{"id":574074,"date":"2026-05-09T03:38:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T03:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/574074\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T03:38:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T03:38:27","slug":"your-complete-guide-to-the-23-teams-of-the-2026-giro-ditalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/574074\/","title":{"rendered":"Your complete guide to the 23 teams of the 2026 Giro d’Italia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grand Tour season is upon us once more. Last year, as far as the GC contests were concerned, these three races were dominated by the two super-teams – UAE Team Emirates XRG<\/a> and Visma-Lease a Bike<\/a> – who occupied the two top spots at each of the Giro d\u2019Italia<\/a>, Tour de France<\/a> and Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a>. And after a spate of dropouts, it\u2019s Visma<\/a>\u2019s Jonas Vingegaard<\/a> who enters this one the resounding pink jersey favourite.<\/p>\n

However, the start list of the 2026 Giro<\/a> still shows stacked field where even the smaller teams and wildcard entries have stars capable of igniting the race. The day-by-day battle for stage wins will be hotly contested, with no shortage of challengers.<\/p>\n

Visma-Lease a Bike<\/p>\n

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\"Visma\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Visma Lease A Bike)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Of the last five Grand Tours that haven\u2019t featured Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a>, Visma-Lease a Bike have won four \u2013 including Simon Yates<\/a>\u2019s thrilling last-minute coup at last year\u2019s Giro. This team would be the dons of Grand Tour racing were it not for their Slovenian nemesis. They\u2019ll be thankful, then, that Poga\u010dar<\/a> is sitting this one out, making their man Jonas Vingegaard<\/a> the overwhelming favourite as he makes his Giro debut.<\/p>\n

Latest Videos From<\/p>\n

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Embarking on an ambitious Giro-Tour double<\/a>, Vingegaard has said that the plan for him is to steadily improve as the season goes on, before peaking in July. Given the way he has started 2026, with crushing overall victories at both Paris-Nice<\/a> and Volta a Catalunya<\/a>, either he is going to bring sublime form to the Giro and be even better come the Tour, or is in danger of peaking too soon.<\/p>\n

The Dane faces a tricky balancing act: he wants to win, of course, but not by expending too much energy ahead of the Tour. His Visma-Lease a Bike team don\u2019t want to stretch their resources too thin, and so will be resting Wout Van Aert<\/a> and Matteo Jorgenson<\/a>. That said, Vingegaard will have climbing domestique par excellence Sepp Kuss to support him in the mountains.<\/p>\n

Lidl-Trek<\/p>\n

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\"LIDL\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: LIDL Trek)<\/p>\n

A repeat of last year\u2019s astounding six-stage haul is a big ask, but Lidl-Trek<\/a> have the talent to set the Giro alight again. There\u2019s a shift in personnel, with Jonathan Milan<\/a> replacing Mads Pedersen<\/a>, and therefore also a shift in approach away from Pedersen\u2019s hyperactive pursuit of points every day and towards a sharper focus on the sprint stage. As a twotime maglia ciclamino winner, Milan will also strive to repeat Pedersen\u2019s victory in that classification.<\/p>\n

In fact, Lidl-Trek<\/a> could compete for all three of the main jerseys, with 2019 King of the Mountains Giulio Ciccone<\/a> a candidate for that competition, and Derek Gee-West<\/a> the pink jersey if he shows the form that saw him place fourth overall last year.<\/p>\n

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n

Netcompany-Ineos \u2013 Great Britain<\/p>\n

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\"Netcompany\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Netcompany Ineos Grenadiers)<\/p>\n

Ineos Grenadiers<\/a> used to be so good at the Giro d\u2019Italia. They won the pink jersey here three times in four years between 2018 and 2021 with Chris Froome<\/a>, Tao Geoghegan Hart<\/a> and Egan Bernal, and even as their Tour de France form slipped, they continued to make the podium. Last year, when Bernal was their highest finisher, in seventh overall, was their first time off the podium this decade, reflecting a transition away from racing for GC and towards aggressive tactics and chasing stage wins.<\/p>\n

