A journey through the most anticipated stages of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, from Blockhaus to
Dolomites, until the final arrival in Rome
Italian Traditions takes you along the 2026 Giro d’Italia, scheduled from ’8 to 31
May. The 109th edition of the Corsa Rosa will start in Bulgaria and end in Rome,
after 21 stages. The route touches very different areas from each other — from the Tyrrhenian South
to the Apennines, from the Tuscan coast to the Alps, up to the Dolomites and Friuli — and, stage after
stage, tells a country made up of different landscapes, stories and identities, in which the component
sporty is intertwined with territorial sport.
Nessebar-Burgas: the departure on the Black Sea
The start from Nessebar, a historic city overlooking the Black Sea, opens the edition with a large
departure beyond the Italian borders. The arrival in Burgas inaugurates the three Bulgarian days, which
will continue with Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia before the move to Italy. It is a choice that
confirms the international dimension of the Giro, but above all prepares the long
crossing the peninsula.
Praia a Mare-Potenza: from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Lucanian interior
Among the first Italian stages, the Praia a Mare-Potenza highlights the relationship between sport and
territory. In 203 kilometers, the route leaves the Tyrrhenian coast and enters between Calabria and
Basilicata, crossing the Pollino, the Sinni valley and the Agri area before climbing back up towards
Power. It is a rough passage, with continuous differences in altitude and inhabited centres at high altitude, which brings the
Tour of a part of Italy less present in the great tourist stories.
Paestum-Naples: archaeology and city
The Paestum-Naples line connects two central places in Campania. The departure from the area
archaeological recalls the presence of Magna Graecia in Southern Italy, while the arrival in the Piazza
del Plebiscito takes the race to the heart of Naples, which hosts the Giro for the fifth year
consecutive. More than for the effects on the ranking, the fraction stands out for its value
territorial, connecting the archaeological landscape of Paestum to one of the symbolic cities of the
Mediterranean.
Formia-Blockhaus: the first uphill finish
The Formia-Blockhaus is one of the key passages of the first part of the Giro. After the stretch
initial along the coast of Lower Lazio, between Sperlonga and Gaeta, the route goes up towards
Abruzzo and the Majella, where the Blockhaus is one of the historic sites of the Corsa Rosa. It is the
first real confrontation in the mountains: a day that can change the first balance of power of the
classification.
Viareggio-Massa: the time trial on the Tuscan coast
The individual race from Viareggio to Massa will be the only time trial of the 2026 Giro. The 42
kilometers along the Tuscan coast, mainly flat and flowing, can
make an impact on the gaps between the favorites, especially in an edition with a lot of mountains. The track
crosses the Versilia seafront to Marina di Massa, in an area where the coast is
brings it closer to the Apuan Alps and the landscape of marble quarries.
Aosta-Pila: The Giro enters the Alps
The Aosta-Pila takes the race to the Aosta Valley, with a short but intense stage. The 133
kilometers concentrate an almost continuous sequence of climbs and descents, up to the final ascent
towards Pila. It is the first Alpine passage of the edition. The route passes through a region where the
mountain does not act as a simple frame, but defines the landscape: valleys, castles, localities
high altitude and roads that rise rapidly from the valley floor.
Feltre-Alleghe: Dolomites and Giau Pass
The Feltre-Alleghe, arriving at Piani di Pezzè, is the great Dolomite event
of the last week. The stage gets into full swing in the last 100 kilometers, where it concentrates approximately
5,000 meters of elevation gain and a sequence of climbs that includes Duran Pass, Coi,
Staulanza Pass, Giau Pass and Falzarego Pass. Il Giau, Cima Coppi of the edition in
2,233 meters, will be the highest point of the Corsa Rosa.
Gemona del Friuli-Piancavallo: Sport and Memory
The Gemona del Friuli-Piancavallo takes place on the penultimate day, with around 200
kilometers and a strong symbolic value. The departure from Gemona recalls the fiftieth
anniversary of the 1976 earthquake and passes through an area linked to the memory of the earthquake and
to reconstruction. On a sporting level, the double climb of Piancavallo makes the hamlet
the last real test in the mountains before the conclusion.
Rome will close the Corsa Rosa on May 31st. The route will also touch Ostia, before
return to the final city circuit, with passages next to the Colosseum, the Baths of
Caracalla and arrival at the Circus Maximus. The Capital closes an itinerary that, from the start
Bulgarian in the last week of the race, crosses the country along its roads and defines its
profile: coasts, cities, inland areas, mountains and communities united by the passage of the Giro d’Italia.