The final week of the Giro d’Italia is where dreams are either defended, destroyed — or rewritten entirely. By the time the peloton rolls out for Stage 16, the easy talk is over, the legs are tired, and the maglia rosa contenders know exactly who they fear and who they don’t. Week 3 of the 2026 Giro delivers a little of everything: a Swiss mountain ambush, rolling transitional traps, a savage Dolomite queen stage, and one final summit showdown before the champagne and cobbles of Rome. Stages 16 through 21 take the race from the Swiss Alps through the high mountains of northern Italy, with Carì, Andalo, Alleghe and Piancavallo all poised to turn this Giro upside down — if anyone still has the legs to do it. And in true Giro fashion, expect weather, tactics and fatigue to become as decisive as watts and climbing form.
Stage 16 – Tuesday May 26
Bellinzona → Carì – 113 km
Profile: Mountain
This entire stage runs in Switzerland – and after I looked at the map -I was surprised to see how higgeldy-piggeldy that border line is. We’re starting just past the north end of Lago Maggiore, and heading deeper into the Swiss Alps.
PEZ SEz: I’m calling this another day like Stage 14 to Pilo – a break will get away early, while the GC boys will watch Vingegaard, and hope to sit on his wheel as long as possible once they start the big climb to the summit finish in Cari – 11km at 8+% average grade. Unless Jonas cracks, crashes, or gets sick – I expect to see him win again.
Stage 17 – Wednesday May 27
Cassano d’Adda → Andalo – 200 km
Profile: Hilly
This is a long stage at 200km, with a lot of uphill meters climbed to reach the finish at 1050m altitude in Andalo. The transfer back down from Cari puts us not far from Milano again – this time to the northeast.
PEZ SEz: The opening kms of the stage pass by my ol’ hometown of Bergamo, and excellent base for so much of the great riding around here. In 2009 I had a most excellent adventure riding the Colle del Gallo and looping back to climb the oblong cobbles into Bergamo’s Citta Alta before the stage finished.
Roadside Giro: Riding the Giro Route to Bergamo’s Città Alta
Race-wise, I’m not expecting much change here, as the legs will be tired from yesterday, and wanting to save energy for later in the week.
Stage 18 – Thursday May 28
Fai Della Paganella → Pieve di Soligo – 166 km
PEZ SEz: I’m calling this as another transition stage, moving the race across Italy’s north and setting up two final days in the high mountains. I can also tell you that riding in the Veneto region is unlike other parts of Italy – just as tasty, but with a flavor all its own.
The biggest concentration of fans on this stage will be at the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio – 1.1km long, 12.3% average grade -it is steep. Likely not long enough to interst teh GC riders, but when the break away gets her – this is the perfect launch pad for the winner’s bid for glory.
The climb is hidden among the vineyard-covered hills of Italy’s Veneto region, this short but vicious wall has become a cult favourite of the Giro d’Italia, famous for gradients that pitch toward 20% and the kind of suffering wildly disproportionate to its modest length. I clipped in to ride one of Italy’s steepest little roads, discovering along the way that the real reward isn’t just surviving the climb — it’s everything around it: Prosecco country, quiet backroads, Giro history and another reminder that some of Italy’s best riding happens far from the famous mountain passes.
Stage 19 – Friday May 29
Feltre → Alleghe (Passo Giau) – 151 km
Profile: Mountain (Queen Stage)
We are deep in the Dolomites now for the Giro’s Queen Stage, in what many consider the most beautiful place to ride your bike up – and down – the famous mountain passes. The course features almost 5000 meters of climbing over 151km – with most of that packed into the final 100km – taking on brutes like the Passo Duran, the mighty Passo Giau, and even a sting in the tail to the Piani di Pezze (no relation…).
The famous and fabulous Maratona dles Dolimiti runs over teh Giau and Falzarego – and I was lucky enough to ride it and record my day in the video below – . I took about 7 hours to ride the 100km route, and would do it again – this stage will take about 5 hours to do 50% further… so, yeah – it’s gonna be a hard day.
By now Jonas Vingegaard has shown he’s the big boss of this Giro, and barring disaster, I can’t see betting against him – he’s just that much above the rest of the field. Still it’s gonna be beautiful to watch, and the weather report looks good – which will be a big relief for riders since this part of Italy has crazy weather.
5,000m climbing, decisive GC day
PEZ Take: This is it—the stage that defines the Giro.
Stage 20 – Saturday May 30
Gemona del Friuli → Piancavallo – 199 km
Profile: Mountain
PEZ SEz: This is a long one at 199km, with two big climbs. The pelton will be exhausted after almost three weeks and yesterday’s epic ride through the Dolomites. The final summit finish is 14km long and gains 1131 meters – ouch. I’m calling this a day of defense for what I predict will be Jonas’ unstoppable lead… and maybe a chance to the breakaway to score some glory.
Final GC showdown
PEZ Take: Last chance, no tomorrow—expect desperation.
Stage 21 – Sunday May 31
Rome → Rome – 130 km
Profile: Flat
After three weeks of suffering, mountain raids, bad and good weather, tactical games and shattered dreams, the 2026 Giro d’Italia ends fittingly with a fast, festive lap around the Eternal City. Stage 21 is a largely ceremonial 131-kilometre Rome-to-Rome finale, divided into two distinct acts. First comes an outward run from the EUR district toward the coast at Ostia, offering one last chance for prosecco photos, handshakes and pink-jersey celebrations before the racing gets serious. Then the peloton returns to central Rome for eight fast finishing circuits through the heart of the city, sweeping past some of cycling’s most spectacular scenery — the Colosseum, the Fori Imperiali, ancient ruins and wide Roman boulevards.
At just 500 metres of total elevation gain, this is about as flat as a Grand Tour stage gets, meaning the GC battle should already be settled by the time riders hit the final laps. Instead, expect the sprint teams to take over, fighting for one final prestigious win beneath Rome’s monuments. That said, Rome’s finishing circuit is never completely straightforward: rough paving, sweeping corners and urban tension mean positioning matters enormously, and late crashes are always a possibility. After the coast road and city circuits, the Giro’s final image should once again be classic: the maglia rosa safely protected, sprinters winding it up at full gas, and one last high-speed drag race through one of the world’s great cities.
I’ve witnessed several final stages of the Giro, and a lot of riders have their suitcases packed and book it to the airport as soon as the stage is done. Me on the other hand have also breathed a huge sigh of relief, and set off to hunt down a celebratory negroni. And case you’re not there to imbibe in the Eternal City – use my tutorial below to craft one up yourself at home.
Thanks for reading – and let me know how your negroni turns out – –
– Richard
Champagne sprint finale
PEZ Take: Smiles, photos, and one last sprint—business already done.
Planning Your Own Giro Ride?
From Bergamo and Veneto to the Dolomites and Rome, many of these roads remain spectacular places to ride long after the Giro leaves town — and PEZ has ridden most of them. See the PEZ Travel Section here.
The post GIRO ’26: The PEZ Route Guide Week 3 appeared first on PezCycling News.
