As it happened: Movistar blow up the Giro d'Italia on the stage 4 Cozzo Tunno climb but UAE and Lidl-Trek celebrate in Cosenza

Buongiorno and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 4 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia

Today's stage is a 138km ride from Catanzaro to Cosenza in the southern Calabria region of Italy.

The stage is relatively short but should be entertaining and even intense. The stage begins with a climb that is perfect for attacks. Then the riders face 50km on the exposed coast road and a 14km climb inland towards Cosenza.

The wind is blowing in Italy today and so it could be a factor, especially along the coast road. We could see attacks, the peloton lined out and perhaps even splits due to echelons and the cross wind.

The wind is blowing from the riders' left at average speed of 25 km/h.

Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quickstep) made it two wins in three days in a three-way photo finish in Sofia but will have to suffer on the climb today if he wants to sprint for a third win.

Some teams may try to push the pace on the climb in ther hope of dropping the talented young French rider.

This is our full stage 4 preview.

2026 Giro d'Italia stage 4 preview - Can Paul Magnier make it three wins on race’s first stage in Italy?

James Moultrie and Alasdair Fotheringham are on the ground at the Giro for Cyclingnews. They also completed the transfer from Bulgaria to Italy.

James looked back at the Grand Partenza, highlighting the good and bad of a week in Bulgaria. It's a great read.

250,000 fans in Sofia, a packed Lidl car park, and flamingos – Giro d'Italia reflections from a crash-marred but memorable Bulgarian Grande Partenza

Philippa York also gave her view on the racing in her Giro d'Italia analysis.

She noted how "The Giro d’Italia is no stranger to a bit of drama, sometimes of an exciting nature and at others excruciatingly painful."

Dreams fulfilled but disasters poorly handled in Bulgaria – Philippa York's Giro d'Italia analysis

The sun is out in Italy. There is little sign of wind at the start but the forecasts are for a strong headwind for the ride out of Catanzaro.

Paul Magnier told L'Equipe he will try to survive the climb and so sprint for the stage victory but warned about the cross winds.

"The wind, coming off the coast, is likely to make the race more difficult, more nervous," he said.

"If Vingegaard is in the first echelon and manages to distance Bernal, they'll go all out on the climb to try and take as much time as possible from him. And that won't be to my advantage.

If the climb has a tailwind, that won't be to my advantage either. But I had a good altitude training camp. I don't feel too bad in the mountains."

In Catanzaro the teams have started to sign on, with Picnic first on stage.

The stage starts at 13:40 CET, with XDS Astana and the maglia rosa last to sign on at 13:25.

This is the official stage profile and map. Look how long the stage follows the expose coast road.

Meanwhile, the countdown to the Tour de France is already underway, with Remco Evenepoel one of the first riders to start his altitude training block.

'Start the countdown' – Remco Evenepoel ramps up Tour de France preparation with Sierra Nevada altitude training camp

The Giro is far more than a bike race, it's a journey of discovery.

Netcompany are the next team to sign on.

The stage is 'only' 138km long but the riders face a neutralised sector of 12km, extending the time in the saddle.

The riders and the race caravan are gathering at the start.

This is the stage profile.

This is the stage map, with the stage in the toe of the Italian peninsula.

Unibet line-up at the rear of the peloton before the roll out. Dylan Groenewegen is not expected to survive the climb but Lukáš Kubiš could and is a proven fast finisher.

Of course, true to character, Paul Magnier believes in his chances.

The Cozzo Tunno climb (14.5 km at 5.9%) ends 44 km from the finish, with a 20km descent and then 20km of flat roads to the finish.

"You have to believe it, otherwise there's no chance. I'll try. But I'll know pretty quickly whether I can make it or not," Magnier told L'Equipe.

Guillermo Thomas Silva is on the front row of the start grid in his maglia rosa.

The countdown is done and the riders roll out of Catanzaro.

Race on!

Jan Christen is the best young rider white jersey. He is perhaps also UAE's team leader after losing Adam Yates and Jay Vine.

The crowds were huge in Bulgaria and they are huge in Calabria. The Giro is a celebration, an escape, and a day off work, school and normal life.

I wrote about the cultural meaning of the Giro is this special Premium feature for Cyclingnews, also looking into the business of race organiser RCS Sport.

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

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.

Don't look down guys!

The 12km neutralised sectors covers one of Catanzaro's high bridges.

This is what Netcompany DS Leo Basso said of the stage.

This was the roll out.

Jonas Vingegaard seems to be warming to the Giro.

