Giro 2026 Favourites stage 5: Attackers with climbing legs

fotobureau Cor VosWith 4,100 metres of climbing and over 200 kilometres to cover, stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia is a tough undertaking. There is no high mountain terrain, but the journey across the instep of the Italian boot is absolutely one for the climbers. Whether the GC riders will fight for the spoils remains to be seen, but we don't think so. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 4 May 2026

Given that the Giro has only just begun, it seems likely that the breakaway will be given enough leeway to fight for the stage win. As a bonus, one of them could well take the pink jersey.

All things considered, we can expect a lively opening phase packed with attacks. The route lends itself to it, as the riders soon climb to Prestieri, gaining 13 kilometres at 4.6%. After a short descent, the road continues to rise for another 5 kilometres at modest gradients. After that, the opportunities to make a difference dry up, as the next dozens of kilometres are largely downhill, albeit with a few rolling sections along the way.

Serious climbing resumes in the final 65 kilometres. First, the road rises for 5.5 kilometres at 5.5% to Viggiano, and after a brief descent the hardest climb of the day appears. The Montagna Grande di Viggiano serves up 6.6 kilometres at 9.1%. The riders then remain at altitude for about 20 kilometres — racing between 1,100 and 1,400 metres — before starting the descent with 23 kilometres to go. So anyone eyeing the stage win needs to be alert on the Montagna Grande di Viggiano.

The plunge leads into a promising finale in Potenza. In the final 6 kilometres, the riders first tackle a 300-metre ramp at 12%, which continues to rise for another kilometre, making it 1.3 kilometres at 6.6% in total. With 4.8 kilometres to go, the road heads downhill again, and after a negligible bump the final 1.7 kilometres rise at modest gradients towards the finish.

Favourites 5th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia

*** Andreas Leknessund, Filippo Zana, Marc Soler, Alessandro Pinarello
** Victor Campenaerts, Magnus Sheffield, Javier Romo, Alexander Jefferson Cepeda
* Koen Bouwman, Wout Poels, Juan Pedro López, Michael Valgren, Will Barta, Jan Christen

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Another interesting read: route 5th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.