Date | May 30- June 7, 2026 |
Start location | Cesenatico |
Finish location | Saluzzo |
Distance | 1,153.7km |
Category | UCI Women's WorldTour |
Previous winner |
2025 Giro d'Italia Women Information
The 2026 Giro d'Italia Women will be held from May 30-June 7, in a new slot in the women's WorldTour calendar, which connects it with the men's race rather than being held during the men's Tour de France.
The official race route was revealed in Rome on December 1 at the same time as the men's 2026 Giro d'Italia route. It is the third year that the event is organised by RCS Sport.
The women's Giro d'Italia route covers 1153.7km and starts in Marco Pantani's birthplace, Cesenatico and ends in Saluzzo, after climbing the mighty Colle delle Finestre gravel road on the way to Sestriere.
The route includes an individual time trial, two flat stages, three medium mountain stages, and two high mountain stages.
The Giro d'Italia Women is a long-running women's stage race which has carved a niche as one of the most prestigious women's events in the world.
The race will celebrate its 37th anniversary in 2026 and will include nine stages.
La Vuelta Femenina, the Giro d'Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes are the three biggest stage races on the Women's WorldTour calendar. The Vuelta kicks off the women's Grand Tours in early May, while the Giro d'Italia will be held in early June in 2026, and the Tour de France Femmes is again at the end of July on the international calendar.
Cyclingnews will highlight key feature stories ahead of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women, including the major talking points, exclusive interviews, race reports, news, analysis and photo galleries.
We also highlight the major contenders of the eight-day race and a look at the history of iconic ascents at the Giro d'Italia Women throughout its long-year history.
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
Giro d'Italia Women History
In the Giro d'Italia's more than three-decade-long history, some of the past winners include inaugural champion Maria Canins (Italy) in 1988, Catherine Marsal (France) in 1990, five-time winner Fabiana Luperini (Italy) from 1995-98 and 2008, two-time winner Joane Somarriba (Spain) in 1999 and 2000, three-time winner Nicole Brändli (Switzerland) in 2001, 2003 and 2005, Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) in 2004, and two-time winner Edita Pučinskaitė (Lithuania) in 2006 and 2007.
Americans Mara Abbott won in 2010 and 2013, and Megan Guarnier won in 2016. Now retired Anna van der Breggen won the race four times, in 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
Two three-time winners, both from the Netherlands, are expected to be on the start this year: Marianne Vos (2011, 2012, 2014) and defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten (2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023).
In 2024, Elisa Longo Borghini became the first Italian to win the Giro d'Italia Women since five-time winner Fabiana Luperini last won the title 16 years ago in 2008, and added her name to a list of compatriots to have won the race that also includes Maria Canins, Roberta Bonanomi, and Michela Fanini.
She won for a second consecutive time in 2025 and is expected to fight for a third victory in 2026.
2026 Giro d'Italia Women schedule
Stage | Date | Start/Finish | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 | May 30, 2026 | Cesenatico-Ravenna | 139 km |
Stage 2 | May 31, 2026 | Roncade H-Farm-Caorle | 146 km |
Stage 3 | June 1, 2026 | Bibione-Buja | 154 km |
Stage 4 | June 2, 2026 | Belluno-Nevegal Tudor ITT | 12.7 km |
Stage 5 | June 3, 2026 | Longarone-Santo Stefano di Cadore | 138 km |
Stage 6 | June 4, 2026 | Ala-Brescello | 155 km |
Stage 7 | June 5, 2026 | Sorbolo Mezzani-Salice Terme | 165 km |
Stage 8 | June 6, 2026 | Rivoli-Sestriere | 101 km |
Stage 9 | June 7, 2026 | Saluzzo-Saluzzo | 143 km |
Latest Content on the Race
‘The cards are partly on the table’ – Tipping the hand in opening Giro d’Italia Women GC salvo
News Some of Elisa Longo Borghini’s key climbing rivals have work to do after TT but all still up for grabs with gaps largely under two minutes
Enjoying the maglia rosa to the fullest - Elisa Longo Borghini savours slim lead at Giro d'Italia Women
News Italian champion stays humble in her bid for overall victory
Lotte Kopecky, Elisa Longo Borghini speak to the crowds at Giro d'Italia Women teams presentation - Gallery