As the riders cover the 12km neutralised sector, the XDS rider share some Haribo and extra sugars.

XDS seem ready to defend the magli rosa but other riders are lined-up and ready to go on the attack.

5km to the flag drop!

The riders seem relaxed and happy as they roll out but all the Bardiani riders are up front and so we expected attacks.

The break offers a great opportunity to win the stage.

138km to go

They're off! Via Via! The race director Stefano Allocchio waves his flag and stage 4 is underway.

Attacks! Riders keep going up the road but others chase them.

Warren Barguil is one of the riders on the attack.

Meanwhile XDS are trying to control other attacks from the peloton.

There are five rider away.

Other teams are trying to join the five attackers but that only inspires the peloton to chase.

130km to go

The peloton eases, is this it? There are six attackers now and they opening a gap as the road climbs.

The gap is quickly up to 145 seconds.

It has been confirmed that Wilco Kelderman (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) is the only non-starter.

This is our story on his abandon and what it means for Jonas Vingegaard.

Jonas Vingegaard loses key climbing teammate still struggling with aftereffects of bad Giro d'Italia crash

125km to go

The attacks have pushed out their lead to over a minute. XDS are leading the chase with the Visma riders tucked in just behind them.

These are the six riders up front: Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL-Raisin), Mattia Bais (Polti VisitMalta), Niklas Larsen (Unibet Rose Rockets)

XDS-Astana have two riders on the front of the peloton leading the chase.

Sonas Vingegaard spoke before the start and seemed happy and relaxed as he talked how about how he needed to do some efforts on the rest day after the 'easy' pace of the opening stages.

This is an interesting break.

Barguil is arguably the best climber and a Grand Tour stage winner, as is Mattia Bias.

Darren Raferty can also climb well- he was third in the Tour of the Alps mountains classification. He is also 10 seconds down on Silva on the GC.

We expect Larsen to be strong too.

The riders are near Lamezia Terme now, where they flew into on Sunday night from Bulgaria.

They will see get a full on taste of the wind, which will soon become a cross wind.

Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL-Raisin), Mattia Bais (Polti VisitMalta), Niklas Larsen (Unibet Rose Rockets) are working well together.

Their lead is up to 2:00 now.

110km ot go

This is the attack.

This is as great shot of Thomas Silva, his dog and his XDS Astana teammates.

The riders are pedalling into a 30km/h headwind as they near the Calabrian coast.

It's interesting to see the Decathlon team leading the chase now.

XDS will be happy but what is Decathlon's strategy?

How strong is the wind along the coast? Well, the kitesurfer and windsurfers are out and moving at speed.

100km to go

The riders are about to hit the coast road. The gap stays at 2:00 but the peloton is keeping the attackers on a short leash.

Other teams have moved up to the front of the peloton, in preparation for any crosswind action.

Hold onto your hats!

It's time for the first feed zone. This cold slow the peloton briefly but then the roads are exposed to the wind from the Ionian Sea.

Flags along the roadside confirm the wind is blowing but for now the peloton is all together.

The coast road is flat and straight as it follows the sandy beach coastline.

XDS are again leading the peloton, as other riders roll along in their slipstream.

The average speed for the first hour is a fast 45.3 km/h.

Sadly it has been announced that Kaden Groves (Alpecin) has abandoned the Giro.

Groves was considered a sprint contender but crashed on stage 1.

80km to go

The peloton is holding the six attackers at 2:00.

The presence of Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), who is only 10 seconds down on GC, has forced XDS to chase harder and keep the Irish rider under control.

The riders get to avoid the crosswinds when they enter tunnels along the coast road.

75km to go

The crowds are out along the roadside, cheering the riders along.

The TV helicopter shots show the hilltop villages and so the testing terrain of Calabria.

Niklas Larsen drops back to Unibet team car and pours eater over his head and body.

It is warm out there, about 22C but even more so if you are working hard in the six-rider attack.

Due to the warm weather, riders grab bidons and musettes in the feed zone.

Teams are staying vigilant about the wind but the race will soon change drammatically with the start of the climb.

Teams are starting to position and protect their team leaders before the Cozzo Tunno climb.

It is 14.5km long and steep early on, so could see attacks and an attempt to shake out the sprinters.

60km to go

The gap to the six attackers is down to 1:50.

The attackers change gears and start the climb. This switch in riding styles will hurt after the fast ride up the coast.

There is fight for postion in the peloton. All the riders hasve been told the road narrows and is steep at the start.

Visma and Vingegaard are up front.

