Five questions about the Giro d’Italia and Giro d’Italia Women 2026

The 2026 Giro d'Italia promises to be an exciting race again, especially with Jonas Vingegaard at the start. And the women's edition of the Giro d'Italia, the Giro d'Italia Women, is always worth following. What should you know about the upcoming editions of both events? In this article, we answer five questions about the Giro d'Italia and the Giro d'Italia Women 2026.

When is the 2026 Giro d'Italia?

The Giro d'Italia runs this year from May 8 to May 31. Just like last year, the race doesn't start on a Saturday but on a Friday. This is due to the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria. After three stages in that country, there is already a rest day on Monday. This gives the teams time to transfer from Central Europe to Italy.

What stands out about the route of the 2026 Giro d'Italia?

The Giro d'Italia starts for the first time in Bulgaria with three stages along the Black Sea and a finish in the capital Sofia on the third day.

Already in the first week, the dreaded Blockhaus climb is on the agenda. And in the second week, there is a fairly long time trial of 40.2 kilometers along the Tuscan coast.

Later on, the riders cross the border again, this time into Switzerland, with a stage through the Carì mountains. During the tough final week, the queen stage through the Dolomites still lies ahead. Here, the Passo Giau and the steep Piani di Pezzè will have to be tackled.

Which riders have already confirmed their participation?

Several big names have already confirmed for the 2026 Giro, with the debut of two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard standing out in particular. Visma | Lease a Bike supports him with riders including Sepp Kuss.

We also see the 2022 winner, Jai Hindley, returning to defend his title. The current champion Simon Yates has since retired, but his brother, Adam Yates, will be there. However, UAE Emirates XRG will most likely focus on João Almeida in the general classification.

Regarding GC contenders, the list also features Thymen Arensman, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Felix Gall, Giulio Pellizzari, Derek Gee-West, Richard Carapaz, and Mikel Landa. In the flat stages, keep an eye on fast men like Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, and Dylan Groenewegen. Time trial specialist Filippo Ganna will also be present.

When is the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women?

The Giro d'Italia Women is this year from Saturday, May 30 to Sunday, June 7. The race has been moved earlier in the spring this year, so it no longer overlaps with the men's Tour de France. The riders will cover 9 stages, starting in Cesenatico, the birthplace of Marco Pantani.

What does the route of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women look like?

While there were eight stages last year, nine are planned this year. With a total distance of 1,153.7 kilometers, this is the longest edition since 2001. The route is in northern Italy, starting in the Emilia-Romagna region and finishing in Piedmont.

For the first time in the history of the women's race, the peloton will face the legendary Colle delle Finestre. With an average gradient of 9.2% and the final eight kilometers over gravel roads, this is a very demanding climb.

The time trial from Belluno to Nevegal is also not flat. With stretches up to 14%, this will be a tough challenge for the riders.

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