26.05.2026 World-Tour, News, Race news

TEAM ASSEMBLED FOR GIRO D’ITALIA WOMEN

A long-standing and deeply cherished fixture on the women’s cycling calendar, the Giro d’Italia Women is once again set to paint the roads pink from Saturday, May 30 to Sunday, June 7.

Lining up in search of hard-fought success on Italian soil are former stage winners Chiara Consonni and Antonia Niedermaier – also last year’s U23 classification winner – alongside Justyna Czapla, Nastya Kolesava, Soraya Paladin, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Maike van der Duin.

Across nine stages in Northern Italy, the peloton will tackle over 1150km and 12,000m of elevation gain – almost 250km further than last year, albeit with roughly 2000m less climbing. The route is nicely varied – flat sprint stages, rolling days, a pivotal uphill time trial, and a mountainous final weekend. Top climbing pedigree and strong time-trialling know-how will be key to general classification (GC) success.

Stage 1 begins by the Adriatic Sea with a flat 139km day, finishing on a tight circuit tailor-made for the sprinters. With the first pink leaders jersey (la Maglia Rosa) on the line, chaos levels will be peaking. Stages 2 and 3 should also favour the fast finishers, although a spicy climb (1.5km at 11%) towards the end of stage 3 could invite audacious late attacks.

Stage 4 should provide the first major indication of who is firmly in the GC hunt – a demanding 12.7km uphill time trial that will test both strategy and raw power. Beginning in the picturesque town of Belluno, the course opens with 5km of flatter terrain before turning skyward on a brutal 7km category-one ascent averaging 10%, with ramps exceeding 14%. The gradients ease over the final 2km en-route to the ski town of Nevegal.

Stage 5 ventures deeper into the Dolomites with a series of taxing alpine ascents. A sharp, switchback-heavy climb (2.7km at 9.8%) will be tackled twice inside the final 40km, with flowing roads leading to a finish in the valley below.

After two days of GC intrigue, the sprinters will have the following pair of stages firmly circled, with both marking the longest days of this year’s race at roughly 160km apiece. On stage 6, the biggest threats to a bunch sprint are likely wind and narrow roads. Meanwhile, stage 7 offers encouragement to breakaway hopefuls, featuring 10km of steady climbing and a technical descent within the final 40km.

Stage 8 is where the top GC contenders should truly reveal themselves, with the mighty Colle delle Finestre delivering a huge 20km test on the penultimate day. One of Italian cycling’s most iconic climbs, Finestre snakes ominously uphill before escalating with a switch to rough gravel for the final 8km, cresting at 2178m – the highest point of this year’s race. A rapid descent followed by a further 16km of gradual climbing into Sestriere offers extra road to either erase or extend time gaps.

As monumental as stage 8 appears, the final day is far from ceremonial. Stage 9 includes the monstrous Montoso (9km at 9.6%), providing one last launchpad for GC contenders with a point to prove. Additional category 2 and 3 climbs should further encourage aggressive, unpredictable racing all the way to the flat finish in Saluzzo.

Hear from of our Giro d’Italia squad ahead of nine demanding but opportunity-filled race-days.

Antonia Niedermaier

“After winning the white jersey and finishing fifth overall in 2025, what are your ambitions for the 2026 edition?”

– “For sure, the goal is to somehow get in the top five again. I know that this year at the Giro, there are a few different riders because now it’s further away from the TDFFAZ. The level in the peloton is also really high right now, but I think I’m also in good shape, so I’m looking forward to the Giro. It’s always a nice race for me and although I would be happy with a top five, I would be super, super happy with a podium. So, I think that’s the goal – to go for a podium and maybe also some stage wins.”

Chiara Consonni

“How are you feeling heading into this year’s Giro?”

– “For me, it’s always special. I always fight for the Giro. It’s one of my best stage races of the year. After last year, I think we can improve a lot. For myself, there are a lot more stages to fight for a sprint – the first one as well – so I’m ready.”

Justyna Czapla

“How different does it feel to be returning, rather than debuting at the Giro?”

– “After making my Giro debut last season, I know what to expect and what lies ahead. Returning to the Giro feels much more familiar and I’m excited to give my best in a strong field of riders. With one extra stage this year, it will also be a new experience for me, as the longest stage race I’ve done was last year’s 8-stage Giro. I’m looking forward to again fighting for the Maglia Rosa with a strong team, and to being a part of an exciting race!”

Nastya Kolesava

“What does it mean to race your first Giro?”

– “It’s been a dream since I started cycling, and started following international races. At that moment, we didn’t have a women’s edition of the TDFFAZ or La Vuelta – just one day races, but not tours. Back then, the Giro was the biggest stage race in calendar. In my country, we had Alena Amialiusik who was a rider on one of the biggest teams in the world, so I was always following to see how she raced. Since I was a kid, racing the Giro one day has been a dream.”

Soraya Paladin

“This will be your 13th (!) Giro. With all that experience, what do you think are the most important ingredients to make it successful?”

– “So, a doble espresso for breakfast and gelato for cooling down haha. I think calmness, resilience, and the ability to adapt to different situations are, in my opinion, the key ingredients for a successful Giro. When they are combined with teamwork and a common goal, everything becomes easier.”

Maike van der Duin

“What are you most looking forward to about racing the Giro d’Italia?”

– “I’m looking forward to the sprint stages where we go all in with Chiara, to good times with the team on the Italian roads, and to nice meals from our chef Udo.”

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig

“What would a successful Giro d’Italia look like?”

– “For us, it would be a race where we really show ourselves as a team. We’re aiming for a strong GC result with Antonia, who showed that she was super strong in Itzulia. At the same time, we have great opportunities in the sprint stages with Consonni, racing on home roads in Italy. If we can be active throughout the race, support each other well, fight for stage results and come away with a strong GC, I think we can look back on the Giro with a lot of satisfaction.”

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage is available on TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO Max, FloBikes, SBS, RAI and other national broadcasters. Follow the race each day on X using #GirodItaliaWomen and #UCIWWT, and stay updated with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto via our social channels.

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