Giro 2026: GC Favourites

fotobureau Cor VosWho are the top contenders to win the Giro d'Italia? Jonas Vingegaard stands out as the pre-race favourite, but with a field that also includes Giulio Pellizzari, Adam Yates, Thymen Arensman, Derek Gee-West, Egan Bernal, Enric Mas, Felix Gall and Jai Hindley, nothing is set in stone. It wouldn’t be the first time that the Giro delivers a surprise winner. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 28 April – last checked on 7 May upon publication of the final start list

Jonas Vingegaard is the clear favourite to win the Giro d’Italia. In all the stage races he started and finished in recent years, he came out on top of the overall classification. That is, when one condition was met: no Tadej Pogacar at the start. This season, the two-time Tour winner has raced twice — the Volta a Catalunya and Paris-Nice — and he won both in commanding fashion. It will be the first time the Dane takes on the Giro.

His main opposition could come from Giulio Pellizzari, who recently claimed his first stage race victory at the Tour of the Alps. It would be fitting if the 22-year-old Italian were to deliver on his promise in his home Grand Tour. Something along the lines of what Isaac del Toro pulled off last year: starting as an outsider and gradually evolving into a top favourite. In his Giro bid, Pellizzari can count on the support of Jai Hindley, a former winner of the race who took victory in 2022.

Another former champion is Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian, who won the Giro seven years ago, battled for the overall win last year with Del Toro. He was sitting second overall on the penultimate day when Simon Yates attacked on the Colle delle Finestre. With the Mexican seemingly unwilling to lead the chase, the Olympic champion chose not to commit to the pursuit himself, and the Giro took a surprising turn. Two riders fought tooth and nail for days, but in the end a third took advantage.

Simon’s twin brother Adam will be keen to follow in his footsteps. There is little to say about his form. Yes, he won O Gran Camiño in mid-April, but that field was far from strong. It was Adam’s first victory since winning the Tour de Suisse two years ago, which should not be too surprising, as he often works in support of Pogacar. In the Giro, however, he will be the leader of UAE Team Emirates, with Vine as co-leader. It would be a first if the 33-year-old Brit were to win a Grand Tour.

As mentioned, Pellizzari recently won the most important preparation race ahead of the Giro, the Tour of the Alps. He did so with panache, also taking two stage wins along the way. Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman completed the podium, while Michal Storer finished fourth. Ben O’Connor and Derek Gee-West also took part, but they remained under the radar, finishing eighth and twelfth overall respectively.

Looking back to March, a number of Giro contenders already tuned up at Tirreno–Adriatico. Giulio Pellizzari finished third there, Giulio Ciccone sixth, Santiago Buitrago seventh, Javier Romo twelfth, Michael Storer fourteenth and Thymen Arensman fifteenth. But little can be read into those results. For many riders it was their first race of the season - and Ciccone, for example, is one of those who will ride the Giro for stage wins rather than the general classification.

With Bernal and Hindley, there are two former winners lining up at the start of the Giro in Bulgaria.

Key stages

[Click the italic links for detailed stage descriptions]

Stage 7: Formia–Blockhaus, 244 kilometres with 4,600 metres of elevation gain, summit finish, final climb of 13.6 kilometres at 8.4%.

Stage 10: Viareggio–Massa, 42 kilometres with 50 metres of elevation gain, individual time trial.

Stage 14: Aosta–Pila, 133 kilometres with 4,350 metres of elevation gain, summit finish, final climb of 16.5 kilometres at 7.1%.

Stage 16: Bellinzona–Carì, 113 kilometres with 3,000 metres of elevation gain, summit finish, final climb of 11.7 kilometres at 7.9%.

Stage 19: Feltre–Piani di Pezzè, 151 kilometres with 5,000 metres of elevation gain, summit finish, final climb of 5 kilometres at 9.8%.

Stage 20: Gemona del Friuli–Piancavallo, 200 kilometres with 3,750 metres of elevation gain, summit finish, final climb of 14.5 kilometres at 7.8%.

GC Favourites 2026 Giro d'Italia

***** Jonas Vingegaard
**** Giulio Pellizzari, Adam Yates, Egan Bernal
*** Enric Mas, Thymen Arensman, Felix Gall, Jai Hindley
** Santiago Buitrago, Derek Gee-West, Michael Storer, Ben O'Connor
* Jay Vine, Lennert van Eetvelt, Damiano Caruso, Javier Romo, Igor Arrieta