The world’s top cyclists will soon gather in the Bulgarian coastal town of Nessebar, aiming for a strong start to the 109th edition of the Giro d’Italia.
Since its inception in 1909, the Giro d’Italia has stood as the ultimate test of endurance in Italian cycling. With grueling climbs, long flat sections for sprinters, and a relentless race calendar, this early-summer tour pushes even the most prepared riders to their limits.
The Giro winds through coastal villages, ancient cities, and two mountain ranges, offering a stunning backdrop from start to finish. Whether climbing the Alps, crossing the Italian countryside, or passing historic landmarks, the 184 participants can at least enjoy breathtaking scenery while pushing themselves to the maximum.
As one of the three Grand Tours alongside the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia consists of 21 stages across various terrains. It also forms part of the prestigious Triple Crown, an honor reserved for riders who win the Giro, the Tour, and the Road World Championship in the same season. Only three riders have achieved this feat—most recently, Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar in 2024—highlighting the magnitude of the accomplishment.
While several prizes are at stake, the general classification is the most coveted. It goes to the rider with the lowest cumulative time, and the temporary leader wears the iconic pink jersey—known locally as the ‘maglia rosa’—before each stage. Sprinters compete for the points classification, climbers battle for the mountains jersey, riders under 25 vie for the youth classification, and all participants—representing one of 23 teams—contribute to the team classification.
**The Opening and Closing Stages**
The Giro d’Italia always kicks off with the Grande Partenza, a three-stage block held in a specific country or Italian region. This year, the Grande Partenza will be held outside Italy for the 16th time in history, as organizers have chosen to start in Bulgaria. Last year, the early stages also took place in the Balkans, with riders touring Albania.
After 17 more stages of extreme effort, the peloton will traverse the cobbled streets of Rome during the Gran Final. Stage 21 is more of a ceremonial parade than a real battle for the line, so whoever receives the maglia rosa at Piancavallo—the ski resort that hosts the penultimate stage—will likely be the one celebrating at the Colosseum on the last day of May.
**Giro d’Italia 2026 – Key Facts**
– **Dates:** May 8 to 31
– **Grande Partenza:** Bulgaria (Stage 1: Nessebar to Burgas; Stage 2: Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo; Stage 3: Plovdiv to Sofia)
– **Gran Final:** Rome
– **Locations:** Italy, Bulgaria, and Switzerland
– **Favorites (General Classification):** Jonas Vingegaard (1.20), Giulio Pellizzari (6.00), Felix Gall (17.00) – odds current at time of publication, subject to change.
**What Happened in 2025?**
Simon Yates claimed the general classification title last year, recording a total time of 82 hours, 31 minutes, and 1 second, securing the maglia rosa emphatically. The 2018 UCI World Tour champion finished nearly four minutes ahead of runner-up Isaac del Toro, who also comfortably won the youth classification.
Denmark’s Mads Pedersen amassed an impressive 295 points during the race, clinching the purple jersey at the Gran Final held in the Vatican Gardens. The points classification was fiercely contested, with Pedersen’s consistent top finishes setting him apart.