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.