Vingegaard conquers the Giro d'Italia, completes historic 'Triple Crown' and joins cycling's most exclusive club

Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) rode into the history books on Sunday, winning the 2026 Giro d'Italia and completing the 'Triple Crown' of cycling's three Grand Tours. The 29-year-old Dane, already a two-time Tour de France champion (2022, 2023) and winner of the 2025 Vuelta a España, crossed the final finish line in Rome's Circo Massimo surrounded by his teammates, securing a dominant overall victory.

A dominant three weeks

Vingegaard's superiority was never in question throughout the three-week race. He claimed five stage victories, including the decisive mountain stage to Piancavallo on Saturday, and wore the leader's pink jersey since Stage 14 on 23 May. His final margin of victory was 5 minutes and 22 seconds over Austrian Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), with Australian Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) a further 1 minute and 3 seconds back in third place.

He dominated from head to toe.

The lack of his principal rivals—Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and others—was noted, but Vingegaard's performance was nonetheless crushing. Portuguese revelation Afonso Eulalio, who finished sixth and won the white jersey for best young rider, summarized the situation mid-race.

The only one who can beat him is Pogacar, and Pogacar is not here.

The final stage in Rome

The 131-kilometer final stage around the monuments of Rome provided late drama for the stage win. Italian Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos) launched a daring solo attack with 18 kilometers to go at the Imperial Forums, gaining nearly half a minute on the peloton before being reeled in with 3,000 meters remaining. The sprint finish was won by Italian Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who celebrated his first-ever stage victory in his home Grand Tour, ahead of compatriot Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti VisitMalta) and Frenchman Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ United).

Joining the immortals

Vingegaard becomes the eighth man to win all three Grand Tours, joining an elite list: Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome—the last to achieve the feat in 2018. Notably, Vingegaard has reached this milestone before his great rival Tadej Pogacar, who has won four Tours de France and one Giro but has yet to win the Vuelta a España.

Being part of this club is a bit unreal for me, I think I still haven't realized it.

An emotional Vingegaard celebrated with his wife Trine and their two children, Frida and Hugo, all dressed in pink at the finish line. The family plays a central role in his career; he changed his second surname from Rasmussen to Hansen in honor of his wife, and before every celebration, he bends to kiss a photo of his family attached to his handlebars.

Seeing them at the finish makes my victory even more beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes, they are always there for me.

The road to the Tour de France

With the Giro secured, attention now turns to the Tour de France (4-26 July). Vingegaard stated that he has recovered the sensations he had before his serious crash at the Itzulia Basque Country in April 2024—the form that saw him beat Pogacar in the 2022 and 2023 Tours. He views the Giro as ideal preparation for challenging Pogacar, who is training at altitude in Sierra Nevada and will race the renewed Tour de Suisse (17-21 June). Vingegaard himself is expected to ride the Tour d'Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly the Critérium du Dauphiné) from 7-14 June.

Tadej is probably the best cyclist of all time.

Richard Plugge, manager of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, hailed the achievement: "We are making history again with the first cyclist of this generation to win all three Grand Tours." The best-placed Spanish rider was David de la Cruz (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling), who finished fourteenth overall.