There will be no time to ease into Il Giro d’Abruzzo 2026, with a tough stage right from the start. The 155 km from Cupello to Casalincontrada make up one of the hardest stages of the race, meaning everyone will need to be on high alert from the outset. Whoever pulls on the first Maglia BiancoVerdeBlu is also likely to be in contention for overall victory.
The Route
From Cupello, the race heads towards the coast and the Sangro Valley, with a relentless succession of climbs and descents through Bomba and Villa Santa Maria before tackling Montelapiano (8.8 km at 6.2%) and, after Civitaluparella, Colle dei Ferrari (9.6 km at 4.4%). The descent from the latter leads into the final 35 km of the stage.
After Guardiagrele, the finale promises plenty of action, with a 2.4 km climb averaging 7.7% up to Casalincontrada. This is where the decisive moves could be made, with several sections exceeding 10%.