How will the newly minted Netcompany-Ineos<\/a> approach this year\u2019s race? It looks like a two-pronged strategy led by previous winner Egan Bernal <\/a>and double Tour stage winner Thymen Arensman<\/a>. Both are capable of a GC top 10, as well as stage wins. Australian Jack Haig will back them up in the mountains. The rest of the team looks strong, with Filippo Ganna<\/a>, Connor Swift<\/a> and Ben Turner<\/a> all experienced bunch engines, ready to shepherd the leaders around the peloton. The Giro represents a rebirth for the team, with added impetus and a bigger budget. It\u2019s too soon to see any benefits from that, but showing intent will be key.<\/p>\n

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\"Ben\n<\/p>\n

Ben Turner will offer solid support to Bernal and Arensman<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Decathlon CMA CGM<\/p>\n

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\"Decathlon\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Decathlon)<\/p>\n

Country: France2025 Giro: 1st, stage 19, Nicolas ProdhommeTeam leader: Felix GallTeam boss: Dominique Serieys<\/p>\n

After riding to an impressive fifth on GC at last year\u2019s Tour de France, Austria\u2019s Felix Gall will ride the Giro for the first time since 2022. That edition saw him place 50th \u2013 a record he is almost certain to beat this time round. Gall isn\u2019t the only interesting GC prospect on the Decathlon<\/a> roster, but superstar youngster Paul Seixas<\/a> sits this one out \u2013 in order to concentrate on the Tour de France<\/a> as we’ve just learned. Gall will be joined in Italy by veteran rouleur Oliver Naesen and helped on the climbs by Gregor Mu\u0308hlberger. Covering all bases, the team will also field a sprinter in Tobias Lund Andresen<\/a>, who could vie for stage wins.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/p>\n

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\"Red\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Red Bull)<\/p>\n

Country: Germany2025 Giro: 1st, stage 8, Nico DenzTeam leader: Giulio PellizzariTeam boss: Ralph Denk<\/p>\n

So stacked is Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/a>\u2019s squad since their title sponsor\u2019s investment that \u2013 even in the absence of former Giro winner Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d, rising star Florian Lipowitz and marquee signing Remco Evenepoel<\/a> \u2013 they have multiple options for the GC. The strongest, in terms of form, is 22-year-old Giulio Pellizzari, who has continued to improve since fi nishing sixth overall at last year\u2019s Giro. He was third at Tirreno-Adriatico, then won the Tour of the Alps.<\/p>\n

In terms of Grand Tour pedigree, however, the man who won them the 2022 Giro, Jai Hindley, stands out; his lack of form going into the race shouldn\u2019t be too much of a worry, remembering how the shrewd Australian peaked from similarly underwhelming form in time for his previous Giro success.<\/p>\n

And as a wildcard option there is Aleksandr Vlasov who, though not at his best for a while now, still has great talent. Whoever they end up backing, the team won\u2019t want a repeat of last year, when leaders Rogli\u010d and Hindley both crashed out of contention in the first week. With no standout sprinting option, aside from Danny Van Poppel, they\u2019re going all-in for a pink jersey challenge.<\/p>\n

EF Education-EasyPost <\/p>\n

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\"ef\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: ef Education)<\/p>\n

Country: USA2025 Giro: 3rd overall, Richard CarapazTeam leader: Alexander CepedaTeam boss: Jonathan Vaughters<\/p>\n

Nine days before the start in Bulgaria, Richard Carapaz<\/a> became the umpteenth GC contender to pull out of the Giro. The Ecuadorean took longer than expected to recover from an operation to remove a perineal cyst on his lower spine after the Volta a Catalunya in late March. It left the American team without an obvious leader, but perhaps opened the door to other opportunities.<\/p>\n

While Carapaz could have challenged for the podium \u2013 he was third last year \u2013 it\u2019s equally true that, at 32, his best years might be behind him. Instead, Michael Valgren, James Shaw, Sean Quinn and others will now be tasked with getting into breaks, getting noticed and trying to nab a stage win.<\/p>\n

UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/p>\n

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\"UAE\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: UAE Emirates)<\/p>\n

Country: (UAE)2025 Giro: 2nd overall, Isaac del ToroTeam leader: Adam YatesTeam boss: Mauro Gianetti<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no stopping UAE Team Emirates-XRG when Tadej Poga\u010dar is at the helm. But in Grand Tours where the main man is missing, they can resemble a rag-tag crew of uber-talented but incohesive riders, held back by internal rivalry and questionable tactics. That was the case at last year\u2019s Giro, when Isaac del Toro overcame Juan Ayuso in a tense leadership struggle, only to throw away the pink jersey at the last hurdle through the disastrous tactical call not to chase Simon Yates on the climactic Colle delle Finestre mountains.<\/p>\n

The plan this year was for Portugal\u2019s Jo\u00e3o Almeida to lead the super-squad, but that fell down two weeks before the start when the Portuguese rider pulled out, citing an illness that began at March\u2019s Volta a Catalunya \u2013 a race in which he finished a disappointed 38th on GC.<\/p>\n

This leaves a talented, if a little rudderless team on the startlist. In Adam Yates, Jhonatan Narv\u00e1ez and Jay Vine they have a talented team but not an all-dominating one that is going to take the race by the scruff of the neck as Del Toro did last year and Poga\u010dar does every time he pins a number on. Elsewhere, Marc Soler or Vine could poach a stage win for the team.<\/p>\n

Soudal Quick-Step<\/p>\n

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\"Soudal\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Soudal Quickstep)<\/p>\n

Country: Belgium2025 Giro: 19th overall, James KnoxTeam leader: Paul MagnierTeam boss: Jurgen For\u00e9<\/p>\n

Now the Remco Evenepoel experiment has ended, the mercurial Mikel Landa was due to lead the Belgian team. Unfortunately, the Spaniard was ruled out the same day as Almeida due to a small fracture in his pelvis. This leaves the Belgian squad scrapping for stage wins, or time in the break.<\/p>\n

They have some perfectly good riders in Paul Magnier, Jasper Stuyven and Filippo Zanna, but will the motivation be there? Without team boss Patrick Lefevere bellowing in their ear as in days past, and with Specialized cutting its ties at the end of the season, this feels like a make or break time for one of the most revered teams in pro cycling.<\/p>\n

Bahrain Victorious<\/p>\n

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\"Bahrain\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Bahrain Victorious)<\/p>\n

Country: Bahrain2025 Giro: 5th overall, Damiano CarusoTeam leader: Damiano CarusoTeam boss: Milan Er\u017een<\/p>\n

Bahrain Victorious\u2019s record at the Giro is one of commendable consistency, but also gradual decline. In their nine appearances here since debuting in 2017, they\u2019ve never failed to place a rider in the top five. Since Damiano Caruso\u2019s runner-up finish in 2021, though, they have drifted further and further away from the top spot.<\/p>\n

Caruso is arguably the most underrated Grand Tour contender in the peloton, his unglamorous style belying a steely dependability, but can the team really depend on the Italian for their GC bid again now that he\u2019s turned 38? Santiago Buitrago is another option, but is perhaps a better puncheur than GC contender, having won stages here but never having finished higher than 10th at a Grand Tour.<\/p>\n

Jayco-AlUla <\/p>\n

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\"Jayco\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Jayco)<\/p>\n

Country: Australia2025 Giro: 1st stage 8, Luke Plapp; 1st stage 20, Chris HarperTeam leader: Ben O\u2019ConnorTeam boss: Brent Copeland<\/p>\n

Back when Simon Yates led the team, the Giro d\u2019Italia was a white whale for Jayco-AlUla. It was a race they relentlessly pursued but fell short of winning. They switched successfully to targeting stage wins at last year\u2019s edition, landing one in the Apennines and another in the Alps.<\/p>\n

