A bold statement: Uno-X's ambitious plan to conquer the Giro d'Italia!
In a move that's sure to turn heads, Uno-X Mobility is gearing up for a groundbreaking 2026 season. This Norwegian team, with its WorldTour license in hand, is ready to take on a new challenge: participating in all three Grand Tours.
But here's the catch: Uno-X has never been invited to the Giro d'Italia or Vuelta a Espana before. So, this year's Giro marks a significant milestone for the team and its riders, especially Johannes Kulset, who is set to lead the GC charge.
Preparation for this historic moment was no walk in the park. While other teams enjoyed the sun in Calpe and Costa Blanca, Uno-X braved the freezing temperatures of Sierra Nevada for four weeks. Kulset describes it as a challenging yet rewarding experience, a unique way to kickstart their training regimen.
"My shape was initially poor, but we slowly built it up. It was a great way to boost my performance and motivation for the upcoming season," Kulset shared.
And this is where it gets interesting: Kulset has been working hard on his time trial skills, fine-tuning his position and putting in more training efforts. He's also rethinking his training approach, focusing more on Zone 3 work instead of the traditional Zone 2 fixation.
With Grand Tour experience under his belt from the 2024 Tour de France, where he finished 47th, Kulset is well-prepared for the challenges ahead. He believes the Giro might offer a higher level of competition, especially with the absence of Tadej Pogacar, the dominant force in recent Tours.
"People are starting to avoid the Tour because they know Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Remco will be there. The top spots are already taken unless someone gets sick. The Giro, on the other hand, might offer a more open field from fourth to 15th place," Kulset observes.
At the Giro, Kulset will face Jonas Vingegaard, the runner-up from the Tour edition, but not in a direct battle. His goals are more modest: aiming for a stage victory and staying close to the top 10 in GC.
"I love the Giro's open stages. Instead of a predictable pattern of sprint and mountain stages, the Giro offers a more balanced and exciting race. The GC will be closely contested until the very end," Kulset predicts.
As Kulset takes on the role of GC leader, Uno-X is sending a diverse squad with breakaway specialists and strong riders. The team's strategy is to give everyone a chance, with full support for Kulset when he's not in the break.
And what about the weather? The Scandinavians are ready to thrive in any conditions, thanks to their viking-style training in Sierra Nevada. "Bad weather suits us perfectly. We're more accustomed to it, and we know how to ride in such conditions," Kulset asserts.
So, will Uno-X make a mark in their first Giro appearance? Will Kulset's strategy pay off? And how will they handle the unpredictable weather? These questions and more will be answered as the 2026 Giro d'Italia unfolds.
Stay tuned, and don't forget to share your thoughts and predictions in the comments!"