Arnaud De Lie is one of the first to be dropped as Movistar and XDS set the pace.

Movistar are riding for good climber and fast finisher Orluis Aular.

Riders are falling out of the back on the testing climb. Jonas Vingegaard only has two Visma teammates with him and two others further back in the peloton.

The pace of Milesi and Garcia Cortina is hurting lots of sprinters and the break is also about to be swept up.

Dylan Groenwegen, Ethan Hayter and Pascal Ackermann have been dropped.

On a short but steep - 11% - Paul Maginer and Jonathan Milan are dropped.

The Maglia Rosa Thomas Silva also cracks. There is still 9km to climb!

Tobias Lund Andresen of DEacthlon is also gone. Are there any sprinters left up front?

The sufferance of Thomas Silva.

50km to go

The climb has turned the race upside down. There is still 50km to race!

There is never a quiet day at the Giro, something always happens.

Filippo Ganna has been dropped but Jack Haig is trying to pace him back to the front group.

Riders and teams know that the gradient eases soon but this will hurt the big Italian.

There are only 50 or so riders in the front group.

Thomas Silva is already 2:00 behind.

Corbin Strong (NSN) is still in the front group but is suffering to stay on.

Movistar have 5 riders on the front to put down the hurt.

Milesi has a face of pain as he gives his all on the front.

There is still 4km to go the KOM point.

Bang Corbin Strong cracks and tells his teammates to leave him.

This is almost a GC stage now.

Florian Stork (Tudor) is now the virtual race leader. He is in the front group and was only four seconds down on Magnier, along with Egan Bernal.

And the Red Bull sprint comes after the descent, with six, four and two seconds up for grabs. Then10, 6, 4 at the finish.

We spoke too soon about Bernal. He is suffering and has lost the wheel in the front group!

The riders are 1km from the summit, as Vingegaard and the Visma rider grab bidons.

Ben Turner has slowed to pace Bernal but they face a battle to get back on.

The climb is almost over but there re 3km of flase flat and so more hurting.

Movistar lead over the KOM and push on. They have hurt everyone in the peloton on the climb today.

Bernal is about 30 seconds behind and will have to chase hard down the descent.

Finally the riders can catch their breath on the descent but the pace is still high. There is no time to relax.

35km to go

The riders climbed via a series of hairpins, now they descend towards Cosenza on similar roads.

This work by Milesi and Garcia Cortina cracked the maglia rosa

Bernal and Tiurner are only 20 seconds behind and so might yet get back on.

A problem for Derek Gee-West on the descent.

The Lidl-Trek team is stuck behind the chasing groups, so Gee-West might have to use neutral service or wait for his team car.

It seems Giulio Ciccone has stayed in the front group.

It's over. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) has abandoned the Giro. That's tough for the Belgian sprinter he fought a virus to stay in the race.

30km to go

Meanwhile Movistar are still hurting the group and kicking up a storm.

There are only 38 riders in the front group. Bernal is still fighting to get back on.

Bernal is having to work himself on the front of the chase group. Netcompany have sacrificed Turner's sprint chances to help Bernal but it might not enough to save Bernal's GC hopes.

Speeds touch 90km/h on a straight section of the descent.

The Red Bull KM sprint is coming soon, just 12km to go, with 6-4-2 seconds on the line.

It will be a battle for the maglia rosa.

We explained how the Red Bull KM works here.

Red Bull Kilometre sprints and stage finishes offer precious time bonuses during 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Sobrero has dropped back from the front group to help Gee-West and Bernal-Turner get back on. They are at 20 seconds as the descent eases.

The Gee-West and Bernal group can see the back of the group now. Thanks to Sobrero and Turner, the chase has real power.

Phew.... Gee-West and Bernal make it back to the peloton. That was close. They could have cracked and lost minutes.

Meanwhile, Movistar still have 4 riders on the front, drilling the pace to set-up fast finisher Aular.

The Red Bull KM will be a sprint before the stage sprint.

Watch out for Tudor and Stork going for the sprint too.

The pink jersey is up for grabs today!

The GC riders might even fight for the 6-4-2 seconds.

Red Bull are on the front now.

Visma go for it!

Christen was there for UAE and wins it.

Pellizzari took second and Ciccone third but Pellizzari wasn't happy with Christen moving across the road and blocking him along the barriers. Of course, Pellizzari should have been better placed.

Stork missed out on the bonus seconds but has another chance in the stage finish.

8km to go

Stork leads the virtual GC, ahead of Bernal on placings, with Ciccone and Christen also on the same time.

