Giro 2026 Route stage 6: Paestum - Napels

Thursday 14 May – Stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia travels from Paestum to Naples. The route is 142 kilometres long en features 500 metres of elevation gain, so you might think it’s a straightforward sprint stage. But no. The final kilometre serves up a rising cobbled section and a U-turn with 400 metres to go.

Last update 14 May 2026: link to stage results added

Paestum isn’t just an ancient-sounding name – it truly is. The area around the starting venue is an archaeologist’s treasure trove, with finds dating back long before Christ. The temples of Poseidon and Athena stand as imposing reminders of those long-lost times.

The route of the 6th stage is fairly straightforward. In the first half, the riders follow the Tyrrhenian coast before looping around the northern slopes of Vesuvius to enter Naples from the east via several suburbs.

The finale, however, is far from straightfoward. After a flat run-in along the Mediterranean, the riders hit the cobbles along the harbour in the final 700 metres. This section rises at 4%, and positioning will be crucial, as there is a U-turn with 400 metres to go. The finish line is drawn on the cobbled Piazza del Plebiscito.

The stage marks the fifth consecutive year that the Giro finishes in Naples, though each finale has been different. In 2022, Thomas De Gendt took victory from the breakaway, while the following three editions ended in sprints. Those finishes brought wins for Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves, respectively in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 6th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint at kilometre 118.3; at the finish line, 10, 6 and 4 await the first three riders.

Another interesting read: results 6th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.