Giro 2026 Route stage 7: Formia

Giro 2026 Route stage 7: Formia - Blockhaus

Friday, 15 May – The first proper uphill finish of the Giro d’Italia takes place on the Blockhaus. At 246 kilometres, it is also the longest day in the saddle. The finish line awaits atop a 13.6-kilometre climb averaging 8.4% in the Majella, the highest massif in the Apennines.

For: climbers and GC contenders
Key points: mountain top finish, 4,500 metres of climbing

As the riders travel on predominantly flat roads to Colli al Volturno, the first 135 kilometres are relatively straightforward. Then comes the ascent to Rionero Sannitico, a perfect warm-up for the suffering ahead: 9.5 kilometres at an average of 5%.

The climb tops out at roughly 1,000 metres above sea level. Following the short descent to Castel di Sangro, the road rises over 7 kilometres at 6.4% to Roccaraso. Without a significant drop, the route continues across a plateau, with the Passo Forchetta throwing in 1.9 kilometres at 7.1%, before descending to the foot of Passo San Leonardo, an 8.4-kilometre climb at 3.1%.

Following a relatively long downhill, the riders cover 10 kilometres through the lower regions of the Majella massif to Roccamorice. Then the finishing ascent kicks in. The Blockhaus stretches 13.6 kilometres at an average of 8.4%, with the last 10 kilometres even steeper at 9.4%.

The winner at the Blockhaus follows in the footsteps of the likes of Eddy Merckx (1967), Franco Bitossi (1968), José Manuel Fuente (1972), Moreno Argentin (1984), Ivan Basso (2006), Franco Pellizotti (2009), Nairo Quintana (2017), and Jai Hindley (2022).

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 7th stage 2026 Giro d’Italia.