Giro dell'Emilia 2026 preview, profile, favourites & predictions - Will McNulty take first rainbow jersey win for UAE? Tom Pidcock for the win?
Cycling
The 2026 Giro dell'Emilia will take place on the 3rd of October 2026 - simultaneous to the European Championships. The classic, one of the main features of of the Italian autumn classics block, is a race with a great amount of history and also big winners over its history. On the Madona di San Luca, a new name might be crowned this Saturday. Below, you will find the favourites and route of the 2026 edition.
The Italian one-day race was first held back in the early 1900's, making it one of the oldest and longest-lasting events in all of professional cycling. The Giro dell'Emilia has its own story. Despite not being a World Tour event, the race carries an iconic course, over a century's worth of winners and an incredible palmarès. Eberardo Pavesi was the very first in 1909.
The race had several years during both World War I and World War II where it did not take place, and has had many of Italy's finest take victories in Bologna: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Francesco Moser, Michele Bartoli, Ivan Basso, Davide Rebellin... Eddy Merckx was the first non-Italian winner, taking the win back in 1972. He was soon followed by another historic Belgian figure: Roger de Vlaeminck.
In the 21st century big figures have inserted their name into the race's history: Jan Ullrich, Nairo Quintana... Enric Mas beat Tadej Pogacar in 2022; whilst Primoz Roglic has achieved three victories in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Tadej Pogacar himself won back in 2024 whilst most recently it was Isaac del Toro to be crowned in San Luca.
Giro dell'Emilia date, schedule and where to watch
CyclingUpToDate will bring you coverage of the Giro dell'Emilia which is set to take place on Saturday the 3rd of October. Alongside it, previews, results and words from the day's headliners.
The race will be broadcast on the traditional channels, most notably HBO/MAX, and Eurosport. In the United States the race will not be broadcast live but can be followed on HBO; In Canada it will be possible to watch on FloBikes whilst in the United Kingdom the race will be broadcast on TNT Sports.
| Date | Day | Start time (CET) | Finish time (CET) |
| 3 October | Saturday | 10:50 | 15:10 |
| Country | TV |
| United States | None (Livestreaming available) |
| Canada | FloBikes |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports |
| Italy | Rai Sport |
Profile: Ferrara - Bologna
Ferrara - Bologna, 198 kilometers
The race follows its traditional course, with climbers and classics specialists having a major opportunity in the city of Bologna. But before they get there, they will take on over 100 kilometers of flat roads in the Emilia-Romagna region, starting off in Ferrara.
198 kilometers and 2300 meters of climbing, the numbers tell one story but the profile tells a different one. The last two thirds of the race feature two difficult climbs before entering the circuit in Bologna which will see the race come to its conclusion.
The riders will go up the climb to the Madonna di San Luca, 2.1 kilometers at 9.4%, but its its maximum gradients much higher... The climbs end with 36, 27, 18 and 9 kilometers to go, whilst the finish also coincides with the top of the ascent.
But inbetween climbs there is very little rest. The descent is quite technical and can in itself create gaps between the favourites, which there is still a hilltop inbetween the two descending phases which is just over 1 kilometer long at 5%.
Preview Giro dell'Emilia 2026
An incredibly hard race and a startlist that resembles a monument. The Giro dell'Emilia continues to be one of the most illustrious races of the year and with a finale that can be as tactical as it can be difficult. There is no outright favourite this year and, much like the World Championships, an attack far from the finish can succeed because there is no terrain on the San Luca circuit to put on a proper chase.
Riders like Ben Healy or recently crowned World Champion Brandon McNulty can be an absolute nightmare to catch if they manage to get away during the final kilometers. EF have Richard Carapaz to play; whilst UAE also have Adam Yates, Jhonatan Narváez and Tim Wellens - meaning both teams have all reasons to use their numbers and try to prevent a grouped up finish.
But there are other teams with good depth including Red Bull who have Giulio Pellizzari, Jai Hindley, Daniel Martínez, Florian Lipowitz, Lorenzo Finn and Finn Fisher-Black. The other main favourites to win this race are Tom Pidcock - runner-up in the previous two editions; Giulio Ciccone who brings great form from the World Championships and is well suited to this type of explosive climbing; Lenny Martínez and Oscar Onley also sprint well and are strong explosive climbers who can win here.
But the startlist goes very far and wide, with Visma for example having Matteo Jorgenson, Davide Piganzoli and Ben Tulett; Astana having Harold Tejada and Lorenzo Fortunato as just two of the men in a stacked lineup; whilst other riders such as Lennert van Eetvelt, Luke Plapp and Afonso Eulálio can also be in the mix.
Prediction Giro dell'Emilia 2026
*** Tom Pidcock, Giulio Ciccone, Ben Healy
** Lenny Martínez, Oscar Onley, Giulio Pellizzari, Brandon McNulty
* Luke Plapp, Afonso Eulálio, Harold Tejada, Lorenzo Fortunato, Richard Carapaz, Jai Hindley, Florian Lipowitz, Lennert van Eetvelt, Matteo Jorgenson, Davide Piganzoli, Ben Tulett, Adam Yates, Jhonatan Narváez
Pick: Ben Healy
How: Solo attack from the distance.
