Alongside the headline names targeting the general classification, the early lineup also includes several of the sport’s fastest finishers and some of the most aggressive breakaway riders in the peloton.
Recent history of the Giro d’Italia
Recent editions of the Giro have produced some of the most dramatic Grand Tour battles of the modern era. In 2025, Simon Yates secured overall victory after a decisive attack on the Colle delle Finestre during the penultimate stage, overturning the race to take the Maglia Rosa ahead of Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz.
The 2024 edition was dominated by Tadej Pogacar, who controlled the race throughout the three weeks to claim the overall title before later going on to complete the Giro Tour double.
A year earlier, Primoz Roglic won the 2023 Giro d’Italia after taking the pink jersey in the final mountain time trial, overturning Geraint Thomas on the penultimate stage.
The race has developed a reputation for late drama in recent seasons, with several editions decided in the final days of competition.
The recently retired Simon Yates is the reigning Giro d’Italia champion
Vingegaard, Almeida and Carapaz among biggest names
Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) stands out as one of the biggest names currently listed. The Danish rider has established himself as one of the leading Grand Tour contenders of his generation and would immediately become a central figure in the GC battle.
UAE Team Emirates – XRG could also play a major role in the race through Adam Yates and Jay Vine, who should get their own opportunities after the withdrawal of João Almeida.
Former Giro winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost) is also among the notable names expected to feature, while Jai Hindley (Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) returns to a race he won in 2022 alongside Giulio Pellizzari.
Other riders capable of influencing the general classification include Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco AlUla) and Enric Mas (Movistar Team).
The Giro d’Italia trophy
Sprint Stars Jonathan Milan & Kaden Groves Target the Purple Jersey
Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) headlines the sprint group, with Dylan Groenewegen, Pascal Ackermann and Kaden Groves among the other riders capable of contesting the fast finishes.
With many of the sport’s biggest names already appearing on the list, the 2026 Giro d’Italia is set to feature a strong field across the general classification and the fight for stage victories.
Startlist Giro d’Italia 2026Decathlon CMA CGM TeamAndresen, Tobias LundGall, FelixGudmestad, TordMühlberger, GregorNaesen, OliverPedersen, Rasmus SøjbergScotson, CallumStaune-Mittet, JohannesNetcompany INEOS Cycling TeamArensman, ThymenBernal, EganGanna, FilippoHaig, JackPlus, Laurens DeSvestad-Bårdseng, EmbretSwift, ConnorTurner, BenTudor Pro Cycling TeamBarta, WillFroideveaux, RobinMozzato, LucaRondel, MathysStorer, MichaelStork, FlorianWarbasse, LarryTeam Polti VisitMaltaBais, DavideBais, MattiaCrescioli, LudovicoLonardi, GiovanniMaestri, MircoPesenti, ThomasPietrobon, AndreaTonelli, AlessandroBahrain VictoriousBuitrago, SantiagoCaruso, DamianoEulálio, AfonsoGovekar, MatevžMiholjević, FranPaasschens, MathijsSegaert, AlecZambanini, EdoardoUno-X MobilityBlikra, ErlendDversnes, FredrikHoelgaard, MarkusHolter, ÅdneKulset, JohannesLeknessund, AndreasLøland, Sakarias KollerTjøtta, MartinNSN Cycling TeamHirt, JanMullen, RyanPinarello, AlessandroSchultz, NickSmith, DionStewart, JakeStrong, CorbinVernon, EthanPinarello – Q36.5 Pro Cycling TeamBax, SjoerdChristen, FabioDe La Cruz, DavidDonovan, MarkGonzález, DavidHarper, ChrisMoschetti, MatteoZukowsky, NickLidl – TrekCiccone, GiulioConsonni, SimoneGee-West, DerekGhebreigzabhier, AmanuelMilan, JonathanSobrero, MatteoTeutenberg, Tim TornWalscheid, MaxAlpecin – Premier TechBayer, TobiasBusatto, FrancescoGeens, JonasGroves, KadenPlanckaert, EdwardPlowright, JensenPrice-Pejtersen, JohanVergallito, LucaTeam Jayco AlUlaAckermann, PascalBouwman, KoenDonaldson, RobertEngelhardt, FelixHatherly, AlanJuul-Jensen, ChrisO’Connor, BenVendrame, AndreaRed Bull – BORA – hansgroheAleotti, GiovanniDijke, Mick vanHindley, JaiMoscon, GianniPellizzari, GiulioPoppel, Danny vanVlasov, AleksandrZwiehoff, BenXDS Astana TeamBallerini, DavideBettiol, AlbertoFortunato, LorenzoLopez, Harold MartinMalucelli, MatteoScaroni, ChristianSilva, ThomasUlissi, DiegoEF Education – EasyPostBattistella, SamueleCarapaz, RichardCepeda, AlexanderMihkels, MadisQuinn, SeanRafferty, DarrenShaw, JamesValgren, MichaelTeam Picnic PostNLBroek, Frank van denFlynn, SeanHamilton, ChrisJong, Timo deKnox, JamesLeemreize, GijsNaberman, TimUden, Casper vanLotto – IntermarchéAerts, ToonBuyst, Jasper DeEetvelt, Lennert VanGualdi, SimoneLie, Arnaud DeRota, LorenzoRutsch, JonasSlock, LiamTeam Visma – Lease a BikeCampenaerts, VictorKelderman, WilcoKielich, TimoKuss, SeppLemmen, BartPiganzoli, DavideRex, TimVingegaard, JonasSoudal – Quick-StepBastiaens, AycoGestel, Dries VanMagnier, PaulRaccagni, AndreaStuyven, JasperZana, FilippoUAE Team Emirates XRGArrieta, IgorChristen, JanMorgado, AntónioNarváez, JhonatanSoler, MarcVine, JayYates, AdamGroupama – FDJ UnitedBarthe, CyrilCavagna, RémiHuens, AxelJacobs, JohanKench, JoshPenhoët, PaulRochas, RémyRolland, BrieucBardiani CSF 7 SaberCovili, LucaMagli, FilippoMarcellusi, MartinMartinelli, AlessioPaletti, LucaTarozzi, ManueleTurconi, FilippoZanoncello, EnricoMovistar TeamAular, OrluisGarcía Cortina, IvánLopez, JuanpeMas, EnricMilesi, LorenzoOliveira, NelsonRomo, JavierRubio, EinerUnibet Rose RocketsFeldmann, Karsten LarsenGroenewegen, DylanKopecký, TomášKubiš, LukášLarsen, NiklasPoels, WoutReinders, ElmarVries, Hartthijs de