Giro 2026 Favourites stage 3: For fast men #2

fotobureau Cor VosHalfway 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. (Slideshow route/profile)

Published on 28 April 2026

On the route from Plovdiv to Sofia, the riders will tackle 1,600 metres of elevation gain, most of it coming on the Borovec Pass. The rest of the course is largely flat, although the road already drags upwards for several kilometres before the climb proper begins.

Once over the summit, there are still 70 kilometres to race. The first 10 kilometres are a proper descent, after which the route is flat or very slightly downhill. It sets the perfect scene for a chase between dropped sprinters and the teams of fast men who have survived the climb.

Once in the Bulgarian capital, the road becomes a long, dead-straight run-in to the finish.

We will update this article in the run-up to the Grande Partenza.

Favourites 3rd stage 2025 Giro d'Italia

*** Paul Magnier, Tobias Lund Andresen, Danny van Poppel
** Jonathan Milan, Kaden Groves, Ethan Vernon
* Dylan Groenewegen, Pascal Ackermann, Casper van Uden

Also worth a read: route 3rd stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage 3: routes & profiles

route

profile

route finale

profile finale