The 2026 Giro d'Italia heads off from Bulgaria on Friday 8 May before ending 21 stages and just over three weeks later in Rome. On the way, it covers 3,468 kilometres and climbs a total of 48.7km, with an average stage length of 165.1km.
While two of 2025's first three Giro d'Italia stages in Albania were hilly, this year's in Bulgaria look fairly benign. Last year, stage two in Albania was a time trial and there was a second time trial on stage 10. This time, there's only one time trial, again on stage 10, although it's a long one at 42km, almost the combined length of last year's two.
Last year's winner, Simon Yates, won't be defending his title, having retired from racing suddenly at the beginning of 2026. Visma-Lease a Bike could well retain the Trofeo Senza Fine this year though, because Jonas Vingegaard looks in prime position to take the title.
Although there are seven summit finishes, there are also a larger number of flat stages than in past editions as a fillip to the sprinters. Here's a stage-by-stage rundown of the 2026 Giro d'Italia and a guide to what to expect on each.
Stage 1: Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria
- Friday, 8 May
- 147km, 500m altitude gain
This year's route starts off with a flat run, with only 500m of elevation gain over its 147km, making it look like the first of a few sprinters' days. There's a 22km loop mid-stage that's covered twice before a slight uphill finish on an 8m wide road. Expect a spectacular finale and maybe a few crashes.
Stage 2: Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
- Saturday, 9 May
- 221km, 2,600m altitude gain
A more technical stage, with a series of climbs, including the one to the Lyaskovets monastery that's only 11km from the finish. There's an awkward run-in to the line, including a 9% climb, cobbled sections and an array of twists and turns. One for a puncheur to escape in the last few kilometres?
Stage 3: Plovdiv to Sofia, Bulgaria
- Sunday, 10 May
- 175km, 1,600m altitude gain
The final stage in Bulgaria has one steady climb to the ski resort of Borovets, followed by a steady downhill run finishing in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. Again on wide roads, it looks to be another one for the sprinters.
Transfer/rest day
- Monday, 11 May
A travel day/day off to return to Italian soil for (almost) the rest of the race.
Stage 4: Catanzaro to Cosenza
- Tuesday, 12 May
- 138km, 1,800m altitude gain
We may be back in southern Italy, but the stage profile looks remarkably similar to the previous stage, albeit the centrepiece 15km climb is to lower altitude, slightly steeper and closer to the stage finish. There's a slight uphill gradient in the final kilometre, as well as some twists and turns, but the roads are again wide.
Stage 5: Praia a Mare to Potenza
- Wednesday, 13 May
- 203km, 4,100m altitude gain
A three-star rated stage takes in the climb of Montagna Grande di Viggiano, which maxes out at 15% gradient. The finale snakes through the town of Potenza, climbing then descending before a final uphill gradient to the line. One for Jonas Vingegaard to make his mark?
Stage 6: Paestum to Napoli
- Thursday, 14 May
- 142km, 500m altitude gain
We're back on the flat today, with only 500m of climbing and a long run-in along the Naples sea front. It's trickier than it first looks though, with plenty of street furniture to look out for earlier in the stage and the last 700m a slight uphill run on cobbles, complete with a hairpin 400m from the line.
Stage 7: Formia to Blockhaus
- Friday, 15 May
- 244km, 4,600m altitude gain
The Giro's longest stage and its first summit finish. It starts fairly benignly, with a loop out along the coast and back to Formia, then takes a flat road heading to the hills, where the climbing starts. The 13km narrow, twisty final climb to the 1,665m Blockhaus maxes out at 14%.
Stage 8: Chieti to Fermo
- Saturday, 16 May
- 156km, 1,900m altitude gain
We swap from the west to the east coast of Italy for this stage, which tracks on the flat along the coast for much of its route, before an excursion into the hills after 96km. Then things get trickier, with steep ramps and a 14.3% climb that rears up to 22% gradient in the final 4km. The finish is on stone slabs as it twists through the town and uphill at 10%, too.
Stage 9: Cervia to Corno alle Scale
- Sunday, 17 May
- 184km, 2,400m altitude gain
We're in the Po valley of northern Italy now and it's another day with a sting in its tail. Starting off in the valley flatlands, the stage is flat until it bypasses Bologna. It's then uphill all the way, at first gradually as it heads into the hills south of the city. The final 12km climb is a sinuous mountain road averaging 10% in the last 2.7km, with maximum gradients of up to 15%.