Perhaps spurred on by watching Yates finally win it last year while riding for a different team, they are once again set on overall glory and will be targeting the pink jersey. This time Ben O\u2019Connor takes the reins as GC leader, hoping to bounce back from a frustrating 2025. He had a slow start to the season, but tends to peak at Grand Tours, and the long climbs of the Giro are his happy place.<\/p>\n

Alpecin-Premier Tech<\/p>\n

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\"Alpecin\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Alpecin)<\/p>\n

Country: Belgium2025 Giro: 1st, stage 6, Kaden GrovesTeam leader: Kaden GrovesTeam boss: Philip Roodhooft<\/p>\n

Once again Alpecin-Premier Tech\u2019s Giro tilt will be based around Kaden Groves, the sprinter who has taken two wins in the Italian tour since 2023. The Aussie lacks the raw speed of the quickest sprinters but excels on tougher terrain and should be in contention to win the points classification, having done so twice at the Vuelta.<\/p>\n

Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber<\/p>\n

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\"Bardiani-CSF\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber)<\/p>\n

Country: Italy2025 Giro: 1st, Breakaway Classification, Manuele TarozziTeam leader: Manuele TarozziTeam boss: Roberto Reverberi<\/p>\n

This will be the second-tier team\u2019s 44th Giro. Over the years, they have nurtured many an Italian talent, with Domenico Pozzovivo, Sonny Colbrelli, Giulio Ciccone and Giulio Pellizzari all making their breakthroughs here. They will animate the breakaways, for sure, but might also showcase the latest major local talent.<\/p>\n

Groupama-FDJ United<\/p>\n

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\"Groupama\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Groupama FDJ)<\/p>\n

Country: France2025 Giro: 4th, stage 13, R\u00e9my RochasTeam leader: TBCTeam boss: Thierry Cornec<\/p>\n

Groupama-FDJ United have enjoyed, by French standards, a reasonable amount of success in past Giro editions. But former stars Arnaud D\u00e9mare (eight stage wins) and Thibaut Pinot (fourth overall 2017, fifth 2023) have long departed, and the squad now lacks the roster to do much more than chase breakaways.<\/p>\n

Lotto Intermarch\u00e9<\/p>\n

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\"Lotto\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Lotto Intermarche)<\/p>\n

Country: Belgium2025 Giro: N\/ATeam leader: Lennert Van EetveltTeam boss: St\u00e9phane Heulot<\/p>\n

Returning to the Giro for the first time since 2022, Lotto\u2019s resources are still stretched thin by the requirement to ride all the Grand Tours, despite their merger with Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty. Hope lies in 24-year-old Lennert Van Eetvelt, a talented climber with Grand Tour potential.<\/p>\n

Movistar<\/p>\n

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\"Movistar\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Movistar)<\/p>\n

Country: Spain2025 Giro: 8th overall, Einer RubioTeam leader: Enric MasTeam boss: Eusebio Unzu\u00e9<\/p>\n

There was a time when Movistar were one of the Giro\u2019s patrons, winning in both 2014 (with Nairo Quintana) and 2019 (Richard Carapaz) and never missing the top four in the editions in between. That\u2019s no longer the case. Their best hope lies in Giro debutant Enric Mas, who could push for a podium, at best.<\/p>\n

NSN Cycling<\/p>\n

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\"NSN\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: NSN)<\/p>\n

Country: Switzerland2025 Giro: 4th overall, Derek Gee-WestTeam leader: Ethan VernonTeam boss: Kjell Carlstr\u00f6m<\/p>\n

NSN must forge a new path without the departed Derek Gee-West, their star from both the 2023 Giro (when he won the Combativity Award) and 2025 (when he finished fourth overall). Step forward sprinter Ethan Vernon, whose form this year suggests he could nab a stage win.<\/p>\n

Pinarello-Q36.5<\/p>\n

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\"Pinarello\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Pinarello Q365)<\/p>\n

Country: Switzerland2025 Giro: 16th overall, Tom PidcockTeam leader: Chris HarperTeam boss: Doug Ryder<\/p>\n

