Giro 2026 Route stage 20: Gemona del Friuli

Giro 2026 Route stage 20: Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo

Saturday, 30 May – The Giro's penultimate stage is effectively split into two parts. After a flat opening with a few mid-stage hills, the riders tackle the climb to Piancavallo twice. It rises for 14.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.8%, with the first half by far the steepest.

For: climbers, GC contenders
Key features: the Giro winner is decided at the line

After the start in Gemona del Friuli, the riders head over flat roads to Forgaria del Friuli, where they can warm up their climbing legs on a 1.3 kilometres ramp at 8.5%. Not long after, the route ascends for just under 10 kilometres at modest gradients to Clauzetto. A flat section then leads towards the double ascent of Piancavallo.

Piancavallo is the ski resort in the mountains above Aviano. To reach it, the riders tackle 1,131 metres of climbing over 14.5 kilometres, resulting in an average gradient of 7.8%. The first 6 kilometres carry by far the greatest challenge, as this section climbs at 9.4%, with the sixth kilometre averaging 11.6%. Up to kilometre 9 it remains tough, after which the gradient eases steadily. In the final 1.5 kilometres there is little more than a false flat left.

After the first passage in Piancavallo, the riders descend roughly 16 kilometres to Lago di Barcis, before continuing gently downhill to Aviano. Then the Piancavallo climb begins again, this time serving as the Giro’s ultimate ascent.

The Giro last visited Piancavallo in 2020. On that occasion, Tao Geoghegan Hart outsprinted Wilco Kelderman and Jai Hindley, while João Almeida lost some time but retained the pink jersey. One week later, Geoghegan Hart was crowned overall winner in Milan, ahead of Hindley and Kelderman.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 20th stage 2026 Giro d’Italia.