The 2026 Giro d’Italia route has been unveiled. Right here’s the stage by stage take a look at the course.
Stage 1 – Friday 8 Might
A Slavic begin with the opening stage in Bulgaria on the Black coastline. Why Bulgaria? Like Albania in 2025 it is a nation courting the Italian viewers to advertise a close-by low value vacation vacation spot. Equally it has had a couple of professional riders over time and hosts a 2.2-rated nationwide tour. In contrast to Albania it’s an EU member however it’s obtained its personal foreign money the Lev tied to the Euro and makes use of the cyrillic script. So lots to find.
There’s one climb however it’s nearly imperceptible, a ruse to award the mountains jersey for the day. There’s one lap of a ending circuit in Burgas which has its charms however the ability of TV manufacturing will likely be to showcase these forward of the enormous oil refinery.
Stage 2 – Saturday 9 Might
The second longest stage within the race at 220km. The ultimate climb out of Lyaskovets is steep and can see a lot of the sprinters in bother.
Stage 3 – Sunday 10 Might
A race between the 2 main cities with the end within the capital. If you wish to be taught some Bulgarian, why not begin with ceдловина or sedlovina which suggests a saddle, as in a mountain go as a result of the race goes over Borovec sedlovina however with 75km to regroup. The race then has a Monday relaxation day because the convoy makes its solution to the foot of Italy.
Stage 4 – Tuesday 12 Might
144km and a climb halfway. The race guide says its “straightforward” however it’s nonetheless 17km at 5% and through a twisting facet street too so certain to sap some sprinters.
Stage 5 – Wedesday 13 Might
Just like Stage 7 in 2022 the place Koen Bouwman gained in Potenza to salvage Jumbo-Visma’s Giro after their GC ambitions had already evaporated, though this has a barely completely different end on the town. Like that day the climb of Montagna Grande di Viggiano is the toughest of the day, 6km at 9% in the direction of a small ski station.
Stage 6 – Thursday 14 Might
A spin alongside the Mediterranean coast. Napoli is the brand new Pau. An everyday mid-race hang-out, a prepared provide of lodges and the power to attract on quite a lot of native terrain. This time the climb within the Fuorigrotta a part of city must be mild earlier than the recurring sea entrance end.
Stage 7 – Friday 15 Might
Blockhaus through Roccaraso. A protracted day at 246km – the longest grand tour stage since 2021 – so there’s lots to tire the riders earlier than they attain the ultimate climb of the day with 4,600m of vertical achieve, most of it earlier than Roccamorice. The ultimate climb is 18km at over 8% so akin to Mont Ventoux by way of stats. The street goes on to over 2,000m however 1,665m is lots for the primary week.
Stage 8 – Saturday 16 Might
Virtually a day trip of Tirreno-Adriatico, this places the emphasis on the Adriatic with a protracted experience alongside the coast earlier than turning inland for the ultimate 60km for the some wall-like climbs. Capodarco is understood to the peloton for its selective U23 race and there’s a steep climb to the end in Fermo.
Stage 9 – Sunday 17 Might
A summit end? Sure, only a gradual one with a protracted however typically mild climb. The Corno alle Scale is the height above, that is the street through Acero. It kicks up proper on the finish however that is the kind of end the place a sizeable group comes into the ultimate kilometre collectively.
Stage 10 – Tuesday 19 Might
A flat time trial the place the obstacles are the quite a few corners to the primary time verify because the course stays within the streets of Viareggio. Then it’s alongside the coast to the end. That is comparatively lengthy – the world champs are shorter at 39km – however as the one TT within the Giro, the considering is that it may be inadequate to tempt Remco Evenepoel. Nevermind for organisers RCS who will likely be equally pleased with a Ganna stage win.
Stage 11 – Wednesday 20 Might
A experience out of Tuscany and into the hills of the Cinque Terre. The roads right here range, the Giro has typically caught to the principle arteries however this time it’s obtained some smaller roads and so they’re very tough in locations.
Stage 12 – Thursday 21 Might
Not fairly a reverse Milano-Sanremo however a begin in Imperia after which taking a part of the through Aurelia. The climbs make life more durable for the sprinters, the Bric Berton has 4km nudging 7% however there’s 50km to regroup.
