The Giro d’Italia 2026 kicks off on Friday, May 8, marking its debut in Bulgaria. This year's edition spans 3,459km with 49,150m of climbing, culminating in a grand finale in Rome where a new champion will be crowned following Simon Yates' unexpected retirement.

Key Highlights:

• Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike emerges as a favorite, aiming to capture the only Grand Tour title he lacks.
• The route features:
  • 7 summit finishes
  • 8 flat stages for sprinters
  • 7 medium mountain days for breakaway specialists

The action intensifies in the final week, commencing with a detour through Switzerland on Stage 15 and leading to a challenging Stage 19 in the Dolomites, which includes the race's highest point, the Cima Coppi.

Stages Breakdown:

• Stage 1: Nessebar - Burgas (147km, flat) - A fast coastal start.
• Stage 2: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo (221km, hilly) - The first true test with climbs before the finish.
• Stage 7: Formia - Blockhaus (244km, mountainous) - The longest stage featuring a summit finish.
• Stage 19: Feltre - Allghe, Piani di Pezze (151km, mountainous) - The queen stage with six climbs.
• Stage 21: Roma - Roma (131km, flat) - A celebratory ride through Rome’s historic streets.

Confirmed Start List:

• Teams include Alpecin-Premier Tech, Bahrain Victorious, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and more.

As the Giro d’Italia 2026 unfolds, all eyes will be on the intense battles for the maglia rosa and the stunning landscapes of Italy.