The 2026 Giro d’Italia kicks off on Friday, May 8
The 109th edition of the Giro d’Italia gets underway on Friday, May 8 at 12:50 CEST with the ‘Grande Partenza’ from Bulgaria, marking the start of the first of 21 stages on the ‘Corsa Rosa’. From Nessebar to Rome, the peloton will cover a total of 3,459 kilometers with more than 49,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain, spread across the traditional 21 stages that take riders through 14 regions. Jonas Vingegaard, making his Giro debut, arrives as the top favorite, but names like Pellizzari, Felix Gall, Egan Bernal, and Enric Mas are also expected to challenge.
The 21 stages of the 2026 Giro d’Italia feature a variety of profiles, including 8 flat stages, 7 medium-mountain stages, 5 high-mountain stages, and a single time trial. The calendar also includes two rest days, one right at the start to allow for the transfer from Bulgaria to Italy.
The route of the 2026 Giro d’Italia
Where to watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia on TV and live?
In Spain, the 109th edition of the Giro d’Italia can be watched on TV and online via Eurosport and HBO Max, the usual platforms for cycling coverage. The only free-to-air option to follow the Giro in Spain is the regional channel EITB, which will broadcast live the final stretch of each stage.
At SPORT, we will bring you all the action from each of the 21 stages of the 2026 Giro d’Italia with the best summaries, updated standings, and reactions from the protagonists.