Stage 13 – Friday 22 Might
Two tough climbs to thwart the sprinters within the end. The native rider in Verbania is Filippo Ganna – or was as in he’s moved to Switzerland – so he may be however the course is hardly designed for him. The ultimate climb to Ungiasca will sting because it tackles backroads.
Stage 14 – Saturday 23 Might
4,400m of vertical achieve in simply 133km. It’s on a number of acquainted roads now across the vineyards of Aosta. One promoting level of Aosta is you will get a ski raise out of town to achieve the slopes and it’s the Pila raise. The street to Pila featured in 2022 however it was a descent. It’s 17km at principally 7% so consider a gentle ski-station summit end.
Stage 15 – Sunday 24 Might
An city interlude with the ending internet hosting 4 laps round Milan however not town centre, extra in the direction of the Vigorelli velodrome. As a lot as biking is a rural sport it’s vital to go to cities alongside the way in which too and good particularly for the Giro and RCS to be again in Milan after points with the townhall and the transfer of Milan-Sanremo to Pavia… which options right here too.
Stage 16 – Tuesday 26 Might
The race goes to Switzerland for a mini-stage, simply 113km and crammed right into a small zone too however nonetheless 3,000 of vertical achieve and all on Swiss tarmac. The south-facing end is steep with a number of 8-9%.
Stage 17 – Wednesday 27 Might
The breakaway stage, half the sector ought to have this of their diaries because it’s open to lots with a loop round Andalo beneath the peaks of Paganella which makes it a Dolomite stage or not less than a end however in geological phrases greater than the standard roads we affiliate this with.
Stage 18 – Thursday 28 Might
Didn’t win from the breakaway yesterday? An opportunity for groups to right issues in the event that they missed the transfer and by now for riders robust within the third week to strive once more. The Ca’ del Poggio wall is a staple of biking and all the time a very good level for followers.
Stage 19 – Friday 29 Might
The tappone. Even whether it is simply 151km there’s nonetheless 5,000m of vertical achieve. Loads of powerful climbs within the Dolomites together with the Giau through its more durable facet which weather-permitting is the Cima Coppi excessive level. The ultimate climb is simply 5km however 10% a lot of the means.
Stage 20 – Saturday 30 Might
After a begin to commemorate the 1976 Friuli earthquake in Gemona the stage is all in regards to the double rations of Monte Cavallo. It’s a steep climb that’s typically 10% and most selective firstly, however all on a large street. It ought to make issues marginally simpler to manage, particularly for a stronger group.
Stage 21 – Sunday 31 Might
The ultimate stage in Rome with the now conventional journey to the coast in Ostia, the return through Eur and earlier than that, the 700km switch to debate.
The VerdictIt took a marathon presentation lengthy on speeches from middle-aged males and brief on sporting particulars however the Giro route has been unveiled and with extra time to spare than final time this yr.
It’s very a lot a Giro route. For those who didn’t see the map and will may view the the stage profiles stripped of their place names it might nonetheless be straightforward to determine however Mauro Vegni’s last route earlier than retirement is neither swan music nor bucket record, it’s a extra a handover that continues the development of shorter phases which not way back the Giro appeared proof against however now embraces.
Is it simpler? When Tadej Pogačar obtained a path to swimsuit in 2024 the course issue was pruned again, over 6,000m of vertical achieve lopped off to make the Giro-Tour double simpler. The attraction to Jonas Vingegaard this time is just not as direct: 49,500m of vertical achieve places it inside 1km of the typical underneath Mauro Vegni. It’s definitely shorter because the x-axis shrinks extra, the 246km Blockhaus stage is notable however the story is the brevity of the principle summit finishes, 133km to Pila, 113km to Cari and 151km for the Dolomite day. It’s typically extra medio than gran fondo.
The common stage size is 165km, down from 179km in 2025 and 193km in 2023. It’s backloaded with mountain phases however much less so than current years, simply three mountain phases within the last week in comparison with the standard 4.
There are seven phases possible for the sprinters however a few of these have important climbs to recover from and open up the day to a breakaway, all the higher as it is a solution to create sport and suspense. There are some possible breakaway days.
As ever the course appears to be one factor in the case of luring key riders, the opposite is wrangling over look charges as RCS gives a package deal to groups that varies in response to who begins. As blogged on the night of his defeat on Hautacam, it’s most probably Jonas Vingegaard will begin. UAE will possible return with Del Toro and a number of other others too however Vingegaard is already the plain choose for pink.
