The Abruzzo Region is ready to welcome back Il Giro d’Abruzzo Crédit Agricole as it returns to the international calendar, from 9 to 12 April, with four stages with a high difficulty coefficient. The riders will be confronted with more than 9,500 metres of elevation gain in the four days of racing, with the uphill finish in Prati di Tivo, truly a taste of what’s to come at the Giro d’Italia, as the highlight of a race that will be seen live every day on Eurosport and on Discovery +.
Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region: “As soon as we saw that there was the possibility of hosting a stage race entirely in Abruzzo, we opened the door to RCS Sport to organize it. Abruzzo has discovered great cycling and great cycling has discovered Abruzzo, confirming that a strong partnership with RCS has been formed. Il Giro d’Abruzzo will offer four exciting stages that will promote the beauty of our region. This is the main opportunity for the territory to make itself known to tens of millions of enthusiasts around the world. After the Grande Partenza of last year’s Giro d’Italia, the stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico, the upcoming Giro d’Italia, and the debut of the Giro d’Italia Women, which will concentrate the final days in Abruzzo, the consecration of our territory with Il Giro d’Abruzzo”.
Paolo Bellino, Managing Director of RCS Sport: “Abruzzo is a region rich in history and tradition that, besides offering great cultural attractions, breathes cycling. With the Region there has been a symbiosis for some years now, just think of the Grande Partenza of the last edition of the Corsa Rosa. This year we have added two races: Il Giro d’Abruzzo and the Giro d’Italia Women in July The choice made by RCS Sport and the Abruzzo Region is a choice of great visibility and great vision, because all the provinces will be touched by the race and will enjoy great media success as the event will be broadcast by major world broadcasters”.
Mauro Vegni, RCS Sport Cycling Area Director: “The Abruzzo Region has always been a land of cycling and more. Our races give great visibility to the Region and allow us to touch so many places from the sea, to the hinterland, to the mountains. The route of Il Giro d’Abruzzo is very challenging, with a design that favours riders who are strong on the climbs but also have the courage to attack. It starts from the sea and finishes in the mountains, with a total elevation gain exceeding 9,000 metres. There will be some topographical impediments that will make even stages that at first glance would seem more suited to sprinters ultimately complicated. It will be a good test for those who will be at the start of the Giro d’Italia with the uphill finish at Prati di Tivo, which will be the scene of the 8th stage of the Corsa Rosa in May”.
Vito Colonna, Sports Councillor of the Municipality of L’Aquila: “After the great success of L’Aquila European Capital of Sport in 2022, and in anticipation of L’Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026, I would like to thank President Marsilio and RCS Sport for organising this event, which will touch our city in addition to Giro-E and Giro d’Italia Women. We will do our best to make it a success”.
The race touches all the provinces of the Abruzzo Region with the first stage from the province of Chieti to that of Pescara, the second one from Pescara to L’Aquila, the third one from L’Aquila to Teramo and the fourth one from Teramo to L’Aquila, to finish in the region’s capital just a few days after the proclamation as Italian Capital of Culture 2026. The stages are linked in a crescendo of difficulty, but the route is never extremely challenging.
The first stage is slightly bumpy with a flat finale, which will most likely end in a bunch sprint on the streets of Pescara.
The second stage is more undulating, despite a perfectly flat roll across the Fucino, with some climbs in the finale that will trim down the peloton before a select group final sprint.
A full mountain day, featuring Monte Sirente at the start and, past the plain around L’Aquila, the climbs of the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia: Croce Abbio (the western side of the Passo delle Capannelle, which is not reached) and Prati di Tivo.
The last stage is very wavy with a lot of elevation gain, but no major ascents. The riders will tackle the Forca di Penne and Castel del Monte climbs, both with gradients of around 4/5%, which will also feature in the route of the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women a few months later.
The leader jerseys of Il Giro d’Abruzzo Crédit Agricole are designed and handmade by PISSEI
