Giro 2026 Favourites stage 7: GC showdown at Blockhaus

fotobureau Cor VosThe stage to the Blockhaus looks set to be the first major showdown between the GC contenders. The 13.6-kilometre climb at 8.4% earns that status on name alone. In the past, Eddy Merckx and Moreno Argentin have triumphed on this iconic mountain. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 4 May 2026

Stage 7 is a brutal day out, with 4,600 metres of climbing and a summit finish. The distance is no joke either: 244 kilometres. In the final week, a parcours like this would almost certainly spark a GC showdown, but in the opening week that remains to be seen. Which teams will be willing to control such a long and demanding stage? At the same time, every top climber will be eager to add a Blockhaus victory to their palmarès.

Straight from the start, the riders tackle a small climb before rolling over flat to undulating roads towards the brutally hard second half of the race, which opens on the 9.5-kilometre climb at 5% to Rionero Sannitico.

After passing Rionero Sannitico and a short descent, the climb to Roccaraso awaits: 6.9 kilometres at 6.5%. The riders then ride across a plateau at over 1,200 metres altitude. The terrain is exposed and the roads are far from flat, so this is a tricky section. Around 35 kilometres later comes the descent, and once back in the valley — still at roughly 520 metres above sea level — the final climb looms. It rises for 13.6 kilometres at 8.4% to the finish, with the hardest section just after halfway.

Long story short: for climbers with GC ambitions, stage 7 is perfect to strike. That said, it could also end up being a day for a strong breakaway that poses no threat to the overall standings, with GC teams easing off and allowing the strongest climber from the escapees to just hold on for the win at the finish. We don’t expect it — and don’t hope for it either — but you never know.

For what it’s worth: the last winner at the Blockhaus, Jai Hindley in 2022, was a GC contender, who went on to win the overall classification that year.

Favourites 7th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Giulio Pellizzari, Felix Gall
** Thymen Arensman, Egan Bernal, Michael Storer, Jai Hindley, Enric Mas
* Giulio Ciccone, Wout Poels, Aleksandr Vlasov, Sepp Kuss, Chris Harper, Alessandro Pinarello

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Another interesting read: route 7th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.