There are riders who seem built to carry the weight of an entire nation.
Giulio Pellizzari is still just 22 years old, with a shy smile and the wiry frame of a climber, but Italy already sees him as the man who can end a wait that has dragged on far too long. No Italian has won the Giro since Vincenzo Nibali in 2016. Ten years of emptiness for a country that treats this race as almost a matter of the heart.
And into that collective longing steps the “Duke of Camerino,” a boy from Le Marche who grew up amid earthquakes, mountains, and big dreams. The 2026 Giro started with Pellizzari as one of its biggest attractions. His victory just days ago in the Tour of the Alps further fueled expectations that had been building for months. But he tries to tone down the noise around him.
“I have many expectations, but I believe they come more from within than from outside,” he told MARCA at the start of the race. “Obviously I want to do well, but we’re taking it stage by stage, calmly, without rushing, and trying to enjoy every day here.” He speaks slowly, almost cautiously, as if he still can’t quite believe everything happening around him. Italy, however, believes. Because Pellizzari combines many things Italian cycling has sought for years: mountain talent, a calm personality, mental resilience, and a backstory that connects with people.
Camerino, the town where he grew up, is still marked by the 2016 earthquake. He was 12 years old when the ground began to shake. The image of cups falling as his family fled their home has stayed with him forever. Perhaps that’s why he projects that strange mix of serenity and inner toughness, as if he learned too early that nothing stays still for long.
His definitive breakthrough came at the 2024 Giro. Back then, he was just a young climber from Bardiani who stunned the world by battling Pogacar for a stage win on Monte Pana. The Slovenian eventually won, but left a symbolic image: he gave Pellizzari a pink jersey and a pair of leader’s glasses, which he still treasures. From that moment, he stopped being a promise and became a national obsession.
Last year he took another step forward. He finished sixth in both the Giro and the Vuelta, first working for Roglič and then for Hindley. Now everything changes. Red Bull hands him the leadership of its home Grand Tour. He has to step up as co-leader.
And that brings one of the key dynamics of this Giro: the collective strength of the German team. Jonas Vingegaard admitted to MARCA that Red Bull is the squad he respects the most. Pellizzari smiles when he hears that. “It pleases me,” he admits. “I think we are a good team. We’re ready and can’t wait to start.”
Jonas Vingegaard: “I am favorite for the Giro, but not the only one” 
Well Accompanied
By his side is Jai Hindley, winner of the 2022 Giro and an important figure for his development. “For me it’s wonderful to race with him. I love the way he rides and the way he is away from the races. Last year we had fun and we hope to have fun again in this Giro.”
The race, however, seems designed for attrition. Lots of mountains, explosive finishes, and a brutal third week where everything will likely be decided. Pellizzari avoids naming a specific stage. “I think that…”