Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 19: route, favourites and where to watch on TV

The very essence of the Giro d’Italia. Today’s stage is the perfect summary of why the Corsa Rosa is known as “the toughest race in the world, in the most beautiful country in the world.” From Feltre to Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) comes the long-awaited Dolomite tappone: 5,000 metres of elevation gain packed into just 151 km, with the Passo Duran, Staulanza, Giau and Falzarego all setting the stage before the final climb. To win here is to write your name into cycling history.

WATCH THE DAILY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GIRO D’ITALIA!

Don’t miss a single pedal stroke of the world’s toughest race in the world’s most beautiful country!

The Route

The stage is not particularly long, but it is brutally demanding. This is a true Dolomite tappone made up almost entirely of climbs and descents, featuring a total elevation gain of 5,000 metres. The riders will tackle, in sequence, the Passo Duran (with ramps reaching 14%), the Coi (maximum gradient of 19%) and the Forcella Staulanza (maximum gradient of 10%).

This year’s Cima Coppi: Passo Giau

As if that were not enough, the riders must also face the Cima Coppi of the 2026 Giro d’Italia. The Passo Giau, at 2,236 metres above sea level, is the highest point reached by this year’s race. The climb stretches for 9.9 km at an average gradient of 9.3%, with brutal ramps of up to 14%, concentrated mainly in the opening section. A long descent then leads into the Passo Falzarego, where the Giro rises above 2,000 metres for the second time of the day, before the final run to Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) at 1,465 metres.

The Favourites

Without question, the number one favourite for the stage win is the Maglia Rosa, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike). The Danish rider has won every summit finish so far in this Giro and is unlikely to have any intention of surrendering his dominance. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) will try to withstand his attacks in an effort to defend second place overall, while Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) can likely count on an exceptional domestique in Egan Bernal as he looks to conjure something on the many climbs awaiting the peloton.

A close eye should also be kept on Jai Hindley, who, not far from here on the Marmolada, secured his Giro d’Italia triumph. If the stage opens up to a breakaway, meanwhile, Giulio Ciccone is impossible to ignore, having chased a stage victory since the very beginning of this Giro — one that, so far, continues to elude him.

Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 19: Schedule and TV Coverage

Feltre – Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè), 151 km

Start: 12:30 PM
KM 0: 12:45 PM
LIVE coverage begins: 11:00 AM
Expected finish: around 4:55 PM

TV: As usual, RAI will provide free-to-air coverage of every race day for Italian viewers. The day’s TV schedule begins with an hour of Giro Mattina on Rai Sport HD, featuring rider presentations and pre-race interviews, followed on the same channel by Prima Diretta, covering the start of the stage through to 2:00 PM. For the key part of the action, coverage moves to Rai 2, with Giro in Diretta running until 4:15 PM and Giro all’Arrivo immediately afterwards, bringing viewers through the decisive moments of the stage all the way to the finish line. Straight after comes the traditional post-stage analysis show, Il Processo alla Tappa, usually lasting around 45 minutes without the need to switch channels. Rai Sport HD rounds off the day with TGiro from 8:00 PM, featuring interviews, reports and analysis, and Ri-Giro at midnight, where the most dedicated fans can relive the day’s decisive moments step by step. In addition, the race will be broadcast live in full on Eurosport and via the on-demand platforms Discovery+ and HBO Max.