On Saturday, the 2026 edition of the Giro d’Italia Women kicks off with the Grande Partenza in Cesenatico. Over nine days of racing, the peloton will cover 1,153.7 kilometers and scale more than 12,500 meters of vertical elevation, culminating in a brutal, back-loaded alpine reckoning.
The 2026 Giro d’Italia Women Route
The organizers have served up a balanced parcours that tips the scales toward pure climbers.
- Seaside Sprints (Stages 1-2): The race begins with flat coastal stages from Cesenatico to Ravenna and Roncade to Caorle. Expect crosswinds and nervous bunch sprints.
- Uphill Time-Trial (Stage 4): A 12.7-kilometer mountain individual time trial from Belluno to Nevegal. The first major gaps in the General Classification will be carved open.
- The Big One (Stage 8): The queen stage climbs the iconic, unpaved Colle delle Finestre—an 18.5-kilometer monster averaging 9.2% with the final eight kilometers contested entirely on loose dirt—before finishing in Sestriere.
Ones to Watch: Who Will Win the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women?
Demi Vollering enters the race as the favorite for the high-altitude sectors. The severe gradients of the Finestre play to her climbing depth, and the SD Worx-Protime leader has a statement to make on Italian soil.
Defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini handles the pressure better than most and has openly welcomed the addition of the Finestre. The Lidl-Trek veteran possesses local road knowledge and the ability to navigate the unpaved sectors. If the gradients get too severe, Lidl-Trek can deploy featherweight co-leader Gaia Realini, who is our pick to win on the steep double-digit ramps of Nevegal.
Disrupting this dual monopoly falls to Canyon-SRAM Racing. Expect the squad to utilize their collective climbing depth to launch a chaotic, multi-rider assault designed to isolate the top favorites long before the final alpine passes.
For the flat opening weekend, the fast-paced drag races belong to Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool. However, if the technical finishing circuits turn punchy, wet, and slick, former world champion Elisa Balsamo is heavily favored to clean up the intermediate honors.
Nerd Corner
- The Five-Time Club: While the men’s race boasts Merckx and Coppi, the women’s Giro record belongs to the legendary Fabiana Luperini, who won the overall title five times (including four consecutive victories between 1995 and 1998).
- A New Era of Control: Historically known as the Giro Donne and managed by independent promoters, the race is now firmly under the management of RCS Sport, ensuring the women face the exact same iconic passes—and infrastructure—as the men’s event.
- The Gravel Legacy: The unpaved upper slopes of the Colle delle Finestre were first introduced to the modern racing world in 2005. The loose rock and lack of traction mean teams will be obsessing over tubeless tire pressure and width choices right up until the morning of Stage 8.
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How to Watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia
We’ll have daily race highlights from the 2026 edition available for free on Cyclry TV.
Lesser broadcasters include:
- UK, Ireland, and Europe: Eurosport, Discovery+
- USA and North America: HBO Max
- Australia: SBS
