Vingegaard targets Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double / Photo: © AFP
-
Co-hosts Canada beat South Africa to reach World Cup last 16 as knockouts begin
-
Israel detonates tunnel, strikes south Lebanon
-
Putin acknowledges fuel shortages after Ukraine strikes
-
Moriyasu praises 'united' Japan on eve of Brazil World Cup clash
-
Canada reach World Cup last 16 as late strike sinks South Africa
-
Looting, theft in Venezuela's earthquake zone add to tragedy
-
Perry stars as Australia knock India out of World Cup
-
Venezuela quakes kill 1,450, time running out to find survivors
-
Stokes 'content' after extraordinary England exit
-
West Indies beat Sri Lanka in first Test
-
Europe swelters as heatwave moves east
-
Asia's World Cup falls apart with just two teams remaining
-
Stokes announces shock England exit as New Zealand eye series win
-
Bromell upsets Lyles, Duplantis shines at Paris Diamond League
-
CAF president Motsepe hails African World Cup successes
-
Man Utd reveal Ugarte knee injury in Uruguay World Cup defeat
-
South Korea coach quits after early World Cup exit
-
Stokes out for 30 in final Test innings after shock England retirement
-
Venezuela quakes kill 1,400, time running out to find survivors
-
Wolff praises 'cold-blooded' Russell, enjoys Antonelli enthusiasm at Austrian GP
-
Hamilton laments lack of power and poor tyre performance
-
Stokes announces shock England exit as Mitchell bats New Zealand into commanding lead
-
Goals galore at record-breaking World Cup
-
Russell overcomes 'tricky run of form' to revive title bid
-
Augusta Tops Best Gold IRA Companies List By Gold Advisor
-
Europe swelters as heatwave moves east, excess deaths rise
-
They support Argentina at the World Cup, but are not Argentine
-
Raducanu hopes to feature at Wimbledon despite injury woe
-
Iran warns ships not to bypass its chosen Hormuz route
-
Russell holds off Verstappen to win Austrian Grand Prix
-
Serena blasts drug test rules ahead of Wimbledon return
-
England captain Stokes to retire from international cricket
-
Ogier wins Acropolis Rally to close in on Evans
-
South Africa maintain World Cup semi-final hopes with nervy win over Bangladesh
-
South Korea president apologises after World Cup group-stage exit
-
Japan's Ogura wins maiden MotoGP as Bezzecchi crashes in Assen
-
Bergs wins Eastbourne final to clinch first ATP title
-
Ravindra and Mitchell strengthen New Zealand's grip on England decider
-
Iran warns challenge to Hormuz routes will spike Middle East tensions
-
BIS warns 'pressure points' putting global economy at risk
-
From rubble to music: Gaza's Oud repairman
-
Ntamack aims to bring Toulouse Top 14 win 'energy' to Nations Championship campaign
-
Cycling industry bets on smart bikes to boost sales
-
'High-strung' camels race in Australian outback
-
In Idaho, the next generation of US nuclear reactors nears reality
-
Algeria and Austria reach World Cup knockouts after 3-3 thriller
-
Africa the winner of expanded World Cup amid mixed fortunes for minnows
-
DR Congo advance but Iran out as wild World Cup group stage wraps
-
Asia's vendors grapple with rising costs of ever-present plastics
-
Austria and Algeria reach World Cup knockouts after 3-3 thriller
Vingegaard targets Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double
Danish cycling great Jonas Vingegaard will race the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia this year as he bids to become the eighth rider to win the three Grand Tours.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider unveiled his schedule on Tuesday at his team's media day in Nucia, on Spain's Costa Blanca.
The two-time Tour de France champion added the Vuelta a Espana trophy to his collection of titles last year.
He will compete for the first time in the Giro from May 8-31, where he will be the overwhelming favourite in the absence of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Vingegaard will then race the Tour de France from July 4-26. He won the Tour in 2022 and 2023 but will start this time as an outsider against two-time defending champion Pogacar.
"I have been thinking about riding the Giro for a while now," said the 29-year-old.
"It's one of the biggest races on the calendar and it's also one I have never done before. I really want to experience it, and now feels like the perfect moment.
"Winning the Vuelta last fall only gives me more motivation to go all-in for victory in Italy as well. I would love to add the pink jersey to my collection."
The Dane will begin his season on February 16 at the UAE Tour before also racing the Tour of Catalonia from March 23-29.
"Over the past five years, my build-up to the Tour has been largely the same. This time we have chosen something new," he said.
"The organisation has designed a great course for the Giro. Perhaps not as demanding as in recent years, which makes combining the Giro and the Tour a favourable option for us.”
Vingegaard will attempt to repeat Pogacar's feat of 2024, when the Slovenian won both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.
At the Giro, won in 2025 by his former teammate Simon Yates, who announced his retirement last week, Vingegaard will have another objective: to become just the eighth rider to have won all three Grand Tours in his career.
Great rival Pogacar has won the Tour de France four times and the Giro once, but finished third during his only participation in Spain in 2019.
Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome are the seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours.
M.Betschart--VB
