the same sport as the Dane. The two are of the same ilk. Too strong and the others put on a good face.

In this fourth finish in the high mountains, after 116 kilometres through the Ticino canton from Bellinzona to Carì, the pink jersey gave the classification another sweep by giving the usual acceleration about six kilometres from the finish. A skid and goodbye.

First there was the usual frenzied work of the Visma Sherpas, with Davide Piganzoli busy crushing the resistance of the other big names. When good Davide stepped aside, the pink jersey took flight, but never gave the impression of sinking the pace. Strong but not very strong. However, it was enough to make the gap. In the end the gaps were heavy: 1 minute 7" to Austrian Gall, who always manages to limit the damage in the uphill finishes. Then came Australian Hindely (+1'09"), Dutchman Arensman (+1'12") and Canadian Derek Gee (+1'18").

Our Davide Piganzoli, finished in sixth place at about one and a half minutes. Shall we say? Piganzoli, Vingegaard's favourite domestique, is at this moment the most spirited Italian in the Giro, with a very respectable eighth place in the general classification. In front of Piganzoli, not to be sovereignistic, but this is the Giro d'Italia, only foreigners. Putting his finger on the sore spot even more was Giulio Pellizzari, who was overwhelmed by a new crisis 9 kilometres from the finish. An ordeal, that of Giulio. In the end he arrived 18 minutes behind the pink jersey. Overwhelmed and looking into the void, he could only mumble that he immediately realised he was ill: 'I gave up to try and save myself. I'll try to do something in the last stages...'.

Another bitter disappointment that will have to be reflected upon. After the Giro, though. The impression is that Pellizzari, as well as not having a very powerful engine, suffers a lot of pressure. Being captain, but with a strong teammate like Hindley behind him, has not helped him. Now the Australian is fourth in the classification with five minutes. Another thrashing was taken by the Portuguese Afonso Eulalio, the former pink jersey for nine days. He took three minutes and has now slipped to fifth at almost 6'. The fight for the podium at this point narrowed down to a few survivors. Austrian Felix Gall is second with more than four minutes. He is followed by Arensman (+4'27") and the aforementioned Hindley.

Very satisfied Vingegaard: 'I lived in Switzerland for a while, I knew these climbs. A special place. The attack? Well, it's better to take these opportunities when they come," the pink jersey concluded, explaining that the Tour is certainly important to him, but first he wants to honour the Giro d'Italia to the end. Too good, thank you.

Lap over, then? It's best not to say for superstition's sake, but there are now two Giro: Vingo's and then those of the others fighting for a place on the podium. That's the reality. Just as it is a reality that our cycling, apart from a few stage wins, is almost at year zero. Let's hope that Piganzoli, 23 years old, will sooner or later emancipate himself from Vingo. The premises are there. And racing alongside the Dane can only make him grow. For the rest, fingers crossed.

On Wednesday 27 May, stage 17, there is an interesting starter before the Dolomites. From Cassano d'Adda after 202 kilometres to Andalo in Trentino. A moving fraction with a final breakaway 4 kilometres from the finish. An opportunity for second and third rows. And here at the Giro there are plenty of them.