Latest News from the Race
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AnalysisBeyond the GC battle - The 2026 Giro d'Italia offers more than the fight for the maglia rosa - Analysis
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News'We're not even going to think about the idea' – RCS firmly against Tadej Pogačar's suggestion to switch Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España dates
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News'We're working on it' - Giro d'Italia organisers soften 2026 route in strategy to tempt Vingegaard, Evenepoel and other big names
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Date | May 8- 31, 2026 |
Distance | 3,458.2 |
Start location | Nessebar, Bulgaria |
Finish location | Rome, Italy |
Category | UCI WorldTour/GrandTour |
Edition | 109th |
Total climbing | 49,150 metres |
Previous edition | |
Previous winner | Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) |
2026 Giro d'Italia Overview
The 2026 Giro d'Italia is the 109th edition of the Italian Grand Tour. The three-week race will be held from May 8 to May 31 with the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria in Eastern Europe. The Giro will travel to Italy after three stages in Bulgaria
Race organiser RCS Sport presented the race route in Rome on December 1, alongside the route of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women's race.
The 2026 Giro d'Italia route covers a total 3,459.2 kilometres and includes 49,150 metres of elevation gain across the 21 stages.
There is just one 40.2 km time trial in Tuscany, with a balance of sprint, hilly and mountain stages. The final week is packed with mountain stages in the north of Italy before a transfer to the capital Rome for the final circuit stage.
See the full details of the 2026 Giro d'Italia route on our map page.
Cyclingnews will have live coverage of all 21 stages of the 2026 Giro d'Italia, along with race reports, galleries, results, and exclusive features and news.
2025 Giro d'Italia schedule
Stage | Date | Start/Finish | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 | May 8, 2026 | Nessebar - Burgas | 156km |
Stage 2 | May 9, 2026 | Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo | 220km |
Stage 3 | May 10, 2026 | Plovdiv - Sofia | 174km |
Rest Day 1 | May 11, 2026 | Row 3 - Cell 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
Stage 4 | May 12, 2026 | Catanzaro- Cosenza | 144 km |
Stage 5 | May 13, 2026 | Praia a Mare - Potenza | 204km |
Stage 6 | May 14, 2026 | Paestum - Napoli | 161km |
Stage 7 | May 15, 2026 | Formia - Blockhaus | 246km |
Stage 8 | May 16, 2026 | Chieti - Fermo | 159 km |
Stage 9 | May 17, 2026 | Cervia - Corno alle Scale | 184 km |
Rest Day 2 | May 18, 2026 | Row 10 - Cell 2 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
Stage 10 | May 19, 2026 | Viareggio - Massa (ITT) | 40.2km |
Stage 11 | May 20, 2026 | Porcari - Chiaveri | 178km |
Stage 12 | May 21, 2026 | Imperia - Novi Ligure | 177km |
Stage 13 | May 22, 2026 | Alessandria - Verbania | 186km |
Stage 14 | May 23, 2026 | Aosta - Pila | 133km |
Stage 15 | May 24, 2026 | Voghera - Milan | 136km |
Rest Day 3 | May 25, 2026 | Row 17 - Cell 2 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
Stage 16 | May 26, 2026 | Bellinzona - Carì | 113km |
Stage 17 | May 27, 2026 | Cassano d'Adda - Andalo | 200km |
Stage 18 | May 28, 2026 | Fai della Paganella - Pieve di Soligo | 166km |
Stage 19 | May 29, 2026 | Feltre - Alleghe | 151km |
Stage 20 | May 30, 2026 | Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo | 199km |
Stage 21 | May 31, 2026 | Roma - Roma | 131km |
Giro d'Italia Records
Most overall wins: Fausto Coppi, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx (five); Giovanni Brunero, Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo Magni, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault (three).
Most stage wins: Mario Cipollini (42), Alfredo Binda (41), Learco Guerra (31), Constance Girardengo (30), Eddy Merckx (25), Mark Cavendish (16)
Most mountain classification wins: Gino Bartali (seven); José Manuel Fuentes (four); Fausto Coppi, Franco Bitossi, Claudio Bortolotto, Claudio Chiappucci (three)
Most points classification wins: Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni (four); Roger De Vlaeminck, Johan van der Velde, Mario Cipollini (three)
Most starts: Wladimir Panizza (18); Pierino Gavazzi, Domenico Pozzovivo (17)
Youngest winner: Fausto Coppi, 1940 (20 years and 268 days)
Oldest winner: Fiorenzo Magni, 1955 (34 years and 180 days)
Smallest margin of victory: 11 seconds (Fiorenzo Magni, 1948)
Largest margin of victory: 1:57:26 (Alfonso Calzolari, 1914)
Fastest edition: 2024 (41.866 kph)
Races
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Giro d'Italia8 May 2026 - 31 May 2026 | WorldTour
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Stage 1 | Nessebar - Burgas2026-05-08 156km
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Stage 2 | Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo2026-05-09 220km
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Stage 3 | Plovdiv - Sofia2026-05-10 174km
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Rest Day 12026-05-11
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Stage 4 | Catanzaro - Cosenza2026-05-12 144km
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Stage 5 | Praia a Mare - Potenza2026-05-13 204km
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Stage 6 | Paestum - Napoli2026-05-14 161km
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Stage 7 | Formia - Blockhaus2026-05-15 246km
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Stage 8 | Chieti - Fermo2026-05-16 159km
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Stage 10 | Cervia - Corno alle Scale2026-05-17 184km
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Rest Day 22026-05-18
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Stage 10 | Viareggio - Massa (ITT)2026-05-19 40.2km
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Stage 11 | Porcari - Chiaveri2026-05-20 178km
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Stage 12 | Imperia - Novi Ligure2026-05-21 177km
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Stage 13 | Alessandria - Verbania2026-05-22 186km
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Stage 14 | Aosta - Pila2026-05-23 133km
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Stage 15 | Voghera - Milan2026-05-24 136km
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Rest Day 32026-05-25
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Stage 16 | Bellinzona - Carì2026-05-26 113km
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Stage 17 | Cassano d'Adda - Andalo2026-05-27 200km
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Stage 18 | Fai della Paganella - Pieve di Soligo2026-05-28 167km
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Stage 19 | Feltre - Alleghe2026-05-29 151km
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Stage 20 | Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo2026-05-30 199km
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Stage 21 | Rome - Rome2026-05-31 131km
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Latest Content on the Race

