Giro d'Italia 2026 stage 15 Preview: Can Milan to turn around woeful Giro in Milan?

What a tough and sweltering week it has been in the Aosta Valley. The sprinters have had to grit their teeth and wait their turn. But this Sunday is what they have been waiting for: a genuine sprint opportunity at last. The pancake-flat stage into Milan sits high on many riders' wish lists. The only question is: who can actually deliver? IDL Pro Cycling previews the stage.

The heavy stage 14 will still be in many riders' legs, but with the final rest day arriving on Monday, tomorrow should be a simpler affair. On the route from Voghera to Milan there are barely 600 metres of climbing. No significant hills — completely flat — making the Lombard capital the near-certain setting for a mass sprint.

From Voghera the race initially heads northeast before swinging left after around 35 kilometres. It is then a straight run towards Pavia, where the intermediate sprint lies. Whether that plays any role will depend on how many riders venture into a long early breakaway.

After leaving Pavia the race continues north, and it will not take long before Milan comes into view. The riders enter the city via the Viale Toscana, with around 70 kilometres still to race, before completing four laps of a 16.3-kilometre circuit.

At the second time past the finish line there is a Red Bull kilometre — a bonus sprint. Two laps then remain. The circuit is not entirely straightforward, with a few bends here and there. The final kilometres are mostly direct, but a sharp left-hand corner arrives 2 kilometres from the finish — a crucial moment. From there it is a straight run to the line.

Times
Start: 1:55 p.m.
Finish: around 5:05 p.m.

Just as in the preceding days, it will be a sweaty affair in northern Italy. Temperatures of 30 degrees, no chance of rain, and a light breeze of around force two that will play no meaningful role.

When it has been a sprint, Paul Magnier has mostly been the boss. The Soudal Quick-Step Frenchman won both sprint stages in Bulgaria — in Burgas and Sofia — making the former purple jersey wearer the clear favourite for Milan too. But there is plenty of competition. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is the man the Italian fans will be behind. Can he finally get his reward?

Dylan Groenewegen is the other rider who has come closest to Magnier. He has had bad luck at both sprint opportunities — in Naples the Unibet Rose Rockets train showed it might just be the best lead-out in the entire Giro. If it clicks again, the Amsterdammer could be the man to beat.

Beyond those three, it is a matter of watching the outsiders. Tobias Lund Andresen will be hoping he has recovered after falling ill in the second week. The Decathlon CMA CGM Dane is, if fit, one of the big contenders. Team Novo Nordisk has two options, though their primary focus will be on Ethan Vernon — and if that does not work out, they also have Corbin Strong.

Casper van Uden has had few opportunities, but has been waiting all week for a moment like this. Picnic PostNL have had precious little luck so far — a stage win would make everything worthwhile. Pascal Ackermann (Jayco AlUla) has finished seventh twice already, and knows how to be at his best late in a Grand Tour.

Further down the list, keep an eye on the so-far unlucky Ben Turner (Netcompany-INEOS), Orluis Aular (Movistar), Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost), Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ), Enrico Zanoncello (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Luca Mozzato (Tudor), Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta) — and what about Toon Aerts (Lotto-Intermarché) after his second place on Thursday? We will see.

Favorite: Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Outsiders: Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM)
Long shots: Casper van Uden (Picnic PostNL), Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost), Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS), Orluis Aular (Movistar), PascalAckermann (Jayco AlUla), Enrico Zanoncello (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta) and Toon Aerts (Lotto-Intermarché)