Giro d'Italia 2026 team-by-team guide – Leaders, objectives and riders to watch for every squad on the start list

The 2026 Giro d’Italia will feature a diverse peloton of 23 teams, including five ProTeams alongside the 18 WorldTour squads, with the race set to commence in Bulgaria on May 8. Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike emerges as the clear favourite for the overall victory, though he faces stiff competition from the young Italian Giulio Pellizzari of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. The absence of Tadej Pogačar and the recent illness of João Almeida leave UAE Team Emirates-XRG searching for a credible general classification contender, opening the door for a more unpredictable race dynamic. The early stages are expected to favour sprinters, while the mountainous terrain later on should provide ample opportunities for breakaways and climbers to shine. Several riders have opted to prioritise the Giro over the Tour de France, including Ben O’Connor, Felix Gall, Michael Storer, and Thymen Arensman, adding intrigue to the battle for stage wins and overall placings. Sprint specialists such as Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, Dylan Groenewegen, Ethan Vernon, Tobias Lund Andresen, and Kaden Groves are anticipated to contest the fast finishes, with the first maglia rosa up for grabs on the Black Sea coast. The peloton also features many young talents and opportunists eager to make their mark, suggesting a highly animated race throughout the three weeks of competition. Alpecin-Premier Tech will rely on Australian sprinter Kaden Groves as their leader, aiming for stage victories and the points classification in the absence of marquee riders Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, who are focusing on the Tour de France. Groves, who has demonstrated his sprinting prowess with multiple wins at Grand Tours, has recovered from a knee injury and is expected to be in strong form. Bahrain Victorious will field a more traditional lineup led by veteran Damiano Caruso, who plans to make the 2026 Giro his final Grand Tour before retirement, alongside Colombian climber Santiago Buitrago. Their strategy centres on mountain and time trial stages, with young rider Alec Segaert also highlighted as a potential stage winner. Italian ProTeam Bardiani CSF 7 Saber will once again participate via a wild card entry, aiming to animate the race with aggressive tactics and breakaways. The team’s long-standing presence in the Giro reflects their ambition to be active and competitive despite not contending for the overall classification. Manager Bruno Reverberi has expressed confidence in their ability to impact the race, supported by new sponsorship from Uzbekistan’s 7 Saber clothing brand. Across the board, the 2026 Giro d’Italia promises a compelling mix of established stars, emerging talents, and opportunistic riders, setting the stage for a thrilling contest on multiple fronts.