Visma-Lease a Bike to Pinarello-Q36.5: Your complete guide to the 23 teams of the 2026 Giro d'Italia

The 2026 Giro d’Italia promises a fiercely competitive Grand Tour season, with a strong start list featuring 23 teams, including established powerhouses and ambitious smaller squads. Visma-Lease a Bike, fresh from dominating last year’s Grand Tours alongside UAE Team Emirates XRG, enters as the clear favourite thanks to Jonas Vingegaard. With Tadej Pogačar absent, Vingegaard, who is making his Giro debut, is poised to capitalise on this opportunity, supported by a robust team including mountain specialist Sepp Kuss. The Danish leader’s strategy involves balancing peak performance at the Giro while preserving energy for the Tour de France, making his campaign one to watch closely. Lidl-Trek aims to replicate its impressive 2025 Giro performance, where it secured multiple stage wins, albeit with a new team leader in Jonathan Milan replacing Mads Pedersen. Milan’s arrival signals a shift towards targeting sprint stages and the points classification, which he has won twice before. The German outfit also fields strong contenders for the King of the Mountains and general classification, with Giulio Ciccone and Derek Gee-West both capable of making significant impacts. Their diverse ambitions could see Lidl-Trek competing across several classifications, adding depth to the race dynamics. Netcompany-Ineos, a team with a storied Giro history, is undergoing a period of transition but remains a formidable presence. After a dip in recent years, the British squad is aiming for a resurgence with Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman leading the charge. Both riders are capable of top-ten overall finishes and stage victories, supported by experienced teammates like Jack Haig and Filippo Ganna. The team’s renewed focus and increased budget suggest a strategic intent to reclaim prominence in the Grand Tour arena, using the Giro as a platform for growth and renewed success. Other teams such as France’s Decathlon CMA CGM and Germany’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe bring their own strengths to the race. Decathlon CMA CGM will rely on Felix Gall, who showed promise with a top-five finish at the Tour de France last year, while also fielding a balanced squad including sprinter Tobias Lund Andresen. The Giro’s varied terrain and length ensure that many squads, regardless of size, could influence stage outcomes and overall standings, making the race an unpredictable and thrilling contest. Overall, the 2026 Giro d’Italia is shaping up to be a captivating battle of strategy, endurance, and emerging talent. With established leaders managing their form for the season’s peaks and ambitious teams seeking breakthrough moments, the race will provide a compelling narrative throughout its three weeks. Fans can expect intense competition not only for the pink jersey but also for stage wins and classification honours, underscoring the Giro’s status as one of cycling’s most prestigious and unpredictable Grand Tours.