Giro d’Italia Women 2026, Stage 1: Route, Favourites and Where to Watch on TV

Here we go! The 2026 Giro d’Italia Women kicks off in Romagna with Stage 1. The Cesenatico–Ravenna stage, covering 139 km, is completely flat and will determine who becomes the first rider to wear the Maglia Rosa of this edition.

A high-speed opening day is expected for the peloton, with an intense battle for position in the finale. It will be a fast start to a race that, in the coming days, will feature significant elevation gain — a factor that will only increase the pressure and competition among the sprinters, who will not want to miss this opportunity.

The Route

There isn’t a single metre of climbing: after leaving the seafront, the riders head inland through the Romagna region, with no ascents along the route. An intermediate sprint has been placed halfway through the stage. In Ravenna, the riders will tackle a three-lap urban circuit before the finish.

It is a very straightforward route for the participants: anyone aiming for victory will have to execute the finale perfectly and find the right opening to prevail in what appears to be an almost inevitable bunch sprint.

The Favourites

Without a doubt, the number one favourite for the first Maglia Rosa of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women is Lorena Wiebes. The Dutch rider from SD Worx ProTime is, in every respect, the sprinter to beat if the stage ends in a bunch sprint. The Dutchwoman’s main rivals are expected to be two Italian riders: Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Chiara Consonni (Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto). Both sprinters are coming off strong performances in recent races — particularly Balsamo, who impressed at the Vuelta a Burgos.

Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini will try to pull off an upset for UAE Team ADQ, while Charlotte Kool (Fenix–Premier Tech) starts with the ambition of claiming another prestigious victory in what has already been a highly successful season so far.

Giro d'Italia Women 2026, Stage 1: schedule and TV coverage

Cesenatico-Ravenna, 139 km

Sign-on opens: 1:50 PM
Live broadcast: from 2:30 PM
Start time: 3:20 PM
Km 0: 3:30 PM
Expected finish: 6:30 PM

TV: The 2026 Giro d’Italia Women will enjoy even broader international television coverage, further cementing its status as one of the key events on the global 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 across the rest of Europe, the race will be available on Eurosport, HBO Max, and Discovery+. In Belgium, the race will be shown on VRT and RTBF.