Giro d'Italia Rate the 2026 Giro d'Italia route

[OlavEH]

Other than stage 19, which are the stages you are putting in the calendar to actually watch because the profile is exciting / interesting???? Not sure there's any. Probably just blockhaus and the TT. Also to put 2 back to back procession stages on consegutive Sundays is a sackable offence. You had one job lads

The Blockhaus stage is fine. In the Apenninnes this is probably the second best mountain stage possible, after a San Pellegrino in Alpe - Abetone combo. In addition I also think the Pila stage is quite good. I dont mind a couple of bigger MTFs in each version, and both Blockhaus and Pila fits that description. But it is probabaly not stages that you put on your calendar (although these are generally quite rare).

The Potenza stage should have had a tougher finish after the Viggiano climb. And they could rather have added some extra distance to this than the Blockhaus stage.

Not using more muritos on a Fermo stage is the worst design choice of all, on par with the completley meaningless Milano stage 15.

Corno alla Scale could rather have been replaced by a tough medium mountain stage, for example to Sestola.

There is definitely something missing the last week. A big mountain stage between Pila and Piana di Pezze would have been most welcome. But not with a big MTF.

 

[OlavEH]

Said there's no chance in hell to see Fauniera in the near future of the Giro.

Why is that? Condition of the road or dangerous descents?

Also said that there's very real talk within RCS to move the Giro to September and swap with the Vuelta.

This would actually be quite good. I would welcome this.

Next year route will be harder as there are no constraints tied to the Olympics or the World Cup.

What constraints are we talking about here?

 

[hrotha]

And it never ceases to amaze me that year after year, race after race, someone creates a thread so the CN mob can *** and moan about the route. Has the forum ever liked a route? Or even a race?

Having said that, I give it a 3.

JK.

Organizers keep making routes along the same principles and people who don't like those principles consistently dislike the resulting routes. Gasp

 

[Cycling111]

If what he says is true, this is the third time the Giro has designed a route for Remco.

I don't like the route. I disagree with those who say this is the best in years. Last year's route was better, and others were too. It's true that the Giro with Tao and others might have had less anticipation due to the lack of stars, but it wasn't the worst route. It might have been boring, but the route was better.

 

[OlavEH]

I don't like the route. I disagree with those who say this is the best in years. Last year's route was better, and others were too. It's true that the Giro with Tao and others might have had less anticipation due to the lack of stars, but it wasn't the worst route. It might have been boring, but the route was better.

This year's route was better, but it was also more not utilized potential. With some minor changes, the 2025 route would have been the best in many years. I'm not sure that applies for next year. You would have needed much bigger changes to achieve a really good route for next year.

 

[Netserk]

This is a route that understands the realities of a May grand tour- namely that it has to be exciting enough to hook the fans and easy enough to attract a few big names that think they’ll recover in time for the Tour.

no.

this sums up the deterioration of the giro.

paying big fees for a few riders, castrating the route, and roll over and beg whenever the riders dont feel like riding.

the lion doesnt concern himself with tour riders wanting a warm up with a trophy. make a good race and make it watched by as many as possible. its not done in a year, but a better strategy will have the race rely less on any specific rider.

 

[Netserk]

And it never ceases to amaze me that year after year, race after race, someone creates a thread so the CN mob can *** and moan about the route. Has the forum ever liked a route? Or even a race?

Having said that, I give it a 3.

JK.

you are free to dig up my comments about the tour route. next to no moaning.

 

[ashhutch1997]

There is definitely something missing the last week. A big mountain stage between Pila and Piana di Pezze would have been most welcome. But not with a big MTF.

The Verbania stage is a big missed opportunity for this IMO. They could have a great stage with Monte Ologno and Alpe Segletta with a decent to Verbania.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

no.

this sums up the deterioration of the giro.

paying big fees for a few riders, castrating the route, and roll over and beg whenever the riders dont feel like riding.

the lion doesnt concern himself with tour riders wanting a warm up with a trophy. make a good race and make it watched by as many as possible. its not done in a year, but a better strategy will have the race rely less on any specific rider.

In addition, if the big names really want to come, they will also do so if the route hasn't been watered down. In the 2010s alone, Dumoulin, Roglic and Simon Yates were there in 2019, Froome and Dumoulin again in 2018, Quintana in 2017, Valverde in 2016, Contador in 2015, Quintana again in 2014, Wiggins in 2013, Contador again in 2011 (okay, that one had a different reason). All of those could credibly claim to be among the foremost GC riders of the moment pre-race, and then I'm not even considering Italian riders.

 

[OlavEH]

The Verbania stage is a big missed opportunity for this IMO. They could have a great stage with Monte Ologno and Alpe Segletta with a decent to Verbania.

I agree. But since the Pila stage is the day after, I fear that would just have nutered at Verbania stage like you decribe.

Btw, sequence of stages (and sometimes climbs) and the lacking use of good climbs nearby the stage finish (IMO the Fermo stage is worse than Verbania next year by not using the muritos in that area) is a huge problem, especially in the Giro.

Like, this year. The Champoluc stage had both poor sequence of climbs and came the day before Finestre. A Champoluc stage with Arlaz-Zuccore-Joux, and going straight to Champoluc instead of that loop they did, could have been a potential queen stage if the next day was an easy stage or a rest day.

And the Bormio stage was even worse. I understand they made it easier due to two tough stages the days before, but both that and the Champoluc stage was not making using of opportunities for great stage design. Those two stages in the "correct" place in the Giro would have made this year the best designed Giro in ages.

