Giro d'Italia 2026 route: almost 50,000 metres of climbing, seven summit finishes, and one 40km-long time trial

Seven summit finishes, almost 50,000 metres of climbing and a single 40km-long individual time trial are the headlines from the route for the 2026 men's Giro d'Italia.

It begins with three stages in Bulgaria, as already announced, starting on 8 May, before 18 stages from the south to the north of Italy, via Naples, the Apennines, Milan, the Alps and the Dolomites. The 109th Giro finishes in Rome on 31 May.

The route was announced on Monday afternoon at an event in Rome, alongside that for the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women. The show was attended by the 2025 men's Giro winner Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) and the 2025 Giro Women winner Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ).

While there are seven summit finishes over 21 stages, which amounts to 3,459km with 49,150 metres of elevation, there are also eight flat stages for sprints, and seven medium mountain days. There is also the 40.2km individual time trial on the Tuscan coast on stage 10.

Stages seven, eight, and nine look crucial for the general classification, back-to-back days in the mountains to close out the first week.

As ever at the Giro, much of the action is saved for the final week, with stage 16 to Carì in Switzerland looking decisive, before the Queen Stage in the Dolomites on stage 19, with five climbs in just 152km of racing.

The contenders for next May's race are yet to be revealed, with Yates potentially returning, but also perhaps Remco Evenepoel, who will be riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, or Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Outside of the GC talent, there will likely be a whole host of sprinters and puncheurs looking for stage win success at the Giro, with lots of opportunities for famous victories.

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage table

Giro d'Italia 2026 route map

Giro d'Italia 2026 week-by-week summary

Week one

The 2026 Giro begins in Nessebar, Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast, heading inland to Burgas, where stage one will likely finish in a sprint. The maglia rosa will go to a fast man first.

The race remains in Bulgaria for stage two, with 220km between Burgas and Veliko Tarnovo. There are three classified climbs, including one just eight kilometres from the finish, which has the hallmarks of a surprise attack. Stage three is another largely flat day which ends in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia.

After an early rest day to allow the Giro to move from Bulgaria back to Italy, the race hits the mainland with what will likely be a sprint stage. Stage five is interesting for those beyond sprinters, with a constant threat of attacks on the road to Potenza.

For the fifth year in a row, the race heads to Naples, this time on stage six, in what should be a sprint. The GC men will be on full alert again on stage seven, however, which finishes on the well-used Blockhaus climb. It's also the longest stage of the race, at 246km, with 4,600m of elevation gain.

Stage eight is hilly once again, with short and steep climbs between Chieti and Fermo. This is followed by a summit finish on stage nine in Corno alle Scale, with 2,400 metres of elevation in just the final 30km.

Week two

The second rest day is followed by the only individual time trial of the race, 40.2km of a power course on the Tuscan seafront between Viareggio and Massa. Stage 11 is no day off, with constant hills on this day from Porcari to Chiavari.

Stage 12 begins on the coast and heads inland, like an inverse Milan-San Remo, and will likely end in a sprint. It's close to the Alps on stage 13, 186km between Alessandria and Verbania, and could be a good day for the breakaway merchants.

It's back to the mountains proper on stage 14, with a summit finish in Pila after a route through the Val d'Osta; there is 4,400m of elevation in 133km.

However, the sprinters shouldn't lose heart too much, because they get another opportunity in Milan on stage 15, before the third and final rest day.

Week three

The final week begins with stage 15 to Carì in Switzerland; in fact this whole stage takes place in Switzerland, the third country of the race. It's only 113km, but the climb to Carì should sort the GC out.

The next day, is stage 17 to Andalo, a transitional day which suits stage hunters, but probably won't have too much of an effect overall. This is followed by another transition through Veneto on stage 18, but those hunting pink will not be able to switch off.

It is the antepenultimate day, stage 19, which should decide the Giro. In just 152km there are six classified climbs, including the Cima Coppi, the Passo Giau. Expect the lead group to fracture on this route which echoes the Maratona Dles Dolomites.

Stage 20 is gentle by comparison, but does climb to Piancavallo twice – 14.4km at 8.9%. The race will be over by the second time up.

The 2026 Giro finishes once again in Rome, after the riders have made it down from the very northeast of Italy. It will be a spritn.