This morning, at the Municipality of Ferrara, the Giro dell'Emilia Granarolo and the Giro dell'Emilia BCC Felsinea – Women Elite were presented, scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026. The event organized by Emilia Sports Group will once again offer a day entirely dedicated to major international cycling, with the best teams and some of the most important riders in the world competing in the two races.

The major novelty of the 2026 edition will be represented by the start from Ferrara. The picturesque Castello Estense will serve as the backdrop for the initial phases of both competitions, before the long journey through Emilian territory that will lead men and women towards Bologna and one of the most iconic finishes in international cycling: Colle di San Luca.

The races are organized with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipalities of Ferrara and Bologna, confirming the strong bond between the Giro dell'Emilia and a territory that has always embraced cycling with great passion and participation.

Founded in 1909, the Giro dell'Emilia represents one of the oldest and most prestigious classics on the Italian and international calendar. Over more than a century, its roll of honor has welcomed some of the greatest champions in cycling history. Since 2009, the women's race has accompanied the men's event with the Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne Elite, now Giro dell'Emilia BCC Felsinea – Women Elite, which over the years has assumed an increasingly important role in the international women's calendar.

During the presentation, the strong bond that has been created between Emilia Sports Group and the city of Ferrara was emphasized repeatedly, a collaboration that, following the experience of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, is further strengthened with the start of the Giro dell'Emilia.

Francesco Carità, Sports Assessor of the Municipality of Ferrara, highlighted the great synergy established with Emilia Sports Group: "After the Coppi e Bartali experience, we immediately understood that together we could accomplish much. Hosting the start of the Giro dell'Emilia represents an important appointment for Ferrara and fits perfectly into the path that will lead us to 2027, when our city will be European Capital of Sport".

The importance of the event for the city was also emphasized by Rosanna Gamerra, Deputy Prefect of Ferrara, highlighting how events of this caliber confirm the role of sport, and particularly cycling, in the life of the territory. Ferrara is a vibrant city capable of using major events as an important tool for tourism attraction and promotion.

For Adriano Amici, President of Emilia Sports Group, the 2026 edition will have a particular significance: "This will be the fortieth edition of the Giro dell'Emilia organized by Emilia Sports Group. With the Ferrara Administration, following the positive experience of Coppi e Bartali, a complete understanding has been created and we are particularly pleased to bring here for the first time the start of one of our most important events".

In a video link, Roberta Frisoni, Assessor for Tourism, Commerce and Sport of the Emilia-Romagna Region, spoke, recalling how the Giro dell'Emilia is now an established appointment and how the Region's support for the event confirms its attention towards cycling: a sport capable not only of telling great sporting achievements, but also of showcasing and enhancing the territories it passes through.

The presentation also featured Tommaso Simili, Corporate Communications, External Relations and Sustainability at Granarolo, and Andrea Rizzoli, President of BCC Felsinea, representing two organizations that have long supported the Giro dell'Emilia Granarolo and the Giro dell'Emilia BCC Felsinea – Women Elite respectively.

ROUTE. After the start from Castello Estense, the peloton will tackle two complete laps of an 11.3-kilometer city circuit in the center of Ferrara. After 23.9 kilometers, the race will leave the city heading south along the historic Porrettana state road. The first section will be predominantly flat and will lead the peloton through the Emilian plain, passing near Bentivoglio Castle and, after 68.5 kilometers, alongside Granarolo's production facility, the historic partner of the event.

As it approaches the Bologna hills, the route will progressively change character. The climb towards Loiano, the highest point of the race, will represent the first major test of the day.

However, one of the most interesting novelties will arrive at Pianoro with the grueling Via Belvedere: 1.5 kilometers with an average gradient of 11%, and peaks exceeding 15% in the first 300 meters. From here will begin the approach to Bologna and the traditional finale.

After passing Rastignano, Porta Santo Stefano, the ring roads and Porta Saragozza, the peloton will reach the Arco del Meloncello to tackle the final 39 kilometers.

Awaiting the riders will be an initial climb to San Luca and subsequently four complete laps of the traditional 9.2-kilometer circuit. In total, there will be five ascents of Colle di San Luca, with gradients reaching 20% at the famous Curva delle Orfanelle.

Right in front of the Basilica of San Luca, in recent years, champions such as Primož Roglič, Enric Mas, Tadej Pogačar and Isaac Del Toro, winner of the 2025 edition, have written their names in the roll of honor.

WOMEN. The women's race will also start in front of Castello Estense, with one complete lap of the 11.3-kilometer city circuit before leaving Ferrara and heading towards the Bologna province. After Minerbio, the athletes will pass through Bagnarola, known for its complex of historic villas and for this reason nicknamed the "Versailles of Bologna", before continuing through the plain.

After Castenaso and San Lazzaro di Savena, the route will enter the Val di Zena and will begin to progressively climb. At kilometer 79.7, in the locality of Botteghino di Zocca, the only climb valid for the Mountain Prize classification will begin. A stretch already known to major international cycling, also featured in the 2024 Tour de France.

After the descent, the race will quickly head towards Bologna and its grand finale. At the Arco del Meloncello, the final 11.4 kilometers will begin, with an initial climb to San Luca and the subsequent complete lap of the 9.2-kilometer circuit. There will therefore be two ascents of Colle di San Luca, with the Curva delle Orfanelle and its gradients up to 20% destined once again to be the theater of decisive selection.

A finish line that in recent years has rewarded some of the greatest protagonists of international cycling, including Mavi García, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Elisa Longo Borghini, four-time winner of the Giro dell'Emilia, and Kim Le Court, first in 2025.

REGISTERED TEAMS

GIRO DELL'EMILIA GRANAROLO

Alpecin-Premier Tech

Bahrain Victorious

Bardiani CSF 7 Saber

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA

Decathlon CMA CGM Team

EF Education-EasyPost

General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia

Groupama-FDJ United

Lidl-Trek

Lotto Intermarché

MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort

Movistar Team

Netcompany INEOS

NSN Cycling Team

Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

Solution Tech Nippo Rali

Soudal Quick-Step

Team Jayco AlUla

Team Polti VisitMalta

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

Tudor Pro Cycling Team

UAE Team Emirates XRG

Uno-X Mobility

XDS Astana Team

GIRO DELL'EMILIA BCC FELSINEA – WOMEN ELITE

AG Insurance-Soudal Team

Aromitalia Vaiano

Cofidis Women Team

Dukla Women Cycling

EF Education-Oatly

FDJ United-Suez

Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria

Lidl-Trek

Liv-AlUla-Jayco

Movistar Team

Rembe | Rad-Net Women

Team Abadie Magnan

Team Amani

Team Mendelspeck E-Work

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

Tirol Women Cycling

Top Girls Fassa Bortolo

Ukraine

Uno-X Mobility

Vini Fantini-Bepink

VolkerWessels Cycling Team

WCC Team