When the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women route was unveiled, the sprinters surely cracked a smile. Last year’s edition – between crashes and echelons – never actually produced a full bunch sprint. Athletes and fans alike know all too well that anything can happen in cycling, but in 2026 the fast women should have at least three real chances to make their mark.
The first is the most appetising, at least on paper, because in addition to offering a prestigious stage win, it will allow the winner to wear the first Maglia Rosa of the race. The opening stage, from Cesenatico to Ravenna, does not feature a single metre of climbing. The riders will see the finish line twice before the final sprint, thanks to a roughly 23 km circuit to be covered twice. For the sprinters, it’s an opportunity they cannot let slip.
A very similar stage design awaits the peloton the following day, from the H-Farm hub in Roncade to Caorle on the Adriatic coast. The only difficulty is the inevitable Muro di Ca’ del Poggio (Cat. 4, 1.2 km at 12.2%), but with 90 km remaining, it should not trouble the fast finishers. More than anything, it will help determine who earns the first Maglia Azzurra. And with bonus seconds at the finish, it’s not impossible that the Maglia Rosa could even change shoulders.
Sprinters with decent climbing legs may also eye Stage 3, from Bibione to Buja – but in Friuli it will certainly be harder to keep the race together. The sharp ascent of Montenars (Cat. 3), 17 km before the finish and featuring ramps above 10%, may tempt attackers to go for the stage win and the Maglia Rosa. At that point, the sprinters will have no choice but to hang on and hope a bunch sprint is still possible.
The final clear opportunity should come on Stage 6, after the demanding two-day Dolomite block, from Ala in Trentino to Brescello in Emilia-Romagna. Once again, the route includes no climbs and no KOM points – meaning that, barring surprises, it should be shoulder-to-shoulder action all the way to the line.
From that moment on, the sprinters will have to suffer their way to Saluzzo, particularly those determined to fight for the Maglia Ciclamino.
Discover the details of all the stages of the Giro d’Italia Women 2026!
