Giro d'Italia 2026 stage five preview: Breakaway beckons in the Basilicata region

The peloton tackles over two-hundred kilometres of rolling hills from Praia a Mare to Potenza, facing the biggest elevation gain yet in this year’s Giro d’Italia

Cover image: Zac Williams / SWpix.com words: Alice Jackson

Date: Wednesday, May 13
Distance: 203km
Start location: Praia a Mare
Finish location: Potenza
Start time: 11:15 BST / 12:15 CEST / 06:15 EDT
Finish time (approx.): 16:15 BST / 17:15 CEST / 11:15 EDT

As if sensing its return to home soil, the Giro d'Italia has resumed at a gallop after the first rest day, and continues with a 203 kilometre slog across the instep of the Italian boot. Over 4000 kilometres of elevation gain makes for a tough day in the saddle, and the early Prestieri climb (13 kilometres at 4.6%) will no doubt see an animated opening phase for what promises to be the first true breakaway stage this year.

After a few lumps in the middle, the climbing continues inside the final 65 kilometres with the Montagna Grande di Viggiano serving up 6.6 kilometres at 9.1% where those eyeing up a stage win will need to stay alert and ready. A descent 23 kilometres from the finish leads into a final harsh ramp in the centre of Polenza – a last minute launchpad for the opportunists.

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage five profile

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage five profile (RCS)

Contenders

After crossing the line in third on stage four to take the overall lead, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl Trek) arrives in the maglia rosa at a stage which suits his climbing capabilities – the Italian already has a Volta a Catalunya mountains jersey to his name this year and won the polka dot jersey at the 2023 Tour de France, so he’ll be expected to hold onto pink.

Twenty-one-year-old Jan Christen set up Jhonatan Narvaez’s stage four win with a late-stage attack in the final two kilometres, and will also be one to watch and could make a move over the lumpy, technical terrain of stage five. The pair’s performances show the depth of UAE-Team Emirates, despite the loss of Adam Yates, Marc Soler and Jay Vine.

Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti VisitMalta) currently holds the maglia azzurra after getting into the front group in all three Bulgarian stages, and will look to hold onto his commanding lead in the KOM competition – if his legs can hold out.

Movistar, who shredded the peloton on the Cozzo Tunno climb on stage four, field Einer Rubio for another shot at a stage win after Orluis Aular failed to convert for his team on Tuesday, while Soudal Quick-step will be looking to Filippo Zanna and Gianmarco Garofoli over the climbs to Prestieri and Montagna Grande di Viggiano.

Movistar set the pace at the front of the peleton on Tuesday

Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany-Ineos) is a versatile rider who can also be dangerous when the road goes up, and his team will be fighting for spoils after Ben Turner’s chances were sacrificed to support struggling team leader Egan Bernal on stage four.

Others to look out for include Alessanfro Pinarello (NSN), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), and Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana), while Wout Poels (Unibet Rose Rockets), Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Chris Harper (Jayco-AlUla) could also go in the day’s breakaway.