The time bonuses at the finish, of 10-6-4 will decide everything.

Movistar have ridden for Aular but can he finish it off today?

There could even be late attacks from the 40-rider group.

Michael Valgren (EF) is also in the group.

As we speak, the DS will be reminding the riders about the seven corners in the final 1.5km as the stage weaves into the centre of Cosenza.

Positioning and team work will be decisive in the sprint.

The final 500m also rise at 3.7%. Timing will be vital.

5km to go

Visma are up front and protecting Vingegaard.

The 3-second time gap is in force today and any riders who crash inside the final 5km get the same time as they group they were in.

Vingegaard has 4 riders protecting him in a show of strength from Visma.

Pellizzari has 3 Red Bull teammates with him.

Riders fight for position before the corners start.

Movistar take over on the front for Aular. They deserve the win today after smashing the peloton.

Last Km!

Narvaez is also there for UAE and he is fast. But Christen attacks!

Christen dives into the corners and gets a gap.

Christen goes full gas, all in.

Movistar try to close the gap.

Christen is clear!

Sobrero closes for Ciccone!

Aular is there!

Aular goes!

Narvaez wins it!

Aular lead it out along the barriers but Ciccone and Narvaez came off his wheel and the Ecudarian rider snatched it on the line.

That is huge for UAE after their crashes and loss of Yates and Vine.

The GC is close but Ciccone has it thanks to his time bonus on the line for third place.

What a day of racing!

Ben Turner was up there too after his work to drag Bernal back up to the group.

It's the first day in Italy and the first day in the maglia rosa for Italy.

Aular could only watch Narvaez as he sprinted on the other side of the road.

This was the moment that Jhonatan Narvaez won the sprint.

Meanwhile, the sprinters group, with Paul Magnier, finish over eight minutes down.

Giulio Ciccone is almost in tears as it is confirmed he is the new maglia rosa.

Ciccone leads Jan Christen (UAE) by four seconds, with Florian Stork (Tudor) third and Egan Bernal (Netcompany) fourth, also at four seconds.

Lidl-Trek have endured a difficult start to 2026 but everything is pink now Ciccone has the maglia rosa.

Jhonatan Narvaez enjoys his moment on podium. He crashed hard at the Tour Down Under and had not raced before the Giro.

Giulio Ciccone's name also rings out in Cosenza as Italy celebrates him taking the maglia rosa.

Narváez was emotional after his win.

"It's really big for me, coming from three months training in Ecuador," he said post-race.

"I want to say thanks to my family, my wife, my team. They've been a great support in this time, and obviously this victory is also for my teammates who crashed on stage 2. They've been working for a while to come here in a good condition. We take the victory today but we were good before stage 2 too, so I think we are a lot happier now."

Jan Christen also tried to win the stage and take pink with a late attack, that worked in Narvaez's favour.

"Jan is a great guy, he was trying to take the maglis rosa. He's a young guy, he needs to learn how to race. He did a great final and in the end for me it was just waiting for the sprint," Narváez said.

Ciccone kissed the maglia rosa, admitting it was a childhood dream to one day take it.

Thumbs up for Cicco!

Ciccone is from Abruzzo and so has a chance to climb the Blockhaus in pink on Friday. How 'bello' would that be?

To read just how Narvaez won the stage and Ciccone took pink, read our full stage report, crafted by Matilda Price.

Giro d'Italia: Jhonatan Narváez sprints to stage 4 win as Giulio Ciccone grabs bonus seconds to seize pink jersey

Ciccone won his first Giro stage back in 2016 but finally pulled on the maglia rosa.

These are the stage results from our friends at FirstCycling.

Ciccone is in pink but could be challenged on stage 5 to Potenza.

The Red Bull KM comes in the late climbs and there are other bonus seconds at the finish.

This is our stage 5 preview. It includes over 4000 metres of climbing. It's going to be a hard day out for Ciccone and Lidl-Trek as they try to defend the maglia rosa.

2026 Giro d'Italia stage 5 preview

Thanks for joining us for our full live coverage of stage 4.

Alasdair Fotheringham and James Moultrie were at the finish for Cyclingnews and will soon have interviews, reaction and analysis from the stage.

We will also have further news and content later in the day and then overnight and on Wednesday.

Join me, Stephen Farrand, on Wednesday for more live updates from stage 5 of the Giro from Praia a Mare on the Calabrian coast to Potenza deep in the hills to the south-east of Naples.

Ciao!

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.