Giro 2026: With four stages left, the battle for the purple jersey heats up

Jhonatan Narváez was allowed onto the podium after the seventeenth stage. The puncheur from UAE Emirates XRG took over the purple points jersey from Paul Magnier on Wednesday. The difference? Only twelve points. It promises to be an exciting battle all the way to Rome. WielerFlits therefore outlines the chances per remaining stage.

Narváez made good progress on Wednesday by first joining the day's breakaway and picking up the full haul (12 points) at the intermediate sprint in Roncone. A fourth stage win proved out of reach, but the puncheur still finished ninth in Andalo, adding some welcome points in the fight for the Maglia Ciclamino.

Since only two pure sprint opportunities remain, there is definitely a chance that the Ecuadorian will be able to don the purple jersey in Rome. In the remaining four stages of this Giro d'Italia, rival Magnier is only offered one suitable stage profile: the final stage this coming Sunday in Rome. In the other three stages (18 through 20), Narváez holds the advantage.

How many points are still up for grabs?
Each stage features one intermediate sprint where up to 12 points can be earned. The number of points awarded at the finish varies depending on the stage type. Flat stages offer more points than hilly or mountainous days.

*The eighteenth stage is classified by the organizers as a flat stage, but a steep wall in the finale – Muro Ca' Del Poggio (1.1 km at 11.3%) – seems likely to disrupt the sprinters. For Narváez, this finale offers opportunities to extend his lead in the points classification.