Gallery Brescia gives a warm welcome to the 153 riders ahead of eight-day race from July 7-14
RCS Sport under a watchful eye in new-era Giro d'Italia Women
Analysis Cyclingnews highlights the talking points ahead of the eight-day Grand Tour
'No moments to relax' for constant contender Elisa Longo Borghini at 13th Giro d'Italia Women
Interview Italian champion expects strong competition in podium chase, attitude that if Vollering isn't present at a race it doesn't count, 'pisses me off, a lot'
Giro d'Italia Women – The key to opening the door on Neve Bradbury's GC potential
Interview 'We will just be going full gas for GC and see what happens' says 22-year-old Australian who has repeatedly found the overall podium in 2024
'If I race with instinct, then I can get a good result' – Refreshed Ruth Edwards returns to Giro d'Italia Women
In-Depth After Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour win, American eyes more opportunities in Italy
Chabbey and Paladin bolster experience of Canyon-SRAM Giro d’Italia Women roster
News Young stars Bradbury and Niedermaier eager to impress on hilly terrain to give team options in absence of Niewiadoma
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Back pain forces Lotte Kopecky to abandon Giro d'Italia
'As a precaution ahead of the Tour de France Femmes, she is leaving the Giro d'Italia Women to take three to four days of complete rest' confirms SD Worx-Protime -
'We definitely enjoy crosswinds' - unexpected echelons on stage 5 rearrange Giro d’Italia Women GC
Anna van der Breggen and Katrine Aalerud move up in GC -
Lotte Kopecky suffers from back pain, Anna van der Breggen 'not super' as SD Worx-Protime miss the GC mark in Giro d'Italia Women
'It’s not what we hoped for, but panicking now or drawing conclusions before the Tour won’t get us anywhere either' says team manager Danny Stam
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'We can't predict what will happen' - Marlen Reusser back in maglia rosa but all still to play for at Giro d'Italia Women
'I believe the final victory will come down to the current top four in the GC' magila rosa holder guesses GC outcome in Imola -
'I thought I saved it, but I didn't make it' - Race leader avoids injury in late crash in Giro d'Italia Women stage 3
Mass crash inside 3km but no lost time or major injuries in Giro peloton -
'I had nothing to lose' - Anna Henderson makes her own luck with Giro d'Italia Women's stage victory
Dilyxine Miermont has no regrets after second place in Aprica
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Marlen Reusser leaves nightmare 2024 behind to fulfil pink jersey dream at Giro d'Italia
Swiss ITT champion takes charge of Italian Grand Tour with stunning opening day victory -
There are all the new national champions jerseys at the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia Women
Riders show off their new national jerseys with 46 national champions racing in France and Italy this July -
'Expect the unexpected' – Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto aim at GC and sprint stages at Giro d'Italia Women, but warn of unpredictability
Antonia Niedermaier gunning for overall, Chiara Consonni looking to add fourth stage to palmarès
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A climber-friendly course that could get in the way of Elisa Longo Borghini's third title – Analysing the Giro d'Italia Women route
A lowkey start builds to a big crescendo with the Colle delle Finestre, a tough stage in the Dolomites, and a challenging uphill TT -
SD Worx-Protime stumbles, new talents rise and Tour de France Femmes indicators flow – Six conclusions from the 2025 Giro d'Italia Women
Taking a closer look at some of the key talking points from eight revealing days of racing around Italy where some faltered and others took flight -
'Beyond my wildest dreams' – Sarah Gigante’s rocky road to dual stage wins and overall podium spot at Giro d’Italia Women
Update with stage 7 victory and GC third for Australian which carves out perfect comeback from iliac artery endofibrosis surgery -
Giro d'Italia Women abandons: All of the riders who have left the 2025 race so far
122 of 153 riders complete eight-day stage race across Italy -
Giro d’Italia Women 2025 – The make-or-break stages in the race for the maglia rosa
The days with the biggest potential to shape the podium in the 919.2km, eight-stage Italian Grand Tour
