Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 17: route, favourites and where to watch on TV

Today, the Giro leaves Lombardy behind and heads into Trentino. From Cassano d’Adda to Andalo over 202 km, this is the classic stage that smiles on the breakaway — so expect a frantic opening hour as riders battle to make it into the day’s move. The Giro has finished in Andalo twice before: the first time in 1973, won by Eddy Merckx; the second in 2016, claimed by Alejandro Valverde. Will another big name triumph here this time?

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The Route

A rolling stage without any truly brutal climbs. The route passes Lake Iseo without major obstacles before tackling first the Passo dei Tre Termini (Category 3, 8.2 km at 5.9%) and then the Cocca di Lodrino (Category 3, 8.2 km at 4.1%). From there, the race enters the Chiese Valley, climbing steadily and gradually, with the intermediate sprint in Roncone coming after a 4.8 km ascent at 5%.

In San Lorenzo Dorsino, the officially timed climb begins, leading first to Molveno and then to Andalo-Lever (Category 3, 8.3 km at 3.6%), before the stage enters its decisive finale. The riders then face a fast descent, followed by the final 6 km — initially gentle, then increasingly demanding — with the climb ending 1.5 km from the finish. A slight downhill false flat follows before the flat finishing straight.

The Favourites

Half the peloton will try to get into the breakaway, so predicting the outcome of a stage that, 99% likely, will reward a long-range attack is incredibly difficult. Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will be aiming for a fourth victory and, above all, valuable points in the battle for the Maglia Ciclamino. The finale suits a variety of rider types, from punchy climbers such as Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and Einer Rubio (Movistar), to more powerful, diesel-style riders like Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana) and Alec Segaert (Bahrain Victorious). As mentioned, though, this is the kind of stage where everyone can dream.

Predict the winner with our ‘stage winner Predictor’. CLICK HERE, head to the FanZone and earn one entry into the draw for the final prizes of the Join the FanZone Challenge with every vote you cast. (Voting is open from 8:00 PM on the day before the stage until 10:00 AM on race day.)

Giro d’Italia 2026, Stage 17: Schedule and TV Coverage

Cassano d’Adda – Andalo, 202 km
Start: 12:10 PM
KM 0: 12:40 PM
LIVE coverage begins: 10:40 AM
Expected finish: around 5:00 PM

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

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