The team\u2019s decision to target the GC with Tom Pidcock last year saw him end up down in 16th, and the team winless. With Pidcock absent this time \u2013 he\u2019s doing the Tour rather than the Giro \u2013 the focus will likely revert to stage-hunting.<\/p>\n

Picnic PostNL<\/p>\n

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\"PICNICPostNL\"\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: PICNICPostNL)<\/p>\n

Country: Netherlands2025 Giro: 1st stage four, Casper van UdenTeam leader: Casper van UdenTeam boss: Iwan Spekenbrink<\/p>\n

The retirement of Romain Bardet has made Picnic-PostNL even more dependent on youth, and a lean opening to 2026 has left them desperate for breakthroughs. With GC hope Max Poole out, the likes of Timo de Jong and Frank Van Den Broek will be tasked with getting into moves and avoiding anonymity.<\/p>\n

Polti-VisitMalta<\/p>\n

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\"Polti\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Polti Visit Malta)<\/p>\n

Country: Italy2025 Giro: Second, stage 18, Mirco MaestriTeam leader: Mirco MaestriTeam boss: Francisco Javier Contador<\/p>\n

Politi-VisitMalta\u2019s staff may include two-time Giro winners Ivan Basso and Alberto Contador, but their aims here will be modest, targeting breakaways to chase what would be a third stage win here since their debut in 2021.<\/p>\n

XDS Astana<\/p>\n

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\"XDS\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: XDS Astana)<\/p>\n

Country: Kazakhstan2025 Giro: 1st, Mountains Classification, Lorenzo Fortunato; 1st, stage 16, Christian ScaroniTeam leader: Alberto BettiolTeam boss: Alexander Vinokourov<\/p>\n

Ten years have passed since Vincenzo Nibali staged a remarkable comeback in the fi nal week to win the 2016 Giro d\u2019Italia, a result that remains the last time XDS Astana won a Grand Tour. These days, they prioritise stage wins over the GC, and in that sense remain a threat on parcours that suit them.<\/p>\n

Though Kazakh by registration, the line-up is largely Italian in personnel, and is full of talented stagehunters extra motivated to succeed in their home race. Through Christian Scaroni, Alberto Bettiol and veteran Diego Ulissi in the punchy stages, and Davide Ballerini in the sprints, they can be in contention for wins in all terrain.<\/p>\n

Unibet Rose Rockets<\/p>\n

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\"Unibet\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Unibet Rose Rockets)<\/p>\n

Country: France2025 Giro: N\/ATeam leader: Dylan GroenewegenTeam boss: Josse Wester<\/p>\n

The prolific early season form of Dylan Groenewegen has given these wildcard Grand Tour debutants<\/a> reason to get excited. Even from poor form the Dutchman tends to come good for at least one sprint win, as he has in five of his last eight Grand Tours. And one win would be enough to make their Giro a resounding success.<\/p>\n

Tudor Pro Cycling<\/p>\n

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\"Tudor\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tudor)<\/p>\n

Country: Switzerland2025 Giro: 10th overall, Michael StorerTeam leader: Michael StorerTeam boss: Raphael Meyer<\/p>\n

This wildcard team has finished 10th two years in a row thanks to Michael Storer, whose record suggests he is capable of even more. Marc Hirschi hopes the Giro will be a happier hunting ground than he\u2019s found the Tour in recent years as he chases stage wins.<\/p>\n

Uno-X Mobility<\/p>\n

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\"UNO\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: UNO X Mobility)<\/p>\n

Country: Norway2025 Giro: n\/aTeam leader: Johannes KulsetTeam boss: Thor Hushovd<\/p>\n

Obliged to ride the Giro, as new members of the WorldTour, will Uno-X Mobility\u2019s resources be stretched too thin? With stars Tobias Halland Johannessen and Jonas Abrahamsen sticking to the Tour, it\u2019s up to others, including 21-year-old top-10 hopeful Johannes Kulset, to step up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Grand Tour season is upon us once more. Last year, as far as the GC contests were concerned,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":574075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-574074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-cycling","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=574074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/574075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=574074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=574074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=574074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}