Giro d’Italia 2026 at the start: the route and all the stages (and how to participate in the FantaGiro)

There is very little left until the start of the 2026 Giro d’Italia which will take place from 8 to 31 May. A departure that, as usual in recent years, will be far from home. The first three stages, in fact, will take place in Bulgaria between Nesebăr, Burgas and Sofia and will offer favorable terrain for sprinters. However, pay attention to the altitude dangers and the selective sections with significant differences in altitude, as early as the second stage, climbs capable of creating the first cracks in the group emerge. A start that can create tension in the group and put pressure on the favourites, one above all the Danish Jonas Vingegaard who (we hope) will be able to give a hard time to our Giulio Pellizzari.

The return to Italy and the first verdict: Blockhaus and the Apennines

After the transfer, the Giro comes to life with the return to Italy. The Catanzaro–Cosenza breaks the balance with a long climb that can cause trouble for sprinters, while the Praia a Mare–Potenza becomes a real test of endurance, with over 3700 meters of altitude difference. But the first real watershed will come with the uphill arrival at Blockhaus, one of the most iconic climbs, with gradients reaching 14%. It is the test for the men in the rankings.

Immediately afterwards, nervous stages such as Chieti–Fermo and Cervia–Corno alle Scale between Marche and Emilia-Romagna will be anything but calm and will put everyone to the test: short but violent climbs, 20% walls and nervous finishes will transform every kilometer into a potential turning point. Then it will be the turn of the Viareggio–Massa time trial, over 40 km with the specialists who will be able to gain precious seconds. But the Giro offers no respite: the Ligurian and Piedmontese stages, with close climbs and technical descents, will keep the tension high.

The Alps and the Dolomites will light up the race

The decisive moment will be in the Alps. The Aosta–Pila stage is a concentration of pure effort: five consecutive, breathless climbs. Immediately afterwards, the section in Switzerland towards Carì adds further difficulties with over 3000 meters of altitude difference. But it is in the Dolomites that everything will be decided. The Feltre–Alleghe stage will be an authentic cycling hell: you will climb giants such as Passo Giau, Cima Coppi del Giro, together with Duran and Falzarego.

Here the history of the 109th edition of the Corsa Rosa will be written. Finally, after the last challenge in Piancavallo, faced twice in the penultimate stage, only the final catwalk in Rome will remain. Among the Imperial Forums, the winner of a race over 3,400 kilometers long and with approximately 50,000 meters of altitude difference will be celebrated and we will know who Simon Yates’ successor will be to raise the endless Trophy high.

FantaGiro 2026: the Giro can also be played online

Alongside the real race, the FantaGiro 2026 returns for the third consecutive year, the official fantasy game that transforms every fan into a protagonist. Born from the collaboration between RCS Sport and the FantaSanremo team, the game has won over thousands of fans, transforming cycling into a parallel challenge made of strategy, intuition and pure passion.

How it works: teams, captains and strategy

Participating is simple: after registering via the new official app or the dedicated website, each user can create up to 5 teams, choosing 8 riders and nominating a captain, whose points will be doubled. All within a budget of 100 Wolfies, the virtual currency inspired by the official mascot of the race. Once the teams have been completed, we enter the real competition: the rankings, the leagues and the challenges between friends. You can create up to 5 leagues and participate in up to 25, turning each stage into a battle between colleagues, friends or online communities.

What’s new for 2026: three rankings and the FantaScore

The 2026 edition introduces a more complex system with three main rankings. The Sports Ranking rewards the real results of the runners, from the stages to the official rankings. The Fanta Ranking, on the other hand, focuses on the more creative side of the game, assigning bonuses and penalties even for episodes outside the race, such as moments on the podium or curiosities during the race.

What unites everything is the General Ranking, which adds up each score and decrees the best fantasy players. The real novelty, however, is the FantaScore, a prediction system that allows you to predict stage events, from the winner to the Pink Jersey, adding a further level of involvement.

There is no shortage of exclusive prizes, including the official Giro jerseys signed by the winners and a special bicycle as the final prize. Transfer windows during rest days are also confirmed, with the possibility of changing up to four runners and adapting the strategy during the race.

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