Read also
List of winners Giro dell'Emilia
| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2025 | Isaac Del Toro | Tom Pidcock | Lenny Martinez |
| 2024 | Tadej Pogačar | Tom Pidcock | Davide Piganzoli |
| 2023 | Primož Roglič | Tadej Pogačar | Simon Yates |
| 2022 | Enric Mas | Tadej Pogačar | Domenico Pozzovivo |
| 2021 | Primož Roglič | João Almeida | Michael Woods |
| 2020 | Aleksandr Vlasov | João Almeida | Diego Ulissi |
| 2019 | Primož Roglič | Michael Woods | Sergio Higuita |
| 2018 | Alessandro De Marchi | Rigoberto Urán | Dylan Teuns |
| 2017 | Giovanni Visconti | Vincenzo Nibali | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2016 | Esteban Chaves | Romain Bardet | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2015 | Jan Bakelants | Andrea Fedi | Ángel Madrazo |
| 2014 | Davide Rebellin | Ángel Madrazo | Franco Pellizotti |
| 2013 | Diego Ulissi | Chris Anker Sørensen | Davide Villella |
| 2012 | Nairo Quintana | Fredrik Kessiakoff | Franco Pellizotti |
| 2011 | Carlos Betancur | Bauke Mollema | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2010 | Robert Gesink | Daniel Martin | Michele Scarponi |
| 2009 | Robert Gesink | Jakob Fuglsang | Thomas Löfkvist |
| 2008 | Danilo Di Luca | Davide Rebellin | Alexandr Kolobnev |
| 2007 | Fränk Schleck | Davide Rebellin | Chris Horner |
| 2006 | Davide Rebellin | Danilo Di Luca | Giuseppe Di Grande |
| 2005 | Gilberto Simoni | Fränk Schleck | Mirko Celestino |
| 2004 | Ivan Basso | Francesco Casagrande | Rinaldo Nocentini |
| 2003 | José Iván Gutiérrez | Alexandr Kolobnev | Davide Rebellin |
| 2002 | Michele Bartoli | Ivan Basso | Michael Rasmussen |
| 2001 | Jan Ullrich | Francesco Casagrande | Davide Rebellin |
| 2000 | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Codol | Mirko Celestino |
| 1999 | Michael Boogerd | Massimo Donati | Marcello Siboni |
| 1998 | Mirko Celestino | Massimo Donati | Michele Bartoli |
| 1997 | Alexander Gontchenkov | Sergio Barbero | Felice Puttini |
| 1996 | Michele Bartoli | Luc Leblanc | Bjarne Riis |
| 1995 | Davide Cassani | Massimo Donati | Alessio Di Basco |
| 1994 | Francesco Casagrande | Maurizio Fondriest | Davide Cassani |
| 1993 | Maurizio Fondriest | Pascal Richard | Claudio Chiappucci |
| 1992 | Gianni Bugno | Davide Cassani | Stephen Hodge |
| 1991 | Davide Cassani | Ivan Gotti | Charly Mottet |
| 1990 | Davide Cassani | Gilles Delion | Yvon Madiot |
| 1989 | Dmitri Konyšev | Maurizio Fondriest | Mauro Gianetti |
| 1988 | Tony Rominger | Maurizio Fondriest | Rolf Sørensen |
| 1987 | Jean-François Bernard | Moreno Argentin | Jiří Škoda |
| 1986 | Hubert Seiz | Dag Erik Pedersen | Pierino Gavazzi |
| 1985 | Acácio da Silva | Claudio Corti | Marino Lejarreta |
| 1984 | Ezio Moroni | Michael Wilson | Roberto Ceruti |
| 1983 | Cesare Cipollini | Daniele Caroli | Dag Erik Pedersen |
| 1982 | Pierino Gavazzi | Silvano Contini | Emanuele Bombini |
| 1981 | Pierino Gavazzi | Francesco Moser | Silvano Contini |
| 1980 | Gianbattista Baronchelli | Wladimiro Panizza | Jørgen Marcussen |
| 1979 | Francesco Moser | Pierino Gavazzi | Silvano Contini |
| 1978 | Bernt Johansson | Wladimiro Panizza | Alfio Vandi |
| 1977 | Mario Beccia | Bernt Johansson | Phil Edwards |
| 1976 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Italo Zilioli | Glauco Santoni |
| 1975 | Enrico Paolini | Felice Gimondi | Alfredo Chinetti |
| 1974 | Francesco Moser | Roger De Vlaeminck | Tino Conti |
| 1973 |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- I think non of us believe it. Issue is that the world champs jersey will be seen as bottle carrier and i cannot see mcnulty leading as classic races or even winning stages. It will not show world champs jersey in a good light alas.paultryan200202-10-2026
- Where does it say that? That is your biased opinion which just goes to show how biased our general education towards such subjects is. Instead of commenting on the inaccuracies of the comment, why don’t you question the oversight, lack of detail or precision of the article? Why is women’s sport almost always systematically ignored in a non gendered article on sport?Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- Assuming at some point (unlike the Horners and Gianettis who had their peaks after they should have retired) TP will tire out, it will be very interesting to see how UAE evolve. A demise like Sky maybe?Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- You’re « back »?Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- If they have such advanced training strategies no other team can match, how do they keep it secret, how do they deal with people getting paid to leak info or riders switching teams?.Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- Best go check you’re not at the bottom of that list now Nils, friends is a very precarious term in some circles.Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- Alternatively, just raise (or let it rise and pretend you’re powerless to stop it) the price of oil a bit more and turn him into a pacemaker ;-)Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- They managed something the Dutch ladies never did but at least they were smart enough to stop trying ;-)Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- Can you elaborate? I’ve always wondered what the exact or expected skills required of a sports director are and why there are so few candidates available that teams have to wait for riders to retire. Comparing with other sports, F1 teams are rarely directed by ex-pilots and in football, there’s usually quite a gap between playing and coaching top level teams.Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
- I kind of doubt he was going to spend his time ON the table and kudos to him for what he did BUT I thought the whole reason behind it was to pick up the easy points on offer, in which case he failed, no? In any case, he may not have raced since a while but judging by the result, he was obviously staying very active.Jumpyjohn02-10-2026
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