- Race Home
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Stages
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Stage 1147km | Nessebar - Burgas
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Stage 2219km | Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo
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Stage 3175km | Plovdiv - Sofia
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Rest Day 1-
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Stage 4138km | Catanzaro - Cosenza
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Stage 5203km | Praia a Mare - Potenza
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Stage 6142km | Paestum - Napoli
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Stage 7244km | Formia - Blockhaus
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Stage 8156km | Chieti - Fermo
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Stage 9184km | Cervia - Corno alle Scale
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Rest Day 2-
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Stage 1040.2km | Viareggio - Massa (ITT)
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Stage 11195km | Porcari - Chiaveri
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Stage 12175km | Imperia - Novi Ligure
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Stage 13189km | Alessandria - Verbania
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Stage 14133km | Aosta - Pila
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Stage 15157km | Voghera - Milan
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Rest Day 3-
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Stage 16113km | Bellinzona - Carì
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Stage 17202km | Cassano d'Adda - Andalo
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Stage 18168km | Fai della Paganella - Pieve di Soligo
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Stage 19151km | Feltre - Alleghe
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Stage 20200km | Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo
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Stage 21131km | Rome - Rome
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- Start list
Latest News from the Race
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How to watchHow to watch Giro d'Italia 2026 – Live streams, TV channels, Schedule -
News'Our best weapon' – Back from injury, Kaden Groves leads Alpecin-Premier Tech chase for stage wins at the Giro d'Italia -
News'I'm 29, but I almost feel old' – Egan Bernal reflects on the changing landscape of cycling as he returns to Giro d'Italia with GC hopes once again
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Date | May 8- 31, 2026 | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Distance | 3,466 | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Start location | Nessebar, Bulgaria | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Finish location | Rome, Italy | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Category | UCI WorldTour/GrandTour | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
Edition | 109th | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
Total climbing | 49,150 metres | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
Previous edition | Row 7 - Cell 2 | |
Previous winner | Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
Giro d'Italia Countdown
'The stress just drains you' – What Jonas Vingegaard can expect from his first Giro d'Italia
When Jonas Vingegaard heads to the Giro d'Italia start line at Nessebar in a little under 48 hours, even if he is a debutant, in a lot of ways he'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect in the 3,468 kilometres that lie between him and the race's final finish line at Rome on May 31. He's got eight Grand Tours in his palmarès – five Tours and three Vueltas – after all, and his lowest final position in any of them since 2021 has been second overall, with no abandons. So it's fair to say Vingegaard is very much a 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt/maillot jaune to prove it' kind of guy. Read more...
What is the Blockhaus? And why does it matter so much in this year’s Giro d’Italia?
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 3,466 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.
The Giro d'Italia is one of professional cycling's three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
First run in 1909 by sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, the race has been organised since 1989 by RCS Sport under the same umbrella as the newspaper.
The race experimented with different formats in the early years starting with a points system, then holding only a teams classification in 2012, and finally moving to the time-based classification used today in 1914.
The race was suspended from 1915 to 1918 due to World War I. Once it resumed, Alfredo Binda emerged as the first star of the race, winning in 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1933.
Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi made their names in the Giro before World War II led to the race's cancellation from 1941 to 1945, then resumed their rivalry.
Coppi won five editions in 1940, 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1953, while Bartali won in 1936, 1937 and 1946.
The next superstar to make a name in the Giro d'Italia was Eddy Merckx, winner of five editions from 1968 to 1974.
Who will challenge Jonas Vingegaard at this year's Giro d'Italia? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our coverage of the Corsa Rosa. Enjoy unrivalled reporting from our team of journalists on the ground, including breaking news, analysis, and more, from every stage as it happens, plus access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
2026 Giro d'Italia schedule
Stage | Date | Start-Finish | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 | May 8, 2026 | Nessebar - Burgas | 147 km |
Stage 2 | May 9, 2026 | Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo | 221 km |
Stage 3 | May 10, 2026 | Plovdiv - Sofia | 175 km |
Stage 4 | May 12, 2026 | Catanzaro - Cosenza | 138 km |
Stage 5 | May 13, 2026 | Praia a Mare - Potenza | 203 km |
Stage 6 | May 14, 2026 | Paestum - Naples | 142 km |
Stage 7 | May 15, 2026 | Formia - Blockhouse | 244 km |
Stage 8 | May 16, 2026 | Chieti - Fermo | 156 km |
Stage 9 | May 17, 2026 | Cervia - Corno alle Scale | 184 km |
Stage 10 | May 19, 2026 | Viareggio - Massa (ITT) | 42 km |
Stage 11 | May 20, 2026 | Porcari - Chiavari | 195 km |
Stage 12 | May 21, 2026 | Imperia - Novi Ligure | 175 km |
Stage 13 | May 22, 2026 | Alessandria - Verbania | 189 km |
Stage 14 | May 23, 2026 | Aosta - Pila (Gressan) | 133 km |
Stage 15 | May 24, 2026 | Voghera - Milan | 157 km |
