The route of the 2026 Giro d’Italia is going to be revealed within the next month but at the time being, a lot of it is still being kept a secret quite efficiently. It can’t be confirmed at the time being even where the race will begin, with two different locations (and countries) fighting for the Grande Partenza that will take place next May.
Whilst the 2026 Tour de France will start in Spain (Barcelona), the Vuelta a España will begin in Monaco in the border with France – something that has in modern cycling become a trend. The Giro d’Italia in the meantime can begin in the northeastern city of Trieste, however with almost full certainty the eastern European nation of Bulgaria has the lead. This would see three stages, as was the case with this year’s start in Albania and other foreign starts to the Giro and will include a stage finish in Sofia, although it’s not assured that the race will actually begin there.
If the start is in Bulgaria, it means that when the peloton returns to Italy, this can virtually happen on any corner of the country but it will most likely once again be ridden from south to north, with finales in Napoli, Chiavari and the mountains of Piemonte likely to also host stage finishes before the race finally reaches the Alps.
Here there are, as every year, countless possibilities for the organizers to put on a spectacular route. It is very likely that Cervinia will be hosting a summit finish as was the case back in 2012 and 2018 and the race will likely cross the border to Switzerland once again with a summit finish in Carì heavily rumoured to be part of the plans for the Corsa Rosa. The Monte Zoncolan, last used in 2021 where Lorenzo Fortunato won from the breakaway and Egan Bernal solidified his race lead, is also a big possibility. Milano is likely to receive the finale of the Giro after several years of Rome over this decade – which would most likely mean a final time-trial, as has happened on several recent occasions.