Giro 2026: Favourites
fotobureau Cor VosIn the previous Giro d’Italia, Simon Yates won the general classification. Mads Pedersen was the most successful stage hunter with four stage wins, while Olav Kooij was the fastest sprinter, taking two bunch sprints. The remaining stages were all won by different riders. Overall winner Yates did not take a single stage victory.
We will soon publish an article on the main contenders for the pink jersey. The table below lists the favourites for the individual stage wins.
Another interesting read: records & winners Giro d'Italia.
Please click the links in the table below to see the favourites for the individual stage wins.
Giro d'Italia 2026 - stages
| # | date | route | km | type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8-5 | For fast men #1 | 147 | flat |
| 2 | 9-5 | Dream finish for puncheurs | 221 | hills |
| 3 | 10-5 | For fast men #2 | 175 | flat |
| 11-5 | rest day | |||
| 4 | 12-5 | 144 | hill | |
| 5 | 13-5 | 204 | hills | |
| 6 | 14-5 | 161 | flat | |
| 7 | 15-5 | 246 | mountains | |
| 8 | 16-5 | 159 | hills | |
| 9 | 17-5 | 184 | mountains | |
| 18-5 | rest day | |||
| 10 | 19-5 | Viareggio - Massa | 40.2 | ITT |
| 11 | 20-5 | Porcari - Chiavari | 178 | hills |
| 12 | 21-5 | Imperia - Novi Ligure | 177 | flat |
| 13 | 22-5 | Alessandria - Verbania | 186 | hills |
| 14 | 23-5 | Aosta - Pila | 133 | mountains |
| 15 | 24-5 | Voghera - Milan | 136 | flat |
| 25-5 | rest day | |||
| 16 | 26-5 | Bellinzona - Carì | 113 | mountains |
| 17 | 27-5 | Cassana d'Adda - Andalo | 200 | hills |
| 18 | 28-5 | Fai della Paganelle - Pieve di Soligo | 167 | hills |
| 19 | 29-5 | Feltre - Piani di Pezzè | 151 | mountains |
| 20 | 30-5 | Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo | 199 | mountains |
| 21 | 31-5 | Rome - Rome | 131 | flat |
For fast men #1
The pink jersey is up for grabs on the opening day of the Giro d’Italia. With a pan-flat route on the menu, it’s almost certain to end up on the shoulders of a sprinter.
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Dream finish for puncheurs
The punchy riders in the peloton will be right in their element on the second day of the Giro. A sharp climb with its summit 11 kilometres from the line precedes a twisty finale with two cobbled sectors and several uphill stretches.
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For fast men #2
Halfway through the third stage of the Giro, the riders take on the Borovec Pass — a 9.2-kilometre climb at 5.4%. Sprinters will undoubtedly be dropped there, and the big question is whether they can make it back in time to contest the victory in Sofia.
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