Stage 16 | May 26, 2026 | Bellinzona - Carì | 113 km |
Stage 17 | May 27, 2026 | Cassano d'Adda - Andalo | 202 km |
Stage 18 | May 28, 2026 | Fai della Paganella - Pieve di Soligo | 168 km |
Stage 19 | May 29, 2026 | Feltre - Alleghe (Pezzè Plains) | 151 km |
Stage 20 | May 30, 2026 | Gemona del Friuli 1976-2026 - Piancavallo | 200 km |
Stage 21 | May 31, 2026 | Rome - Rome | 131 km |
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

- Giro d'Italia 2026 route
- Jonas Vingegaard the clear frontrunner, but who will emerge as his biggest challenger? – Analysing the favourites for the Giro d'Italia
- Giro d'Italia past winners
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Stage 1 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 1 preview | Nessebar - Burgas2026-05-08 147km
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Stage 3 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 3 preview | Plovdiv - Sofia2026-05-10 175km
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Rest Day 12026-05-11
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Stage 4 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 4 preview | Catanzaro - Cosenza2026-05-12 138km
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Stage 6 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 6 preview | Paestum - Napoli2026-05-14 142km
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Stage 7 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 7 preview | Formia - Blockhaus2026-05-15 244km
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Stage 8 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 8 preview | Chieti - Fermo2026-05-16 156km
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Rest Day 22026-05-18
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Stage 10 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 10 preview | Viareggio - Massa (ITT)2026-05-19 40.2km
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Stage 11 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 11 preview | Porcari - Chiaveri2026-05-20 195km
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Stage 14 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 14 preview | Aosta - Pila2026-05-23 133km
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Stage 15 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 15 preview | Voghera - Milan2026-05-24 157km
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Rest Day 32026-05-25
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Stage 16 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 16 preview | Bellinzona - Carì2026-05-26 113km
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Stage 19 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 19 preview | Feltre - Alleghe2026-05-29 151km
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Stage 21 - 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 21 preview | Rome - Rome2026-05-31 131km
Latest Content on the Race

'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
Top News on the Race
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Red Bull Kilometre sprints and stage finishes offer precious time bonuses during 2026 Giro d'Italia
Six, four and two second time bonuses positioned close to finished and final climbs, with €130,000 in extra prize money -
'I'm a little more motivated' - Jonathan Milan eyes first lead in Giro d'Italia on Friday in rare opportunity for sprinters and a grasp of jersey with home connection
Lidl-Trek fastman top contender for first pink jersey of race -
'Bike racing isn't on paper' – Even without ideal preparation, GC hope Derek Gee-West looks to thrive in the brutal attrition of the Giro d'Italia
Canadian Champion missed Lidl-Trek's pre-Giro altitude camp due to recovery from illness
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'It’s a new chapter for us' – Netcompany Ineos show off their new green-grey and orange colours in Bulgaria before Giro d'Italia
Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman confirmed as joint GC leaders for British squad -
'I want to win the Giro and make history' – Jonas Vingegaard targets Grand Tour trilogy at Giro d'Italia
'The Giro is more unpredictable. You've got to be ready for anything every day' says Dane -
Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari combine as Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe GC leaders to take on Jonas Vingegaard at Giro d'Italia
German teams opts for squad of rouleurs to protect team leaders
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'We still have big ambitions' - Adam Yates looks to emulate brother Simon as UAE Team Emirates leader for Giro d'Italia
Briton named as team leader in the absence of João Almeida as Tadej Pogačar and Isaac del Toro focus on Tour de France -
'We Ride In Peace' - EF Education-EasyPost unveil green extraterrestrial-themed kit for Giro d'Italia
'If we’re going to change kits, it should actually say something' says team manager Jonathan Vaughters -
Lidl-Trek chase sprints, stages and the GC at the Giro d'Italia
German team have Jonathan Milan, Giulio Ciccone and Derek Gee-West as team leader
Related Features
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A GC battle featuring one top dog, a few challengers and a whole load of hopefuls – Philippa York's Giro d'Italia analysis
Cyclingnews' regular columnist Philippa York casts her eye over the favourites and hopefuls for the maglia rosa and other competitions before the Giro gets underway in Bulgaria -
Legendary duels, left-field business moves, and the role of La Gazzetta: How RCS turned the Giro d'Italia into a national treasure, and a billion Euro event
When the Corsa Rosa is on, it 'has the power to transform every day into a Sunday' for the Italian people, but how did a race launched to promote a newspaper become a global sporting event? -
'The stress just drains you' – What Jonas Vingegaard can expect from his first Giro d'Italia
Italian Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Edoardo Affini runs the rule over the Dane's Giro debut, and what exactly makes the Corsa Rosa so challenging -
Who could be the Isaac del Toro of this year's Giro d'Italia? There's one GC frontrunner, but there's plenty of chances for surprises too – Analysis
Behind Jonas Vingegaard, the wide open GC could see some unexpected riders in the battle for pink this May -
Adoring Italian fans, turning off social media, and playing FIFA on Mount Teide – Getting to know Giulio Pellizzari, the Giro d'Italia's home star ready to challenge Jonas Vingegaard
Cyclingnews sits down with Italy's champion-in-waiting ahead of his much anticipated Giro campaign, where he'll start as a serious challenger after a rapid rise to the top of cycling


































