The Giro d’Italia 2026 live stream is about to get underway. The Grande Partenza will start in Bulgaria this Friday before we head to Italy next Tuesday for a three-week tour of their most brutal climbs.
Giro d’Italia: Free Streams
Elsewhere, all eyes will be focused on race-favourite Jonas Vingegaard; who will step up to challenge the Dane – and where?
Below, Cycling Weekly has gathered all the key information on broadcasters and live streams so you can watch the Giro d’Italia 2026 for free wherever you are.
Quick guide to watching the Giro d’Italia
- UK: TNT Sports / HBO Max (£30.99/mon)
- US: HBO Max ($18.49/mon)
- Canada: Flobikes ($49.99/mon)
- Australia: SBS (Free)
- Free live streams: SBS (Australia), RAI (Italy), RSI (Switzerland)
- Anywhere: Watch your local stream from anywhere with NordVPN
Can I watch the Giro d’Italia for free?
Fans in Australia, Italy and Switzerland can watch the Giro d’Italia for free.
In Australia, the race is being shown on TV and online by SBS, the country’s public service broadcaster. Streaming is available at SBS On Demand, with linear viewing available on SBS Viceland.
In the host country, Italy, you can watch the Giro on public broadcaster RAI, and through RAI Play online.
Once again you can watch the Giro for free in Switzerland via RSI (though commentary will be in Italian) and SRF (with German commentary). Highlights will be available to watch in Belgium on RTL and VRT.
Coverage is geo-restricted, so if you’re not in any of these countries right now, and these channels are your usual port of call, you’ll need a VPN to get your usual coverage while abroad – more on that below.
▶︎ How to watch cycling for free in May 2026
How to watch the Giro d’Italia while abroad
Most streaming platforms have geo-restrictions these days, which means they only work in certain countries. But being locked out of the races is a thing of the past thanks to a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network is a piece of internet security software that can alter your device’s location, so you can unblock your usual streaming services, even when you’re abroad.
How to watch the Giro d’Italia in the UK
In the UK, the race will be shown live across TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Live streaming is available on HBO Max, with linear viewing on TNT Sports. Plans start at £25.99 per month, with rolling subscriptions available at £30.99.
How to watch the Giro d’Italia in the US and Canada
For North American viewers, this year’s coverage of the Giro d’Italia is divided across HBO Max and FloBikes.
HBO Max will broadcast every stage in the US and you will require a Standard subscription which is available from $18.49/month.
FloBikes is in charge of broadcasting the Giro d’Italia in Canada. Subscriptions cost CAN$49.99 a month, with big savings for long-term plans (CAN$215.88 per year).
What to expect at the Giro d’Italia
The Giro d’Italia 2026 is the race’s 109th edition. The first of cycling’s three Grand Tours, the prestigious three-week, 21-stage event is followed by the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Starting on Friday, 8 May 2026, the Corsa Rosa will begin with its Grande Partenza in Bulgaria, where the race will remain for three days before heading into Italy — a first in Grand Tour history. From there, the general classification contenders will battle for the prestigious maglia rosa, or pink jersey, across a route packed with demanding mountain stages.
The 2026 edition will also mark Jonas Vingegaard’s first attempt at the Giro d’Italia. The Visma–Lease a Bike rider heads into the race as the clear favourite, though he is expected to face fierce competition from Giulio Pellizzari, Felix Gall and Thymen Arensman. However, several of the Dane’s strongest rivals have dropped off the start list in recent weeks, including Juan Ayuso and Richard Carapaz.
2026 Giro d’Italia stage start and finish times
|
Stage |
Day |
Start |
Finish |
Distance |
Estimated stage times (CET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
8 May |
Nessebar |
Burgas |
147km |
13:40-17:05 |
|
2 |
9 May |
Burgas |
Veliko Tarnavo |
221km |
12:00-17:02 |
|
3 |
10 May |
Plovdiv |
Sofia |
175km |
13:05-17:02 |
|
Rest Day |
11 May |
Row 3 – Cell 2 | Row 3 – Cell 3 | Row 3 – Cell 4 | Row 3 – Cell 5 |
|
4 |
12 May |
Catanzaro |
Cozenza |
138km |
13:40-17:03 |
|
5 |
13 May |
Praiaa Mare |
Potenza |
203km |
12:15-17:00 |
|
6 |
14 May |
Paestum |
Napoli |
142km |
12:45-17:04 |
|
7 |
15 May |
Formia |
Blockhaus |
244km |
10:50-16:53 |
|
8 |
16 May |
Chieti |
Fermo |
156km |
13:15-17:04 |
|
9 |
17 May |
Cervia |
Corno alle Scale |
184km |
12:35-17:00 |
|
Rest Day |
18 May |
Row 10 – Cell 2 | Row 10 – Cell 3 | Row 10 – Cell 4 | Row 10 – Cell 5 |
|
10 (ITT) |
19 May |
Viareggio |
Massa |
42km |
13:15-17:14 |
|
11 |
20 May |
Porcari |
Chiavari |
195km |
12:35-17:02 |
|
12 |
21 May |
Imperia |
Novi Ligure |
175km |
13:00-17:01 |
|
13 |
22 May |
Alessandria |
Verbania |
189km |
12:40-17:00 |
|
14 |
23 May |
Aosta |
Pila |
133km |
12:55-16:58 |
|
15 |
24 May |
Voghera |
Milano |
157km |
14:00-17:07 |
|
Rest Day |
25 May |
Row 17 – Cell 2 | Row 17 – Cell 3 | Row 17 – Cell 4 | Row 17 – Cell 5 |
|
16 |
26 May |
Bellinzona |
Carì |
113km |
13:45-17:01 |
|
17 |
27 May |
Cassano d’Adda |
Andalo |
202km |
12:10-17:00 |
|
18 |
28 May |
Fai della Paganella |
Pieve di Soligo |
171km |
13:15-17:04 |
|
19 |
29 May |
Feltre |
Alleghe |
151km |
12:30-16:54 |
|
20 |
30 May |
Gemona del Friuli 1979-2026 |
Piancavallo |
200km |
11:00-15:59 |
|
21 |
31 May |
Roma |
Roma |
131km |
15:25-18:36 |
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