Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 6: route, favourites and where to watch on TV

The Giro d’Italia returns to Naples for the fifth consecutive year. In 2022, the Monte Procida circuit set the stage for a memorable victory by Thomas De Gendt, before the seafront finish on Via Caracciolo crowned, in order, Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves.
This year, the race starts in Paestum and reaches the Campanian capital after 142 kilometres, but with one major novelty: the finish line moves to the magnificent Piazza del Plebiscito, right in the heart of the city, for a finale with unmatched atmosphere and prestige. If everything goes according to expectations, though, we should still be heading for another bunch sprint.

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The Route

A short and mostly flat stage awaits. The opening section follows the Tyrrhenian coast to Salerno, before the peloton tackles the climb to Cava de’ Tirreni (Category 4, 6.5 km at 3%) and enters the plains surrounding Mount Vesuvius.
After Nola, the final 70 kilometres are entirely urban, weaving through a near-continuous chain of towns and built-up areas. But the finale in Naples deserves special attention: with 650 metres to go, a left-hand turn leads riders onto the slight uphill drag (4%) of Via Acton, paved with cobblestones. Then, at 400 metres from the finish, two right-hand bends open onto the final straight – once again on pavé.

The Favourites

By now, we know the big sprint stars of this 2026 Giro d’Italia. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) is chasing a third stage win and looking to strengthen his grip on the Maglia Ciclamino, but he’ll once again have to contend with an increasingly frustrated Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), still searching for redemption.
Also watch out for Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM), Ethan Vernon (NSN), Madis Mihkels (EF Education–EasyPost) and Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana), all expected to be firmly in the mix if it comes down to a sprint in Naples.

Predict the winner with our ‘stage winner Predictor’. CLICK HERE, head to the FanZone and earn one entry into the final prize draw of the Join the FanZone Challenge for every vote you cast. (Voting is open from 20:00 the day before the stage until 10:00 on race day.)

Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 6: Schedule and TV Coverage

Paestum – Naples, 142 km
LIVE opens: 12:15 p.m.
Start: 1:50 p.m.
KM 0: 2:05 p.m.
Expected finish: around 5:15 p.m.

TV: As usual, RAI will provide free-to-air coverage of every stage of the Giro d’Italia for viewers in Italy. The day begins with “Giro Mattina” on Rai Sport HD, featuring rider presentations and pre-race interviews, followed by “Prima Diretta” on the same channel to cover the start of the stage until 14:00. For the key moments of the race, coverage moves to Rai 2, with “Giro in Diretta” until 16:15, followed immediately by “Giro all’Arrivo”, taking viewers through the decisive phases of the stage right 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. The day concludes on Rai Sport HD with “TGiro” at 20:00, featuring interviews, highlights and commentary, while the most dedicated fans can relive every key moment with “Ri-Giro” at 00:00. The race will also be broadcast live in full on Eurosport, as well as on streaming platforms Discovery+ and HBO Max..

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