Giro 2026 Route stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale

Sunday, 17 May – At 184 kilometres, the 9th stage of the Giro d’Italia travels from Cervia to Corno alle Scale. In the process, the riders take on 2,400 metres of climbing, most of which comes in the final 28 kilometres. The road rises at double-digit gradients in the last 3 kilometres.

Last updated 11 May 2026: weather forecast added

Suited for: attackers, GC contenders
Key points: long summit finish, brutally steep finale

The route is extremely flat until a 3.2 kilometres bump at 5.2% appears at kilometre 107. After that, the race settles back into its familiar rhythm. Nothing suggests that we’ll be finishing on a 1st-category climb later on.

From Silla onwards, with 28 kilometres remaining, the character of the route changes as the riders tackle the 3.5 kilometres climb at 7.2% to Gaggio Montano. The gradient then eases slightly, but the full ascent to Querciola runs to 11.3 kilometres at an average of 4.3%.

Upon passing through Querciola, the riders still have 16.6 kilometres ahead of them. First comes a short descent, and then the irregular final haul up the Corno alle Scale kicks in. The opening section climbs for 6 kilometres at 3.9%, although there are stretches nudging 9%, but it really comes down to the final 4.8 kilometres

The final act begins with 2.1 kilometres at 7.2%, after which it’s all hands on deck, as the road rises at an average of 11.5% over the next 2 kilometres. Just after the flamme rouge the gradient eases again.

Over its full length of 12.8 kilometres, the Corno alle Scale averages 5.9%. Including the approach via Querciola, the final 28.1 kilometres serve up a 4.1% gradient.

The Giro has finished on the Corno alle Scale once before. In 2004, Gilberto Simoni arrived at the line alone, followed 15 seconds later by the eventual winner of that edition, Damiano Cunego.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 9th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint at kilometre 172.6; at the finish line, 10, 6 and 4 await the first three riders.

Weather forecast:
Start: 20°C, sunny, easterly wind (force 3)
Finish: 10°C, partly cloudy with a chance of sunshine, southerly wind (force 2)

We update the weather forecast on the morning of the stage. For the current weather conditions along the route, you can use the interactive weather map in the slideshow.

Stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia starts at 12:35 and is expected to finish at around 17:15 - both local times (CEST). For details, see the timings in the slideshow below this article.

Another interesting read: favourites to win at Corno alle Scale.