Giro 2026 Favourites stage 19: Who'll win the toughest stage?

fotobureau Cor VosThe Giro is three weeks underway when the riders face the toughest test. Over 151 kilometres they tackle 5,000 metres of climbing, while the finishing climb rises for 5 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.8%. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 6 May 2026

Let’s hope the Giro is not yet decided when the riders traverse five climbs towards the steep summit finish on Friday 29 May. The route is so beautiful that it would almost be a shame for the course designers if these roads did not deliver a grand finale. So let’s assume that it will happen, and that Vingegaard, Arensman, Yates, Bernal, Pellizzari and the rest are still in contention to give the Giro a thrilling climax.

Stage 19 runs through the Dolomites, with the riders taking on the Passo Duran (12.1 kilometres at 8.2%), Forcella Staulanza (comes in two parts: 5.8 kilometres at 9.7% and 6.3 kilometres at 6.7%), Passo Giau (9.9 kilometres at 9.3%), Passo Falzarego (10.1 kilometres at 5.6%) and the final climb to the Piani di Pezzè plateau (5 kilometres at 9.6%). On paper, this is undoubtedly the toughest challenge of the entire Giro, although, as always, the riders ultimately decide how hard a race becomes.

How the race unfolds depends on the standings, so we will continue to expand this article during the Giro, but at this stage we would say the riders below are the main contenders for the stage win.

Favourites 19th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Thymen Arensman, Adam Yates, Jay Vine
** Egan Bernal, Giulio Pellizzari, Felix Gall, Enric Mas, Michael Storer
* Giulio Ciccone, Jai Hindley, Sepp Kuss, Damiano Caruso, Ben O'Connor, Afonso Eulálio

Add an extra element of excitement to the Giro and enter our fantasy game with a guaranteed prize pool of €7,000.

Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.