The most important information about the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026
- Friday, 29 May: Feltre - Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè)
- 151 kilometres, 5000 vertical metres (mountain finish)
- 6 mountain classifications: KM 58.7 (1st Cat), KM 72.9 (2nd Cat), KM 82.0 (2nd Cat), KM 101.6 (Cima Coppi), KM 122.2 (2nd Cat), KM 151.1 (2nd Cat)
- Intermediate sprint KM 78.3
- Red Bull Kilometres: KM 118.6
- Start: 12:30 pm, finish: approx. 5:12 pm
- Live ticker and results
The route of the 19th stage of the Tour of Italy
It begins in Feltre on the edge of the Dolomites - the undisputedly most difficult stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026. 151 kilometres, 5000 metres of altitude. And they are concentrated in the last 100 kilometres. Because the first third of the day in a north-westerly direction through the Piave valley to Orzes serves as a roll-in phase.
But then it gets tough. It's all steep uphill or steep downhill to the finish. Starting with the Passo Duran (1st category), six climbs are tackled in immediate succession. After the Duran, which is the longest at twelve kilometres, but one of the less steep at 8.2 percent, the route continues through the Val di Zoldo to Coi (2nd category) and then over the Staulanza Pass (2nd category). Both climbs are rather short at around six kilometres, but the one to Coi is also steep at up to 19 percent.
After the Forcella Staulanza, a good half of the day has been covered, but three difficult mountains still await. The Passo Giau is the next one, the Cima Coppi of this year's tour with an altitude difference of 2233 metres. After the descent of the ten-kilometre climb with an average gradient of more than nine per cent, the route descends to just before Cortina d'Ampezzo. There, the route switches from north to west to tackle the Passo Falzarego (2nd category) next. After another ten kilometres of climbing, which is comparatively easy at less than six per cent.
At the top, the direction turns again, now to the south. More than 20 kilometres of descent await until Alleghe. Once there, the final climb to the high plateau of Piani di Pezzè (2nd category) awaits. The last five kilometres are very winding. And the last 1000 metres are particularly difficult. They have an average gradient of eleven per cent.
Sporting assessment of the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026
No stage of the Giro has ever ended on the plateaus of Pezzè. However, the 19th stage of this year's edition will ensure that the name quickly conquers the cycling world.
This queen stage cannot be won in passing. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl - Trek) will give it a go and will probably continue to ride a two-pronged approach, also keeping an eye on the mountains jersey. This is likely to be a difficult endeavour. But that also applies to all the other breakaway riders. It's hard to imagine Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) wanting to miss out on this stage win. With his strong team behind him, he can control all the breakaway groups and keep the gaps relatively small.
Even if the final climb is relatively short at five kilometres, a two-minute lead is probably not enough for an exhausted breakaway if the Dane really goes for it and goes full throttle at the bottom in Alleghe.
The battle for the podium places behind them, on the other hand, could come to a head. There is less than a minute between Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) and Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe). Hindley in particular, as man of the week, is once again in favour of this hammer stage.
