Stage 3 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women features a slightly more demanding route than those of the opening two stages, but it still appears, at least on paper, to be an opportunity for the sprinters. The peloton once again rolls out from the seaside, this time from Bibione, before heading towards Buja, a town that has produced many talents for the world of cycling.
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The route is slightly more demanding than the previous two stages. After 50 kilometres comes the intermediate sprint in Villa Manin di Passariano, while a fourth-category climb at Moruzzo awaits at kilometre 95.
The decisive point of the stage, however, could be the third-category climb to Montenars, which has the potential to disrupt the plans of the sprinters. The ascent is 2.5 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.2%, while the final kilometre and a half ramps up to a maximum gradient of 10%.
From the summit, there are still 25 kilometres remaining. There is therefore enough time and road to regain contact, but riders will need to stay near the front and avoid losing too much ground if they hope to fight for the stage victory.
Without doubt, the number one favourite for victory in Buja is Elisa Balsamo. The Lidl-Trek rider starts the stage in the Maglia Rosa, having claimed victory in Caorle, and will be looking to extend her dominance in the sprints. Should the stage come down to a bunch finish, Chiara Consonni (Canyon//SRAM) and Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) have also been riding extremely well. Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Barbara Guarischi (SD Worx-Protime) could also have their say, despite the demanding nature of the finale.
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Bibione – Buja (156 km)
Sign-on opens: 12:00 PM
Live coverage starts: 12:45 PM
Riders assemble: 1:30 PM
Kilometre 0: 1:45 PM
Expected finish: 5:30 PM
TV: The 2026 Giro d’Italia Women will enjoy even broader international television coverage, further cementing its status as one of the flagship events on the women’s cycling calendar. From 30 May to 7 June, the race will be broadcast live in Italy on Rai, Eurosport, Discovery+ and HBO Max. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, coverage will be provided by TNT Sports and HBO Max, while viewers across the rest of Europe will be able to watch the race on Eurosport, HBO Max and Discovery+. In Belgium, the race will be shown on VRT and RTBF.
