Giro d'Italia women 2026 Preview | Vollering goes in search of a first over the Finestre
CyclingThursday, 28 May 2026 at 12:39
The men’s Giro d’Italia is drawing to a close, with a brutal finale still to come. But the women are only just getting started! The Giro d’Italia Women begins on Saturday, and it promises to be a beautiful race. Can Demi Vollering, with the Finestre as the decisive climb, make history? IDL Pro Cycling breaks down the whole race.
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Where the Tour de France Femmes only came into being this decade, the women’s Giro d’Italia — formerly the Giro donne — has existed for much longer. 1988 was the year the first edition was held. And what a roll of honour it has, too: riders such as Marianne Vos, Annemiek van Vleuten and Elisa Longo Borghini have all won it more than once.
The Italian is the defending champion, having been the best in both 2024 and 2025. And both times it was a real thriller. Two years ago she went into the final day with a one-second lead over Lotte Kopecky. A year later she knocked pink jersey wearer Marlen Reusser out of the lead in the final mountain stage with a clever move. Whether she can add a third title is another question: the opposition is extremely strong.
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Latest winners Giro d'Italia women
2025 Elisa Longo Borghini
2024 Elisa Longo Borghini
2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Anna van der Breggen
2020 Anna van der Breggen
2019 Annemiek van Vleuten
2018 Annemiek van Vleuten
2017 Anna van der Breggen
2016 Megan Guarnier
2024 Elisa Longo Borghini
2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Anna van der Breggen
2020 Anna van der Breggen
2019 Annemiek van Vleuten
2018 Annemiek van Vleuten
2017 Anna van der Breggen
2016 Megan Guarnier
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Route, stage favorites, and times - Giro d'Italia women 2026
Stage 1, May 30, 2026: Cesenatico - Ravenna (139 km)
We begin with a stage that could not be flatter. On Italy’s east coast there are only 240 metres of elevation on the route, and the finale features a circuit in the historic city of Ravenna. The first pink jersey will go to a sprinter.
Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Nienke Veenhoven (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Nienke Veenhoven (Visma | Lease a Bike)
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Times
Start: 3:30 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 6:40 p.m CET
Start: 3:30 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 6:40 p.m CET
Stage 2, May 31, 2026: Roncade H-Farm - Caorle (156 km)
New day, new sprint chances. The fast women do not have much to fear from the stage two parcours. It will almost certainly be another sprint. But with a tricky final kilometre, including plenty of corners, this looks like a chaotic finish.
Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ)
Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ)
Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)
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Times
Start: 11:15 a.m CET
Finish: approx. 2:58 p.m CET
Start: 11:15 a.m CET
Finish: approx. 2:58 p.m CET
Stage 3, June 1, 2026: Bibione - Buja (156 km)
A third chance for the fast women? That is certainly possible if you look at the route. But there are now a few more obstacles along the way. Above all, there is the Montenars, a genuinely tough climb 20 kilometres from the finish. Short, but punchy. The finish in Buja, the town where Jonathan Milan grew up, also rises, with the final 200 metres at 10 per cent.
Favorites
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Times
Start: 1:30 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:39 p.m CET
Start: 1:30 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:39 p.m CET
Stage 4, June 2, 2026: Belluno - Nevegal (Time trial, 12.7 km)
Goodness! After three relatively straightforward days, the first GC appointment is on the calendar, with a climbing time trial of the highest order. The start from Belluno is not too hard, but after the first intermediate point at 5.3 kilometres the road ramps brutally uphill. The gradients go well into double digits on this irregular climb.
Times
Start: as yet unknown
Finish: as yet unknown
Start: as yet unknown
Finish: as yet unknown
Stage 5, June 3, 2026: Longarone - Santo Stefano di Cadore (146 km)
Time for the Dolomites! No super-icons such as the Giau, Stelvio or Tre Cime, but the beautiful Passo Tre Croci from Cortina d’Ampezzo is included. In the finale there are three not-too-long but extremely tough climbs on the route. GC chaos is very much on the cards.
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 12:55 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:36 p.m CET
Start: 12:55 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:36 p.m CET
Stage 6, June 4, 2026: Ala - Brescello (159 km)
After a few gruelling days, the sprinters get another chance. There are few metres of climbing on the long ride to Brescello. But as has so often happened in the Giro, the finale is lined with corners. In the final kilometre there are no fewer than four right-angle bends.
Favorites
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 2 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:37 p.m CET
Start: 2 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:37 p.m CET
Stage 7, June 5, 2026: Sorbolo Mezzani - Salice Terme (159 km)
This long stage could be a silent killer. Once again there is not much to get excited about for most of the day, but the finale does feature a significant climb. The ascent to Petragavina is not especially long or steep, but it may be enough to crack the sprinters. Will the pure attackers finally get a chance?