 

[YavorD]

And the Bormio stage was even worse. I understand they made it easier due to two tough stages the days before, but both that and the Champoluc stage was not making using of opportunities for great stage design. Those two stages in the "correct" place in the Giro would have made this year the best designed Giro in ages.

But Bormio was after only one tough stage and a rest day before that.
Okay, you could consider Asiago, but you could easily allow yourself to make Bormio stage tougher, letting (GC) riders have and extra rest day on stage 15. Despite the few attacks, this stage didn't bring any gaps anyway (bar Roglic, but we know..).

Yes, Asiago is the third stage in the final 8 alone that would've been better if you didn't actually put an effort to make it worse.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Organizers keep making routes along the same principles and people who don't like those principles consistently dislike the resulting routes. Gasp

I’d hit you with an “OK boomer” joke but I don’t want to be accused of trolling. It was just a light hearted joke about the forum’s grand passion for bemoaning the grand tour routes.

no.

this sums up the deterioration of the giro.

paying big fees for a few riders, castrating the route, and roll over and beg whenever the riders dont feel like riding.

the lion doesnt concern himself with tour riders wanting a warm up with a trophy. make a good race and make it watched by as many as possible. its not done in a year, but a better strategy will have the race rely less on any specific rider.

Always love a good William Blake reference

you are free to dig up my comments about the tour route. next to no moaning.

Nah, I’m not invested enough in an off handed joke to make it a research project

 

[ashhutch1997]

I agree. But since the Pila stage is the day after, I fear that would just have nutered at Verbania stage like you decribe.

Btw, sequence of stages (and sometimes climbs) and the lacking use of good climbs nearby the stage finish (IMO the Fermo stage is worse than Verbania next year by not using the muritos in that area) is a huge problem, especially in the Giro.

Like, this year. The Champoluc stage had both poor sequence of climbs and came the day before Finestre. A Champoluc stage with Arlaz-Zuccore-Joux, and going straight to Champoluc instead of that loop they did, could have been a potential queen stage if the next day was an easy stage or a rest day.

And the Bormio stage was even worse. I understand they made it easier due to two tough stages the days before, but both that and the Champoluc stage was not making using of opportunities for great stage design. Those two stages in the "correct" place in the Giro would have made this year the best designed Giro in ages.

Yes that could be true, however they could potentially swap the stages around using the same start/ finish locations, something like;
Alessandria - Pila
Aosta - Verbania (replica of the 1992 stage)

You are right about this years route, we could've had an all time edition if the stages were designed a bit better, as the riders wanted to attack but the terrain didn't allow for it, in particular Asiago and Bormio.

 

[OlavEH]

But Bormio was after only one tough stage and a rest day before that.

The Asiago stage was 219 km and did include Monte Grappa. Although not a queen stage, it was a rather tough mountain stage.

I would rather had a soft-pedalled stage to Asiago (like a ~150-160 km direct stage to Asiago) and a clearly tougher Bormio stage after San Valentino.

 

[YavorD]

The Asiago stage was 219 km and did include Monte Grappa. Although not a queen stage, it was a rather tough mountain stage.

I would rather had a soft-pedalled stage to Asiago (like a ~150-160 km direct stage to Asiago) and a clearly tougher Bormio stage after San Valentino.

But they could have used the proper Grappa (no?) and Foza rather than Dori, it would have made the stage shorter and more suitable for attacks, even if you leave Bormio like that.
Don't disagree with you on the Bormio stage, just saying that Grappa was a missed opportunity as well.

 

[ashhutch1997]

But they could have used the proper Grappa (no?) and Foza rather than Dori, it would have made the stage shorter and more suitable for attacks, even if you leave Bormio like that.
Don't disagree with you on the Bormio stage, just saying that Grappa was a missed opportunity as well.

Yeah a 2017 style stage would've been much better, but the Semonzetto side was used twice in 2024.

 

[OlavEH]

But they could have used the proper Grappa (no?) and Foza rather than Dori, it would have made the stage shorter and more suitable for attacks, even if you leave Bormio like that.
Don't disagree with you on the Bormio stage, just saying that Grappa was a missed opportunity as well.

As far as I know, there is no good descent from Grappa to the west, so you'll still have a 15 km flat section and another 15 km flat from Foza to Asiago. That combined with the San Valentino stage the day after, I think it would have deterred any big attacks.

I would really like to see a big Monte Grappa stage via Bocca di Forca once. But noe with a finish in Asiago.

 

[YavorD]

As far as I know, there is no good descent from Grappa to the west, so you'll still have a 15 km flat section and another 15 km flat from Foza to Asiago. That combined with the San Valentino stage the day after, I think it would have deterred any big attacks.

I would really like to see a big Monte Grappa stage via Bocca di Forca once. But noe with a finish in Asiago.

I think you're missing the fact that San Valentino wasn't the day after. Grappa was before a rest day, hence you could make the Grappa stage harder (actually you wouldn't make it harder) without direct impact on San Valentino and Bormio stage afterwards.

 

[OlavEH]

I think you're missing the fact that San Valentino wasn't the day after. Grappa was before a rest day, hence you could make the Grappa stage harder (actually you wouldn't make it harder) without direct impact on San Valentino and Bormio stage afterwards.

Ah, I remember incorrectly. I agree that Grappa could have been used better. But still I think Grappa and Asiago are far from the best combo.

 

[Red Rick]

Ah, I remember incorrectly. I agree that Grappa could have been used better. But still I think Grappa and Asiago are far from the best combo.

Just climb the hard side of Grappa and Foza and you have a low floor high ceiling mountain stage. Climb Bocca di Forca and you have an instant winner and you don't even need to think.