The future of the WorldTour peloton is about to go to war. Kicking off this Sunday, June 14, the 2026 Giro Next Gen throws the world’s premier Under-23 riders into an eight-stage Italian meat grinder. Spanning 1,093.2 kilometers and packing 15,150 meters of elevation gain, this race is a proving ground for the sport’s next generation of superstars.
The 2026 Giro Next Gen Route
The 2026 parcours serves up a little bit of everything, progressively dialing up the suffering before a final race against the clock.
- Stage 1: Reggio Calabria to Vibo Valentia (168km) – A long, leg-testing opener that rolls through the deep south of Italy to establish the early race hierarchy
- Stage 2: Tropea to Crotone (154km) – A coastal trek that will likely offer the fast men and leadout trains their first real opportunity to shine
- Stage 3: Sibari to Villa d’Agri di Marsicovetere (169km) – The terrain finally starts tilting up, giving the punchy climbers a chance to stretch their legs and test the waters
- Stage 4: Matera to Corato (154km) – A transitional stage where opportunistic breakaways might look to foil the peloton’s plans
- Stage 5: Bacoli to Bacoli (139km) – A relatively short, punchy circuit race loaded with sharp efforts designed to break the rhythm of the bunch
- Stage 6: Velletri to Subiaco-Monte Livata (155km) – The serious climbing begins with a summit finish that will undoubtedly shape the General Classification
- Stage 7: Sulmona to Piana delle Mele (Guardiagrele) (135km) – A short, explosive mountain stage where the pure climbers will go all in to secure their GC buffers
- Stage 8: Villa Sant’Angelo to L’Aquila TUDOR ITT (22.2km) – A decisive 22.2-kilometer race against the clock to crown the ultimate champion
Ones to Watch: Who Are the Favourites for the 2026 Giro Next Gen?
Despite taking a tumble at the Tour of the Alps, Lorenzo Mark Finn (Red Bull–Bora Hansgrohe Rookies) rolls up to the start line as the headline act and a primary favorite for the overall victory. He will face stiff competition from Henrique Bravo, who comes in incredibly hot after snagging impressive wins at both the Tour of Antalya and the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt.
Other serious GC threats include Daan Dijkman, the Dutch winner of the U23 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, alongside the dangerous Bahrain Development Team duo of Kasper Borremans and Jan Jackowiak. You also cannot discount returning riders Matteo Vanhuffel and Matteo Scalco, who both cracked the top ten in last year’s edition.
For the flatter days, keep an eye on stage-hunters like Aubin Sparfel (Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team) and Italian fast-man Davide Donati (Red Bull Rookies), who already has an incredible U23 Paris–Roubaix victory on his palmarès.
Nerd Corner
By taking to the start line this weekend, Lorenzo Mark Finn is bringing the rainbow jersey back to the Giro Next Gen for the first time in exactly 20 years. The last rider to pull off that specific feat? Dmytro Grabovskyy, two decades ago.
How to Watch the 2026 Giro Next Gen
We’ll have daily race highlights from the 2026 edition available for free on Cyclry TV.
