the 109th edition of the Giro d’Italia will see cycling's superstars tackle the roads and mountains of Italy, with this year’s edition actually starting in Bulgaria for the first three stages.
The first of the three cycling grand tours will start on May 8 and run until May 31. There are 21 stages overall, made up of eight sprints, seven intermediate mountain stages, five high mountain stages and a single individual time trial, all over 3,468km in distance and 48,700m of elevation.
Below, we give you all you need to know about the Giro, including the route, schedule, the favourites and where to watch so you can keep up to date with one of the best road cycling races in the world.
The Route and Full Schedule
*Entries go: Stage, Date, Route/Location, Stage Type, Length (km), Elevation Gain (m)*
Stage 1 - Friday, 8 May - Nessebar to Burgas (Bulgaria) - Flat - 147 km - 500 m
Stage 2 - Saturday, 9 May - Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria) - Hilly - 221 km - 2,600 m
Stage 3 - Sunday, 10 May - Plovdiv to Sofia (Bulgaria) - Flat - 175 km - 1,600 m
Rest Day - Monday, 11 May - Transfer to Italy
Stage 4 - Tuesday, 12 May - Catanzaro to Cosenza - Flat - 138 km - 1,600 m
Stage 5 - Wednesday, 13 May - Praia a Mare to Potenza - Hilly - 203 km - 3,724 m
Stage 6 - Thursday, 14 May - Paestum to Naples - Flat - 142 km - 680 m
Stage 7 - Friday, 15 May - Formia to Blockhaus - Mountain - 244 km - 4,500 m
Stage 8 - Saturday, 16 May - Chieti to Fermo - Hilly - 156 km - 1,804 m
Stage 9 - Sunday, 17 May - Cervia to Corno alle Scale - Hilly / Uphill Finish - 184 km - 2,351 m
Rest Day - Monday, 18 May - Rest Day in Italy
Stage 10 - Tuesday, 19 May - Viareggio to Massa (TUDOR ITT) - Individual Time Trial - 42 km - 105 m
Stage 11 - Wednesday, 20 May - Porcari to Chiavari - Hilly - 195 km - 2,939 m
Stage 12 - Thursday, 21 May - Imperia to Novi Ligure - Flat - 175 km - 2,131 m
Stage 13 - Friday, 22 May - Alessandria to Verbania - Flat / Hilly Finish - 189 km - 1,326 m
Stage 14 - Saturday, 23 May - Aosta to Pila - Mountain - 133 km - 4,400 m
Stage 15 - Sunday, 24 May - Voghera to Milan - Flat - 157 km - 612 m
Rest Day - Monday, 25 May - Rest Day in Italy
Stage 16 - Tuesday, 26 May - Bellinzona to Carì (Switzerland) - Mountain - 113 km - 3,000 m
Stage 17 - Wednesday, 27 May - Cassano d'Adda to Andalo - Hilly - 202 km - 3,257 m
Stage 18 - Thursday, 28 May - Fai della Paganella to Pieve di Soligo - Flat - 171 km - 1,896 m
Stage 19 - Friday, 29 May - Feltre to Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) - Mountain - 151 km - 4,888 m
Stage 20 - Saturday, 30 May - Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo - Mountain - 200 km - 3,751 m
Stage 21 - Sunday, 31 May - Rome to Rome - Flat - 131 km - 1,329 m
The 2026 Grande Partenza
The riders will enjoy the Bulgarian vistas for the first three stages, starting in Nessebar and working their way to Sofia, before they transfer to Italy on their rest day. This will be the 16th time the Giro has started outside of Italy.
The first and third stages are flats, with the second including two mid-range climbs, making it a hilly stage. Therefore, two of the first three stages favour sprinters.
General Classification Favourites
The favourite for the General Classification race is Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane’s chances have been boosted by the fact that his main rival, Tadej Pogačar, decided not to race, instead focusing on the Tour de France.
Another contender for the title would have been Richard Carapaz, after he came third last year. Sadly, Caraprz has had to withdraw due to injury.
How to Watch
In the UK, you can watch every stage of the Giro d'Italia live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. To access the channel, you will need to subscribe, after which you can stream it through your TV or online.
FAQ Section
When does the Giro d'Italia 2026 start and finish?
The Giro starts on Friday, May 8, and finishes on Sunday, May 31.
Where does the 2026 Giro d'Italia start?
The Giro starts in Nessebar, Italy.
Who are the main favourites to win the 2026 Maglia Rosa?
Jonas Vingegaard is the main favourite, but names like Giulio Pellizzari, Adam Yates, Thymen Arensman, Derek Gee-West, Egan Bernal, Enric Mas, Felix Gall, and Jai Hindley have all been mentioned as potential contenders.
How many time trials are in the 2026 Giro d’Italia?
There is only one time trial in this year’s Giro.
What are the hardest mountain stages in the 2026 edition?
Stage 19 has the highest elevation at 4,888 m, and Stage 7 is the longest at 244km, with the second-highest elevation at 4,500 m.
Where can I watch the Giro d'Italia 2026 live?
You can watch the Giro on TNT Sports and on HBO Max.