Giro 2026 Route stage 12: Imperia - Novi Ligure

Thursday, 21 May – Stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia covers 175 kilometres from the coastal town of Imperia to Novi Ligure. Two climbs punctuate the route. Could they derail a bunch sprint? The riders face 2,250 metres of climbing in total.

Latest update 7 May: time bonuses added

For: sprinters
Key points: potential game of cat and mouse in the finale

The riders leave the coast once the flag drops to tackle a gentle incline. This inlands loop allows them to bypass the Capo Berta, familiar from Milan–San Remo, which actually begins in the start town of Imperia. In Albenga, they return to the Italian Riviera, only to leave it definitively just past Savona.

Upon leaving the Riviera, the Colle Giovo makes its entrance. In the 2021 Milan–San Remo, this climb was taken from the opposite side as a replacement for the Passo del Turchino, which was impassable that year due to a landslide. From the Mediterranean side, the Giovo runs for 11.4 kilometres at an average gradient of 4.4%. After descending briefly from the summit, the Bric Berton adds another 5.5 kilometres at 5.9% to the mix.

There are still more than 50 kilometres from the Bric Berton to the finish in Novi Ligure, so any dropped sprinters have time to make up lost ground. On the other hand, teams with fast men still in the peloton will be keen to prevent that, setting the stage for a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

The Giro last visited Novi Ligure in 2019. That stage came from Carpi across the Po plain, with Caleb Ewan taking the spoils ahead of Arnaud Démare and Pascal Ackermann.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 12th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint at kilometre 161.6; at the finish line, 10, 6 and 4 await the first three riders.

Stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia starts at 13:05 and is expected to finish at around 17:15 - both local times (CEST). For details, see the timetable in the slideshow below this article.

Another interesting read: favourites to win in Novi Ligure.