For the fourth time in six stages at the Giro d’Italia 2026, late crashes played a part in the outcome of the race.
In Stage 6 on Thursday, slick cobblestones on the final turn caused multiple riders at the front of the pack to fall, leading to more chaos and lost opportunities.
In the end, Italy's Davide Ballerini was able to stay upright and take the win. It was the first Grand Tour stage victory of his career and the first win by an Italian rider this year. Portugal's Afonso Eulálio was able to keep the pink leader's jersey and leads Stage 5 winner Igor Arrieta by almost three minutes.
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- Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 6 Results: Davide Ballerini Survives Wet Cobbles
Thursday's 142-kilometer ride from Paestum to historic Naples was relatively short and flat, but the race organizers definitely will make up for that in Stage 7 on Friday.
Stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia 2026 is the longest stage of the year and one of the toughest, too.
The 244-kilometer trek from Formia to Blockhaus rolls through the Apennine Mountains and ends with a long uphill slog.
Stage 7 is scheduled to begin at 5:45 a.m. Eastern and should conclude around 11:30 a.m. EDT.
For viewers in Canada, FloBikes coverage of Stage 7 will begin at 4:35 a.m. Eastern.
Here’s what to know about Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia 2026, a 244-kilometer mountainous challenge:
Stage 7: Giro d’Italia 2026
Stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia 2026 is the longest stage of the year at 244 kilometers and will bring the riders into the Apennine Mountains with a total elevation gain of 4,600 meters.
Sure, the first 140 kilometers are flatter, but the second half of the day will include two categorized climbs and an uphill finish.
The riders will climb briefly at an average of 5% for about 9.5 kilometers to Rionero Sannitico, and after a short decent, they'll arrive at the Category 2 climb to Roccaraso, which spans almost 7 kilometers at 6.4%.
Another 10 kilometers of downhill action will offer some relief before the final challenge of the day - a 13.6-kilometer stretch to Blockhaus that averages 8.4%. To make it even tougher, the last 10 kilometers are the steepest at 9.4%. The highest peak reaches 14%, and the final straight is wider, but also steep at 8%.
The starting point, Formia, also has ancient Roman roots and long has been a coastal vacation destination.
The Blockhaus peak is located in Majella National Park. It has become legendary as part of the Giro, but it also has a military past, as what better place could there be for a fort? At the same time, due to the altitude and challenges with accessibility, the area has a lot of open space, an unspoiled landscape and many rare species of animals.
Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 7 Of The Giro d’Italia 2026?
Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia 2026 is 244 kilometers, or approximately 151.61 miles long.
Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 7 Profile
Here is what the elevation looks like for Stage 7, which features the return of the famous Blockhaus climb. At 244 kilometers, Stage 7 is the longest stage of the year:
How To Watch The Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 7
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 7 Of The Giro d’Italia In 2025?
The early part of the Giro d'Italia 2025 belonged to the sprinters, primarily Mads Pedersen, who won three of the first five stages and owned the pink leader's jersey.
In Stage 7, the top General Classification contenders took charge, with 22-year-old Juan Ayuso winning the mountainous 168-kilometer stage and 2023 Giro winner Primoz Roglic taking the pink jersey back from Pedersen. Roglic first claimed it after the individual time trial in Stage 2, but immediately gave it back.
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
- Stage 4: Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 4 Results: Jhonatan Narváez, UAE Get Redemption
- Stage 5: Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 5 Results: Igor Arrieta Overcomes Obstacles In Win
- Stage 6: Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 6 Results: Davide Ballerini Survives Wet Cobbles
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.
Naples Delivers Chaos Again In Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 6
Gregor Brown reports on-site from Naples after another chaotic Giro d’Italia stage in the southern Italian city.
Storms, slick cobbles and dangerous roads turned the final 200 meters into disaster for the sprinters, with Dylan Groenewegen and Paul Magnier among the riders caught in the crash.
Davide Ballerini emerged with the stage victory, while Afonso Eulálio held on to the overall race lead after a dramatic day.
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