Big expectations are building for 2026, perhaps too many. That’s what happens in an off-season packed with enticing calendar reveals. One of the latest is Filippo Ganna’s. The INEOS Grenadiers star is no GC specialist, but he’s lethal elsewhere. And Tadej Pogacar will again find him a major rival for the victory in many of the races he laid out as his major objectives for the season ahead.
According to Ciro Scognamiglio, Filippo Ganna’s race calendar with INEOS for the 2026 season will feature four big targets: Milano–Sanremo, Paris–Roubaix, the Giro d’Italia, and the Tour de France. Compared to last year, the key change is the Italian’s presence at his home Grand Tour, the Corsa Rosa.
Ganna’s objectives are crystal clear. The first, and arguably the most important, is Milano–Sanremo. The 29-year-old believes he has everything needed to win La Classicissima, especially after his outstanding result in the 2025 edition:
Despite Pogacar’s attacks on the Cipressa and the Poggio, and even after being distanced from the group the Slovenian formed with Mathieu van der Poel, Filippo Ganna managed to claw his way back for the decisive moment. He then contested the sprint for the win, finishing 2nd behind the Dutchman and ahead of UAE Team Emirates - XRG’s superstar.
Wish for more luck at Roubaix
At Paris–Roubaix, Ganna is also a genuine contender. As everyone knows, the “Hell of the North” is a Monument where luck is your best ally. The Italian had almost none in the 2025 race, suffering an early puncture and dropping out of the fight for the win right at the start of the crucial sector (though he still placed 13th).
His best Roubaix result came nearly three years ago, in 2023, when he finished 6th in the velodrome, just 4 seconds off 2nd-placed Jasper Philipsen. Filippo Ganna and INEOS Grenadiers know that, with a slice of luck, they can take the fight to Pogacar and Van der Poel on the fearsome French cobbles.
Filippo Ganna will race Sanremo, Roubaix, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in 2026
Hunting stage wins at the Grand Tours
As for the Grand Tours, Filippo Ganna’s presence at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France is motivated by three specific stages:
- Stage 10 Giro d’Italia 2026: flat individual time trial over 40 kilometres
- Stage 1 Tour de France 2026: 19-kilometre team time trial
- Stage 16 Tour de France 2026: 27-kilometre individual time trial
In the individual tests, he can play his own card as one of the world's two best timetrialists. Meanwhile in the team event at Tour, his GC leaders will rely on his ability to get a head start for the general classification battle.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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