Favorites
Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ)
Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ)
Times
Start: 1 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:12 p.m CET
Start: 1 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:12 p.m CET
Stage 8, June 6, 2026: Rivoli - Sestriere (105 km)
The queen stage, with a capital Q! The riders will travel on flat roads for a long time from Rivoli, but the Colle delle Finestre is the hardest climb ever tackled in the Giro d’Italia Women. Almost 20 kilometres, eight of them on unpaved roads: this will be a war of attrition. After the descent, the road still climbs stubbornly towards Sestriere. Whoever wins here has a strong chance of overall victory.
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Stage 9, June 7, 2026: Saluzzo - Saluzzo (145 km)
The final stage of the Giro is no easy one. In 145 kilometres there are 2,200 metres of climbing, although the summit of the toughest climb comes 90 kilometres from the finish. The Colletta di Brondello is no soft touch either. In terms of profile, it resembles last year’s final stage of the Tour de France Femmes a little. So plenty can still happen.
Favorites
Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly)
Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal)
Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly)
Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal)
Favorites final classification Giro d'Italia women 2026
After years of Dutch dominance, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini restored the balance in the Giro d’Italia Women with two wins in a row. The UAE Team ADQ leader is back again this year, but she will not be the outright favourite. That status can only belong to Demi Vollering. The Dutch rider from FDJ-SUEZ has not yet won the race and will do everything she can to change that.
Last year Longo Borghini fought a fierce battle with Marlen Reusser. The Swiss rider from Movistar is back this year too, returning after a serious back injury. In that same Giro, Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal) was the undisputed queen of the mountains. After suffering a severe injury last year, the Australian is still not fully recovered, which is why the Belgian team are backing Urška Žigart instead.
Continue reading below the photo!
Anna van der Breggen looked set for overall victory in the Vuelta Femenina, but saw it slip away on the Angliru. Can the SD Worx-Protime leader do it this time? For Visma | Lease a Bike, top climbers Marion Bunel and Femke de Vries line up, while Lidl-Trek also have two strong cards in Niamh Fisher-Black and Isabella Holmgren .
As outsiders, Liv AlUla Jayco have the ever-strong climbing Monica Trinca Colonel, while her compatriot Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health) could also do very well. World champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) is also there, as is Antonina Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM). Besides top favourite Vollering, FDJ-SUEZ also have Elise Chabbey.
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Giro d'Italia women's race:
Top favorite: Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Outsiders: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) and Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Long shots: Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal), Niamh Fisher-Black, Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco), Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly), Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health), Antonina Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) and Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ)
Outsiders: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) and Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Long shots: Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal), Niamh Fisher-Black, Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco), Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly), Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health), Antonina Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) and Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ)
TV Giro d'Italia women 2026
The race can be seen every day in Europe and the UK on HBO Max and Eurosport (subscription needed).
In North American you can watch all the action on Flo Bikes (subscription needed), and in Australia the action will be free to view on SBS.
For the rest of the world, check the official race website for details.
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Latest Comments
- The only cyclist who can beat Tadej is Tadej.
Brucegel09-05-2026 - Enough of this b.s. already.Just tell the world all you suspicious people what would satisfy you that he is not doping.live real time urinating and testing?.Live real time blood draws 5 seconds after a race is over?.Fecal analysis.WTF will satisfy you?Brucegel03-05-2026
- This suspicion could be laid to rest by what? What would make all doubters happy that Pogi is clean? Just tell the world all you Frenchmen et al what you want as protocol.You will never be satisfied.That is your level of mindless groundless suspicions.Brucegel03-05-2026
- Here is a novel idea......it's a road bike race, stick to smooth asphalt courses! Cobble is like mild off-road cross riding!!!!Germanrazor14-04-2026
- To lose a race like that on a mechanical problem in this day and age is unforgivable. Why aren't all riders using the same (interchangeable) gear? It is the job of the team manager to manage and reduce risk variables. The fact that he not only didn't pick up on the potential issue but actually ok'd it is just madness.fatehasfans13-04-2026
- Rider X, y and z? Could you update?yaNzKEWL21-03-2026
- Can anyone help me understand the thinking behind the two punishments? Are the commissaires saying you get thrown out of the race for a second inadvertent disposal of a bidon (even to the delight of fans) but that as long as you can afford it you can show off your phalangeal cuticles all day long on international TV? Aking for a friend.packfiller7112-03-2026
- It's a bit embarrassing that. Isn't the main sponsor supposed to keep them at 36.5 ?tomjacques03-03-2026
- They were close to cracking a very tired Tadej that wasn't fully focused on the TdF with a team of riders focused solely on cracking Tadej. And if they cracked him, he would have still won. Tadej won't be racing the giro this year. It'll be an even easier win for him.Veganpotter09-02-2026
- Nice!Bea22-01-2026
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