Watch Giro d'Italia — Stage 1: Grande Partenza Free.

What's at Stake

The 109th edition of the Giro d'Italia begins with the highly anticipated Grande Partenza, where the first Maglia Rosa of the season is up for grabs. Beyond the immediate prestige of wearing the leader's jersey, the opening stage sets the tone for the general classification battle and allows the specialist time trialists or explosive finishers to establish an early psychological advantage over their rivals.

Form Guide

Heading into the first Grand Tour of the 2026 calendar, the peloton arrives with varied preparation following the spring Classics and early-season stage races like the Tour of the Alps and Romandie. Top contenders have tailored their peaks to arrive in peak physical condition for the high-altitude challenges of Italy, while the sprinters and prologue specialists look to capitalize on their high-intensity training blocks.

Key Players to Watch

• The Defending Champion — looking to assert dominance early and signal intent to the rest of the general classification contenders.
• The Time Trial Specialist — a primary favorite if the opening stage features a race against the clock to secure the first pink jersey.
• The Home Favorite — an Italian rider motivated by the local crowds to pull off an upset victory on home soil during the opening day.

Prediction

Expect a fiercely contested opening day where the specialist power riders will edge out the general classification hopefuls for the stage win. A specialist with a proven track record in short, high-intensity efforts is the most likely candidate to pull on the Maglia Rosa by the end of the afternoon. The time gaps between the overall favorites should remain minimal, keeping the race wide open for the weeks ahead.