Rest day
- Monday, 18 May
Stage 10: Viareggio to Massa (time trial)
- Tuesday, 19 May
- 42km, 50m altitude gain
Back on the west coast post-rest day, the race continues with a mainly flat, long-ish time trial along the sea front from Viareggio. A hairpin near the start and another close to the end punctuate an otherwise straight run. It's likely to be fast, although headwinds or crosswinds on the exposed roads could make things trickier.
Stage 11: Porcari to Chiavari
- Wednesday, 20 May
- 195km, 2,850m altitude gain
Another hilly route along the coast with a range of climbs, including two short, steep ones on the approach to Chiavari. The finale looks tricky, with plenty of twists and turns, although the final kilometre along the harbour is straight and flat.
Stage 12: Imperia to Novi Ligure
- Thursday, 21 May
- 175km, 2,250m altitude gain
Today's stage follows some of the route of Milan-San Remo, but in the opposite direction. It then heads inland and takes on two larger climbs as it enters the Po valley. The last section into Novi Ligure is straight and almost flat. This looks like one for any sprinters who can get over the hills and stay with the peloton.
Stage 13: Alessandria to Verbania
- Friday, 22 May
- 189km, 1,400m altitude gain
Another fairly flat stage as the race passes Milan and finishes by Lake Maggiore. It's back-end loaded, though, with the final 30km offering a couple of short climbs, the second maxing out at 13%. There's then a sharp descent to finish by the lake.
Stage 14: Aosta to Pila
- Saturday, 23 May
- 133km, 4,350m altitude gain
The Giro follows its usual plan, saving the major climbing days for its last week or so. The stage follows a cloverleaf around Aosta, climbing then descending three valleys. This is the first five-star stage of this year's race, with little flat and finishing with a 16.5km ascent at around 9% to Pila.
Stage 15: Voghera to Milan
- Sunday, 24 May
- 157km, 200m altitude gain
From one extreme to the other, with only 200m of elevation gain on straight roads as the race traverses the Po valley floor on its way to Milan. There's a final 16.3km circuit in Milan that's ridden four times before the finish – a reward for the sprinters who have got through the previous stage.
Rest day
- Monday, 25 May
Stage 16: Bellinzona to Cari
- Tuesday, 26 May
- 113km, 3,000m altitude gain
The race heads into Switzerland for this stage, with yet another summit finish, this time at the apex of an 11.7km climb at up to 13% gradient. On the way, there's a 22km circuit up a side valley that's ridden twice.
Stage 17: Cassano d'Adda to Andalo
- Wednesday, 27 May
- 202km, 3,300m altitude gain
The Giro doesn't rate any of the climbs on this stage as particularly severe, although there are two to be tackled fairly early on. The stage finishes with a twisty 6km 6.2% climb, followed by a flat final 1,500m run-in to the line.
Stage 18: Fai della Paganella to Pieve di Soligo
- Thursday, 28 May
- 171km, 2,050m altitude gain
A route profile that looks more benign than it will be to ride. There's a sting in its tail in the form of the Muro di ca' del Poggio. It may be only 1.1km long, but it averages 12.3% gradient and tops out at 19%. At least the final 9km from there to the finish is mostly downhill.
Stage 19: Feltre to Alleghe
- Friday, 29 May
- 151km, 5,000m altitude gain
The Giro's queen stage and second five-star stage packs in 5,000 metres of climbing in 100km. It takes in three Dolomite passes: Duran, Giau and Falzarego, as well as the Forcella Staulanza. The stage's summit finish has eight hairpins with a 3km climb at 9.3% average gradient, maxing out at 15% and with its last kilometre at 11%.
Stage 20: Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo
- Saturday, 30 May
- 200km, 3,750m altitude gain
A couple of shorter climbs earlier in the stage head into a 53km circuit taken twice. The 14.5km climb to Piancavallo has a 14% maximum gradient and averages 9%. On the first loop, it's followed by a descent into the valley that includes a 4km-long tunnel. The second time up is the Giro's final summit finish.
Stage 21: Roma to Roma
- Sunday, 31 May
- 131km, 500m altitude gain
And so we come to the final stage, which follows a familiar, predominantly flat route, taking a loop down to the coast at Ostia and back. It's followed by eight loops of a 9.5km finishing circuit through the heart of Rome, which takes in the Colosseum and passes the ancient Roman forum before following the banks of the Tiber, with a finish on the Via del Circo Massimo.
