The Giro d’Italia, one of the three Grand Tours, returns for its 109th edition. The three-week race, from May 8th to 31st, will see the world’s best riders traverse 3,468km across 21 stages starting all the way to the finish line.
It is a gruelling race, with incredible scenery and fierce pedalling. Below, we have everything you need to know about the teams and the riders, ahead of the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
Complete Giro d'Italia 2026 startlist
The official list of riders is not out yet, but this is the preliminary startlist for the 18 UCI WorldTeams at the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
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Kaden Groves (Australia)
Tobias Bayer (Austria)
Francesco Busatto (Italy)
Jonas Geens (Belgium)
Edward Planckaert (Belgium)
Jensen Plowright (Australia)
Johan Price-Pejtersen (Denmark)
Luca Vergallito (Italy)
Decathlon CMA CGM Team
Felix Gall (Austria)
Tobias Lund Andresen (Denmark)
Tord Gudmestad (Norway)
Gregor Mühlberger (Austria)
Oliver Naesen (Belgium)
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Denmark)
Callum Scotson (Australia)
Johannes Staune-Mittet (Norway)
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Samuele Battistella (Italy)
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda (Ecuador)
Sean Quinn (USA)
Darren Rafferty (Ireland)
James Shaw (Great Britain)
Michael Valgren (Denmark)
Jardi Christiaan van der Lee (Netherlands)
Groupama-FDJ United
Rémi Cavagna (France)
Cyril Barthe (France)
Axel Huens (France)
Johan Jacobs (Switzerland)
Josh Kench (New Zealand)
Paul Penhoët (France)
Rémy Rochas (France)
Brieuc Rolland (France)
Lidl-Trek
Giulio Ciccone (Italy)
Simone Consonni (Italy)
Derek Gee-West (Canada)
Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea)
Jonathan Milan (Italy)
Matteo Sobrero (Italy)
Tim Torn Teutenberg (Germany)
Max Walscheid (Germany)
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Arnaud De Lie (Belgium)
Toon Aerts (Belgium)
Jasper De Buyst (Belgium)
Simone Gualdi (Italy)
Mathieu Kockelmann (Luxembourg)
Milan Menten (Belgium)
Lorenzo Rota (Italy)
Jonas Rutsch (Germany)
Liam Slock (Belgium)
Lennert Van Eetvelt (Belgium)
Movistar Team
Iván García Cortina (Spain)
Orluis Aular (Venezuela)
Juan Pedro López (Spain)
Enric Mas (Spain)
Lorenzo Milesi (Italy)
Nelson Oliveira (Portugal)
Javier Romo (Spain)
Einer Rubio (Colombia)
Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team
Egan Bernal (Colombia)
Thymen Arensman (Netherlands)
Filippo Ganna (Italy)
Jack Haig (Australia)
Laurens De Plus (Belgium)
Magnus Sheffield (USA)
Embret Svestad-Bårdseng (Norway)
Connor Swift (Great Britain)
Ben Turner (Great Britain)
NSN Cycling Team
Alessandro Pinarello (Italy)
Jan Hirt (Czechia)
Ryan Mullen (Ireland)
Nick Schultz (Australia)
Dion Smith (New Zealand)
Jake Stewart (Great Britain)
Corbin Strong (New Zealand)
Ethan Vernon (Great Britain)
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
Jai Hindley (Australia)
Giulio Pellizzari (Italy)
Giovanni Aleotti (Italy)
Gianni Moscon (Italy)
Luke Tuckwell (Australia)
Mick van Dijke (Netherlands)
Aleksandr Vlasov (—)
Ben Zwiehoff (Germany)
Soudal Quick-Step
Ayco Bastiaens (Belgium)
Gianmarco Garofoli (Italy)
Dries Van Gestel (Belgium)
Paul Magnier (France)
Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Italy)
Jasper Stuyven (Belgium)
Filippo Zana (Italy)
Bahrain Victorious
Santiago Buitrago (Colombia)
Damiano Caruso (Italy)
Matevž Govekar (Slovenia)
Fran Miholjević (Croatia)
Afonso Eulálio (Portugal)
Mathijs Paasschens (Netherlands)
Alec Segaert (Belgium)
Edoardo Zambanini (Italy)
Team Jayco AlUla
Ben O'Connor (Australia)
Pascal Ackermann (Germany)
Koen Bouwman (Netherlands)
Robert Donaldson (Great Britain)
Felix Engelhardt (Germany)
Alan Hatherly (South Africa)
Chris Juul-Jensen (Denmark)
Andrea Vendrame (Italy)
Team Picnic PostNL
Frank van den Broek (Netherlands)
Casper van Uden (Netherlands)
Timo De Jong (Netherlands)
Sean Flynn (Great Britain)
Chris Hamilton (Australia)
James Knox (Great Britain)
Gijs Leemreize (Netherlands)
Tim Naberman (Netherlands)
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Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark)
Victor Campenaerts (Belgium)
Sepp Kuss (USA)
Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands)
Bart Lemmen (Netherlands)
Davide Piganzoli (Italy)
