The final stage of Il Giro d’Abruzzo 2026 promises action all the way. With the gaps in the general classification likely to remain relatively small, the Silvi–Controguerra route will offer plenty of opportunities to attack, shake up the standings and turn the race on its head.
Silvi was visited by the Giro d’Italia several decades ago: in both 1969 and 1978, the Abruzzo town hosted a stage finish, won respectively by Ugo Colombo and Rik Van Linden, as well as the start of the following day’s stage. The town has two distinct sides within just a few kilometres: the historic village of Silvi Paese, perched on the hillside, and Silvi Marina, stretching for almost seven kilometres along the Adriatic coast. From the panoramic “Loggia”, the view sweeps across the Adriatic, the surrounding hills and the mountains beyond, while the historic centre retains a maze of narrow streets, arches and courtyards that recall its ancient defensive role.
The connection between the two parts of the town is also reflected in an interesting piece of local history: the quite steep Sentiero dello Splendore was once used by fishermen as a shortcut from the hilltop village down to the beach. Before the advent of motorised boats, the coastline was dotted with paranze, traditional fishing vessels instantly recognisable by their large, colourful sails. Today, part of Silvi’s coastline lies within the Torre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area, established to safeguard its sandy seabeds, coastal dunes and wildlife, including the Kentish plover.
After the start, the race heads inland, over a succession of rolling roads towards the Sanctuary of San Gabriele at Isola del Gran Sasso. The route then turns north to tackle the climbs of Torricella Sicura and Campli before entering a 29.9 km circuit featuring the back-to-back ascents of Colonnella and Controguerra, both to be tackled twice in the final 40 km. The Colonnella climb is particularly demanding, with several sections reaching double-digit gradients, while the final ascent to Controguerra averages 5%.
Controguerra lies among the rolling hills of the Val Vibrata, in a landscape shaped by vineyards, olive groves and farmland, between the Adriatic and the Monti della Laga. Winemaking is so deeply rooted in the area that it has given its name to the Controguerra DOC, an appellation covering five municipalities in the northern part of the province of Teramo. Seen from above, the historic village has a distinctive teardrop shape, with its medieval tower marking the tip. The area’s rural heritage also lives on in the pinciaie, traditional houses built from a mixture of earth and straw. Some rose to as many as three storeys and required the expertise of the pəngiralə, skilled craftsmen who continued to build them until the mid-20th century.
