Demi Vollering, Elisa Longo Borghini, Anna van der Breggen: Giro d'Italia Women 2026 full start list announced

The full start list for the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women has been officially released, setting the stage for a highly competitive race beginning in Cesenatico on Italy’s west coast. Among the standout names is Elisa Longo Borghini, the reigning champion aiming for a third consecutive victory on home soil. She will face formidable opposition, including world number one Demi Vollering of FDJ United Suez, who has publicly declared her ambition to achieve the Giro-Tour double in 2026. The field is widely regarded as the strongest since last year’s Tour de France Femmes, promising an intense battle across the 21 teams. SD Worx Proteam will enter the race led by four-time winner Anna van der Breggen, a Dutch rider with a storied history at the Giro, having first triumphed in 2015. Van der Breggen’s victories have alternated with those of fellow Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten, though the latter will not be present this year. Visma Lease a Bike will be spearheaded by a promising young French climber, who recently secured third place at the Vuelta a España, stepping into the leadership role in the absence of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who will focus on defending her title at the Tour de France Femmes. The race will feature a peloton of 147 riders representing 21 teams, each fielding seven athletes. The start list includes a diverse mix of experienced champions and emerging talents from across Europe and beyond, reflecting the growing international appeal of women’s professional cycling. Teams such as Canyon-SRAM, Liv-AlUla-Jayco, and Movistar will also compete, bringing depth and tactical complexity to the event. This broad participation underscores the Giro’s status as a key fixture on the women’s racing calendar. The announcement of the start list not only highlights the key contenders but also signals the increasing professionalism and visibility of women’s stage racing. With top riders targeting multiple grand tours, the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women is set to be a pivotal moment in the season, influencing form and momentum ahead of the Tour de France Femmes. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the race unfolds and whether Vollering can realise her ambitious goal of claiming victories in both the Giro and the Tour.