Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2026 Route: Speculation, Rumours and Announcements

[OlavEH]

No more rumours here so far? @Eshnar?

 

[Onizuka999]

There are some rumours about a swiss stage with arrival in Cari and a the dolomitic stage should be with a finish the area of Alleghe or Valvisvende

 

[Eshnar]

No more rumours here so far? @Eshnar?

Not many. We have some rumours but nowhere near as much as we used to have at this time of the year. The route will be presented late for sure.

 

[Onizuka999]

New rumours from italian sources:

- Last stage in Milan (ITT probably)
- It has been proposed a mountain stage with Passo Cuvignone Alpe di Neggia and uphill finish in Passo Forcora. Alpe di Neggia i think is in Switzerland and it's a tremendous climb.
- there should be the return of the Zoncolan and also a stage in Turin.

 

[Netserk]

- It has been proposed a mountain stage with Passo Cuvignone Alpe di Neggia and uphill finish in Passo Forcora. Alpe di Neggia i think is in Switzerland and it's a tremendous climb.

Hell yeah!!!

 

[ashhutch1997]

Alpe di Neggia is an absolute monster of a climb, could be a great stage, especially if they do a hard/ easy climb combo with the Passo Forcora.

 

[OlavEH]

Passo Cuvignone Alpe di Neggia and uphill finish in Passo Forcora

This would be very nice!

there should be the return of the Zoncolan and also a stage in Turin.

Turin would be great if they did the same or something similar as 2022. Zoncolan is a bit more "meh".......

As always I hope for this big medium mountain/hilly stages which Italy has a close to unlimited poential for. And also a big Dolomite stage.

 

[Onizuka999]

Yes there will be a Dolomite stage. The finish should be in Valvisvende or Alleghe (Piani di Pezze). Passo Giau will be in the stage according to the rumours.

 

[OlavEH]

Valvisvende

Where is this? I know where Alleghe is, but not this place.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Where is this? I know where Alleghe is, but not this place.

Val Visdende is just northwest of Sappada but on the Belluno side of the border. You would do the 2018 finale, but then when you exit the descent of Costalissoio it would only be 3.2k of the main road towards Sappada before hitting the climb below. This assumes they don't use the very narrow and partially unpaved Forcella di Zovo, which was also rumoured for the 2018 stage but is IMO a big ask.

 

[Onizuka999]

Yes I think it will be a stage similar to the 2018. I have a friend that works in a hotel in that area of Italy and he told me that this summer the climb has been totally paved from both sides. Maybe it will appear in the Giro...

 

[Onizuka999]

https://imgur.com/a/5FDQ6n0

View: https://imgur.com/a/5FDQ6n0

 

[Onizuka999]

I also have found this photo on refuge's site

 

[OlavEH]

Val Visdende is just northwest of Sappada but on the Belluno side of the border. You would do the 2018 finale, but then when you exit the descent of Costalissoio it would only be 3.2k of the main road towards Sappada before hitting the climb below. This assumes they don't use the very narrow and partially unpaved Forcella di Zovo, which was also rumoured for the 2018 stage but is IMO a big ask.

Thanks! Found it now. Certainly not the biggest of places. Same with Piani di Pezze above Alleghe.

 

[houtdffan]

how are the TTs looking? Any long ones or the standard U-18 length TTs?

 

[Rockestar_33]

Start in Bulgaria is nice. Sofia ITT as a guess?

 

[YavorD]

Start in Bulgaria is nice. Sofia ITT as a guess?

From what I read in the Bulgarian media, the 3 stages are reported to be:
Stage 1: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo. There are decent hills around Tarnovo and you should be able to do a nice stage if you want, but the distance between both cities is over 200km, so they probably won't have much of a freedom.

Stage 2: Veliko Tarnovo - Plovdiv. I have no idea what they'll do, but they have to cross the mountains so it shouldn't be bunch sprint.

Stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia. Given the expected transfer on the next day, this could be a bunch sprint

 

[Rockestar_33]

From what I read in the Bulgarian media, the 3 stages are reported to be:
Stage 1: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo. There are decent hills around Tarnovo and you should be able to do a nice stage if you want, but the distance between both cities is over 200km, so they probably won't have much of a freedom.

Stage 2: Veliko Tarnovo - Plovdiv. I have no idea what they'll do, but they have to cross the mountains so it shouldn't be bunch sprint.

Stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia. Given the expected transfer on the next day, this could be a bunch sprint

So no sprinter in Pink at all. At least we had Mads in it for a day this year haha

 

[YavorD]

So no sprinter in Pink at all. At least we had Mads in it for a day this year haha

I don't know what they'll do, honestly. It may as well be flat stage. This is still just rumours, it may be something totally different.
I even have my reasons to think that a Bulgarian start won't even happen.

 

[Brullnux]

Yes there will be a Dolomite stage. The finish should be in Valvisvende or Alleghe (Piani di Pezze). Passo Giau will be in the stage according to the rumours.

I'd rather Alleghe out of these. Sappada would be a bit of a dud as a 'big dolomite stage', even if the race in 2018 ended up being exciting.

 

[search]

Stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia. Given the expected transfer on the next day, this could be a bunch sprint

the Giro has no transfer day left, so they still need to move on the same day, or/and probably do an evening ITT/TTT on stage 4, like the Vuelta.

 

[Netserk]

the Giro has no transfer day left, so they still need to move on the same day, or/and probably do an evening ITT/TTT on stage 4, like the Vuelta.

If the enforcement of the UCI rules is like in 2012, they could have the first of two rest days after three stages.

 

[search]

If the enforcement of the UCI rules is like in 2012, they could have the first of two rest days after three stages.

yeah, okay, maybe. I would think this violates both, the "two rest days are obligatory and must be distributed evenly" as well as the "a transfer cannot be considered as a rest day" rule - but it looks like those rules were in place in 2012 already as well indeed.

 

[Netserk]

yeah, okay, maybe. I would think this violates both, the "two rest days are obligatory and must be distributed evenly" as well as the "a transfer cannot be considered as a rest day" rule - but it looks like those rules were in place in 2012 already as well indeed.

The added rule since that gave the possibility of a third rest day should change how the other rules are enforced though.

Stage 4 was a TTT in both 2010 and 2012 and also the first Spanish stage in the Vuelta this year, so rest day or not, it should also be the first Italian stage next year.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

From what I read in the Bulgarian media, the 3 stages are reported to be:
Stage 1: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo. There are decent hills around Tarnovo and you should be able to do a nice stage if you want, but the distance between both cities is over 200km, so they probably won't have much of a freedom.

Stage 2: Veliko Tarnovo - Plovdiv. I have no idea what they'll do, but they have to cross the mountains so it shouldn't be bunch sprint.

Stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia. Given the expected transfer on the next day, this could be a bunch sprint

Veliko Tarnovo finish would be sick. The city is perfect for a hilly classic finish, you could have cobbles, you could do a punchy finish, plenty of options.
Stage 2 might end up a bit the typical one big climb in the middle Pedersen sprint finish style stage but Plovdiv also could have the opportunity of a punchy finish and they might go just by Buzludza monument in the middle of the stage as I hoped.
Stage 3 as others have said will probably depend on how they approach the transfer.