Timo Kielich (Belgium)
Tim Rex (Belgium)
UAE Team Emirates XRG
Adam Yates (Great Britain)
Jay Vine (Australia)
Marc Soler (Spain)
Jan Christen (Switzerland)
António Morgado (Portugal)
Igor Arrieta (Spain)
Jhonatan Narváez (Ecuador)
Uno-X Mobility
Andreas Leknessund (Norway)
Johannes Kulset (Norway)
Erlend Blikra (Norway)
Markus Hoelgaard (Norway)
Fredrik Dversnes Lavik (Norway)
Sakarias Koller Løland (Norway)
Martin Tjøtta (Norway)
Ådne Holter (Norway)
Anders Skaarseth (Norway)
XDS Astana Team
Alberto Bettiol (Italy)
Davide Ballerini (Italy)
Arien Livyns (Belgium)
Harold Martín López (Ecuador)
Martin Malucelli (Italy)
Christian Scaroni (Italy)
Guillermo Thomas Silva (Uruguay)
Diego Ulissi (Italy)
Lorenzo Fortunato (Italy)
5 UCI ProTeams (Wildcards)
Bardiani CSF 7 Saber
Luca Covili (Italy)
Filippo Magli (Italy)
Manuele Tarozzi (Italy)
Filippo Turconi (Italy)
Enrico Zanoncello (Italy)
Mattia Marcellusi (Italy)
Luca Paletti (Italy)
Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
David De La Cruz (Spain)
Chris Harper (Australia)
Sjoerd Bax (Netherlands)
Fabio Christen (Switzerland)
Mark Donovan (Great Britain)
David González (Spain)
Matteo Moschetti (Italy)
Nickolas Zukowsky (Canada)
Team Polti VisitMalta
Mirco Maestri (Italy)
Mattia Bais (Italy)
Davide Bais (Italy)
Ludovico Crescioli (Italy)
Giovanni Lonardi (Italy)
Andrea Mifsud (Malta)
Thomas Pesenti (Italy)
Andrea Pietrobon (Italy)
Diego Pablo Sevilla (Spain)
Tudor Pro Cycling Team
Michael Storer (Australia)
Will Barta (USA)
Robin Froidevaux (Switzerland)
Luca Mozzato (Italy)
Mathys Rondel (France)
Florian Stork (Germany)
Larry Warbasse (USA)
Unibet Rose Rockets
Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands)
Wout Poels (Netherlands)
Elmar Reinders (Netherlands)
Lukáš Kubiš (Slovakia)
Karsten Larsen Feldmann (Norway)
Tomáš Kopecký (Czechia)
Niklas Larsen (Denmark)
Hartthijs De Vries (Netherlands)
GC battle and pink jersey contenders
Jonas Vingegaard is the favourite to win this year, especially with Tadej Pogačar deciding not to race and focus on the Tour de France. Another contender for the title, Richard Carapaz, who came third last year, has also withdrawn due to injury, leaving Vingegaard in an even stronger position. João Almeida and Mikel Landa are two other big names not on the starting lineup.
There will be some competition from other riders in the race, including Giulio Pellizzari, Adam Yates, Thymen Arensman, Derek Gee-West, Egan Bernal, Enric Mas, Felix Gall, and Jai Hindley.
Sprint kings and purple jersey battle
The battle for the purple Jersey is arguably more competitive, with several names in contention. Tobias Lund Andresen has had a great year for Decathlon CMA CGM and probably comes in as the favourite.
Jonathan Milan is back at the Giro after sitting out for a year. He took the green jersey at the 2025 Tour de France and could be wearing purple at the end of this competition.
Paul Magnier, Kaden Groves, Orluis Aular and Dylan Greonewegen should be kept an eye on in the sprint classification as well.
Giro d'Italia 2026 route
For the first time, the Giro will start in Bulgaria, with the first three stages being held in the country. Overall, there will be eight sprints, seven intermediate mountain stages, five high mountain stages and a single individual time trial, all over 3,468km.
There is an overall climb of 49,150m, which will be taxing on the riders, but critics have said that this is one of the easiest in recent memory, with too many flat stages, it being heavily back-loaded for the exciting races and some quite boring stages.
FAQs
Who is the main favourite to win the 2026 Giro d'Italia?
Jonas Vingegaard is the favourite to win the general classification.
How many teams are competing in the 2026 Giro d'Italia?
There are 23 teams overall.
Where does the 2026 Giro d'Italia start?
This year it starts in Nessebar, Bulgaria.
Which wildcard teams were invited to the 2026 Giro d'Italia?
Five of the 23 overall teams are wildcards: Bardiani CSF 7 Saber, Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Team Polti VisitMalta, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, and Unibet Rose Rockets.
Are Tadej Pogačar or Primož Roglič racing the 2026 Giro?
Neither Tadej Pogačar nor Primož Roglič are racing in the Giro, as they opted out and competed in the Tour de Romandie instead, in preparation for the Tour de France.