Bulgaria served as an unforgettable first-time host during the first three stages of the Giro d’Italia 2026, two of which were won by young French standout Paul Magnier.
Magnier won the opening stage, which featured a crash in the final kilometer, and he returned to the top of the podium in Stage 3 after besting two of the world's top sprinters - Jonathan Milan and Dylan Groenewegen - to conclude the day's 175-kilometer ride from Plovdiv to Sofia.
The win keeps Magnier in the ciclamino jersey as the points leader, but the pink leader's jersey remains on the shoulders of Uruguayan Thomas Silva, the winner in Stage 2 on Saturday.
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- Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 3 Results: France's Paul Magnier Wins Again
Following Sunday's third stage, the riders are being given a chance to rest and upload their Bulgaria photos to social media while traveling to Italy for the conclusion of this year's Giro d'Italia.
Stage 4 on Tuesday puts the race is back in its home land of Italy for a 138-kilometer ride from Catanzaro to Cosenza. Both are located in Calabria, which is the foot/toe portion of the Italian "boot."
Silva will enter the next phase of the event with a four-second lead on Florian Stork and 2021 Giro champion Egan Bernal. Pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard is part of a huge group of riders who are 10 seconds off the lead.
Along with the crash near the finish of Stage 1, there was chaos again late in Stage 3, with a huge pileup causing the race to be neutralized briefly with about 21 kilometers to go. A handful of riders were forced to abandon the 2026 race due to the injuries they suffered in the massive Stage 2 crash.
Stage 4 is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Eastern and should conclude around 10:30 a.m. EDT.
For viewers in Canada, FloBikes coverage of Stage 4 will begin at 7:30 a.m. Eastern.
Here’s what to know about Stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia 2026, a 138-kilometer journey across Calabria in the southern part of Italy:
Stage 4: Giro d’Italia 2026
The Giro d'Italia 2026 has arrived in Italy, with Stage 4 kicking off in the extreme southern part of the peninsula.
The day's 138-kilometer ride will begin in the capital of Calabria (Catanzaro) and take the riders north to Cosenza.
The stage is expected short and fast, with the only real challenging being a 15-kilometer climb of Cozzo Tunno. It's not a tough climb, however, and the descent that follows will bring the riders right into Cosenza.
A curvy ride through the city straightens out for the final 450 meters, which will be wide and flat, creating the perfect environment for another sprint finish.
Pace will be important in Stage 4, and the race should end as predicted, unless someone (or a group) can catch everyone off guard and break away. Though not impossible, the day is intended more to be an opportunity for the sprinters to shine, while the GC contenders ease back into racing mode and stay safe.
Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 4 Of The Giro d’Italia 2026?
Stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia 2026 is 138 kilometers, or approximately 85.74 miles long.
Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 4 Profile
Here is what the elevation looks like for Stage 4:
How To Watch The Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 4
The Giro d’Italia 2026 is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app for viewers in Canada.
Highlights, race replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
In the United States, HBO Max is the official provider for the Giro d’Italia 2026.
Who Won Stage 4 Of The Giro d’Italia In 2025?
Stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia 2025 featured an all-Dutch podium that included winner Casper van Uden ahead of Olav Kooij and Maikel Zijlaard in a bunch sprint on a winding and narrow final stretch. The race was the Grand Tour debut for Van Uden.
Mads Pedersen finished fourth on the day, and that allowed him to remain in the pink leader's jersey.
Just like 2026, last year's fourth stage was the race's first day in Italy after beginning abroad (Albania). It was the longest stage to that point in the 2025 event, a 189-kilometer journey from Alberobello to Lecce in the heel of the famous Italian boot.
Giro d’Italia 2026 Results: Here’s Who Has Won Each Stage So Far
- Stage 1: Giro d'Italia Stage 1 Results: Paul Magnier Wins Stage, Takes Pink
- Stage 2: Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 2 Results: Uruguay's Thomas Silva Makes History
- Stage 3: Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 3 Results: France's Paul Magnier Wins Again
When Does The Giro d’Italia 2026 Start?
The Giro d’Italia 2026 starts May 8 and will conclude May 31.
The schedule includes 21 stages and three rest days (May 11, May 18, May 25).
Every day, the cyclists start together. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand, and the characteristics of each stage determine what type of rider should excel or how the race should finish.
For example, some stages feature flat finishes, and that means the sprinters likely will be battling for those stage wins.
How Long Is The Giro d’Italia 2026?
The route for the Giro d’Italia 2026 can be found here.
The race is 21 stages and will cover 3,468 kilometers.
What Is The Schedule For The Giro d’Italia 2026?
Here is the complete schedule for the Giro d’Italia 2026.
How Many Teams/Riders Compete In The Giro d’Italia?
Traditionally, there are 22 or 23 teams and up to 184 competitors in the Giro d’Italia.
Here’s the list for 2026:
- Alpecin-Premier Tech
- Bahrain Victorious
- Bardiani CSF 7 Saber
- Decathlon CMA CGM Team
- EF Education - EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ United
- INEOS Grenadiers
- Lidl – Trek
- Lotto Intermarché
- Movistar Team
- NSN Cycling Team
- Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- Red Bull – Bora - Hansgrohe
- Soudal Quick-Step
- Team Jayco AlUla
- Team Picnic Postnl
- Team Polti VisitMalta
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team
- UAE Team Emirates XRG
- Unibet Rose Rockets
- UNO-X Mobility
- XDS Astana Team
Who Won The Giro d’Italia In 2025?
At 32 years old, Great Britain’s Simon Yates made history at the Giro d’Italia, not because of his age, but because he won the race without winning any of the 21 stages. It was the first time that happened since Alberto Contador did so a decade earlier.
It was the second Grand Tour victory for Yates, who won the Vuelta a España in 2018, and it will be his last, as he announced his retirement seven months after winning the Giro.
Yates didn’t secure the coveted pink jersey until Stage 20, when he shot past Richard Carapaz and longtime leader Isaac Del Toro on the Colle delle Finistre climb, one of the most anticipated challenges on the cycling calendar. The same climb broke Yates in his attempt to win the Giro in 2018.
Del Toro, who had ridden in pink for 11 days, might have fallen short in his GC bid, but he became the first athlete from North America to win the Best Young Rider title.
Heading into Stage 20, Del Toro was 43 seconds ahead of Carapaz and 1 minute, 21 seconds in front of Yates. By the end of the day, Yates was nearly four minutes clear of Del Toro, with Carapaz another minute back.
In 2024, Tadej Pogacar won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 as part of a memorable season that saw him become the first rider since 1998 to win the Giro and the Tour de France in the same season.
He then added a win at the 2024 World Championships in Switzerland to became the first cyclist since 1987 to win the Giro, TDF and a world championship in the same season.
‘Scary’ Crash Takes Out Giro d'Italia 2026 Favorites
Jan Christen describes how a crash occurred involving many riders, including his teammates Adam Yates and Jay Vine. Others survived on a day that saw Jonas Vingegaard battle with Giulio Ciccone, and a charging Christen.
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