Beyond the GC battle - The 2026 Giro d'Italia offers more than the fight for the maglia rosa - Analysis
By Stephen Farrand published
Analysis Numerous hilly stage finishes offer chances for Nys, Brennan, Magnier and other young talents to shine but will it be a dramatic year in the GC?

'We're not even going to think about the idea' – RCS firmly against Tadej Pogačar's suggestion to switch Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España dates
By Stephen Farrand published
News Italian race organiser only open to a one week move into June to benefit from better weather and Italian national holiday

'We're working on it' - Giro d'Italia organisers soften 2026 route in strategy to tempt Vingegaard, Evenepoel and other big names
By Stephen Farrand published
News "We're trying to set up a real battle between some 'grande campione" RCS Sport CEO Paolo Bellino tells Cyclingnews

'I'd love to come back' - Simon Yates' love for the Giro d'Italia fuels desire to defend maglia rosa
By Stephen Farrand published
News 2025 Giro winner explain why he loves the Corsa Rosa and Italy so much

How to watch the 2026 Giro d'Italia route presentation – Live streams, TV coverage
By Dani Ostanek published
How to watch All the broadcast information for the grand unveiling of the men's and women's routes on December 1

'I gave my life to the Giro' - Race director Mauro Vegni to retire soon after presenting 2026 Giro d'Italia route
By Stephen Farrand published
Interview A final exclusive interview with the last great Giro d'Italia direttore

2026 Giro d'Italia expected to be packed with sprint opportunities and high mountains
By Stephen Farrand published
News Men's and women's race routes to be revealed in Rome on Monday as Mauro Vegni signs off as race director

Flat 40km time trial could tempt Remco Evenepoel to race 2026 Giro d'Italia
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News Unconfirmed Belgian media reports of lengthy second week race against the clock next May
Top News on the Race
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2026 Giro d'Italia expected to be packed with sprint opportunities and high mountains
Men's and women's race routes to be revealed in Rome on Monday as Mauro Vegni signs off as race director -
Flat 40km time trial could tempt Remco Evenepoel to race 2026 Giro d'Italia
Unconfirmed Belgian media reports of lengthy second week race against the clock next May -
2026 Giro d'Italia to start in Bulgaria after government approval for bid
'The Giro d’Italia will put our country on the global tourism map' says Tourism minister
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Watch Tour de France stage 16 online: All the broadcasters and streams for the Mont Ventoux showdown
The third week begins with an ascent of one of the Tour's legendary mountains -
'It made it clear to everyone that I'm on the market' – Belgian rider explains work for Carapaz at Giro d'Italia
Giro intermediate sprint prize winner Dries De Bondt explains his appearance in the GC battle on the Colle delle Finestre -
Relegation Watch 2025: Cofidis out of top 18 as Picnic-PostNL, XDS Astana gain on Giro d'Italia success
Arkéa-B&B Hotels drop further, but margins are still razor thin for Picnic-PostNL and Cofidis as XDS Astana pull away
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'If you keep doing the same thing, you get the same result' - Jayco AlUla owner Gerry Ryan on why he is restructuring his teams without Matt White
An exclusive interview with the Australian team owner and businessman -
'He's not a bad bike rider' - Adam Yates happy brother Simon won the Giro d'Italia, defends UAE Team Emirates 'good race'
Mixed emotions for UAE rider as his team loses the Giro to his twin brother -
'When two people argue, someone else celebrates' – Details of the Del Toro-Carapaz Giro d'Italia tactical battle emerge
'When you make mistakes, you lay the foundations for future success' says UAE directeur sportif Fabio Baldato
Related Features
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Beyond the GC battle - The 2026 Giro d'Italia offers more than the fight for the maglia rosa - Analysis
Numerous hilly stage finishes offer chances for Nys, Brennan, Magnier and other young talents to shine but will it be a dramatic year in the GC? -
'I gave my life to the Giro' - Race director Mauro Vegni to retire soon after presenting 2026 Giro d'Italia route
A final exclusive interview with the last great Giro d'Italia direttore -
'I sat down on a chair yesterday… and then I woke up an hour later' - Larry Warbasse's recovery and recollections from the Giro d'Italia
In his final column from the Giro, the US rider recalls breakaways, big efforts and meeting the new pope -
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Day dreaming: how the 2025 Giro d'Italia was lost and won - Philippa York analysis
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