The most important information about the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026
- Friday, 22 May: Alessandria - Verbania
- 189 kilometres, 1400 vertical metres (flat)
- 2 mountain classifications: KM 167.7 (4th Cat), KM 175.7 (3rd Cat)
- Intermediate sprint KM 155.7
- Red Bull Kilometres: KM 172.3
- Start: 12:40 pm, finish: approx. 5:13 pm
- Live ticker and results
The route of the 13th stage of the Tour of Italy
A day between Turin and Milan, between Piedmont and Lombardy. The day's 189 kilometres begin in Alessandria. The route heads straight north, through the Po Valley to the edge of the Alps and Lake Maggiore. The first 160 kilometres are almost completely flat. But along the west coast of the lake, it becomes clear that it can't stay that way.
A few hills pile up. Two mountain classifications await within eight kilometres. The first in Bieno (4th category) is still harmless, but shortly afterwards in Ungiasca (3rd category) you have to conquer an average of seven per cent over just under five kilometres.
From there, it's not far to the day's destination in Verbania. After a descent, the last three kilometres are relatively flat, but peppered with a few bends. The finishing straight itself is then slightly downhill and only 300 metres, before which the route bends to the left.
Sporting assessment of the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026
Three stages of the Giro d'Italia have ended in Verbania in the past, with Philippe Gilbert last winning as a soloist in 2015. Only 1400 metres in altitude await the riders this time, which is rarely less in this Tour of Italy. And yet there is much to suggest that there will be no classic bunch sprint.
This is because the metres in altitude are extremely unfavourable for the fast men. After the second climb, which will presumably tear the peloton apart with its gradients at a very brisk pace, there are only 14 kilometres to the finish. Around half of this is downhill, and the final section is twisty: all of which are not favourable conditions for making up lost time quickly.
The classic sprinters like Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) will hardly have a chance to play a role in the finale, and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Paul Magnoier (Soudal Quick-Step) will also have to stretch themselves to perhaps have a say in the race. The day is made for Orluis Aular (Movistar Team) or Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS) to fight for victory out of a larger group. If the riding is so sharp that even these pros can't get back in time and only a small group arrives, Florian Stork's (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) time could come.
