Giro d'Italia 2026 stage six preview: A hat-trick for Magnier?

Many will welcome a flat day along the Amalfi coast after two brutal days in southern Italy

Date: Thursday, May 14
Distance: 142km
Start location: Paestum
Finish location: Napoli
Start time: 12:50 BST / 13:50 CEST / 07:50 EDT
Finish time (approx.): 16:15 BST / 17:15 CEST / 11:15 EDT

So far the 2026 Giro d’Italia’s return to Italian soil hasn’t been kind on the sprinters. So after two gruelling days, the fastmen will be rejoicing at the prospect of the flat day that awaits on stage six. With only one climb (the fourth category to Cava de’ Tirreni) on the menu on the road to Naples, surely only a sprinter can win on Thursday?

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage six profile

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage six profile (RCS)

Contenders

Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) has been the sprinter to beat so far, taking victory on stage one and three. Not only has the 22-year-old Frenchman been the fastest finisher in the race, but his Quick-Step squad has put in some vintage Wolfpack performances, suggesting their return as the number one lead-out team in the world.

Read more: Paul Magnier takes first Grant Tour stage victory – and cycling knows it’s just the start

His biggest challenger comes in the form of Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), the sprint favourite before the Giro kicked off on Friday. The Italian’s failure to win a stage is more down to Magnier’s brilliance rather than a criticism of Milan. That said, he did launch his sprint too early on the stage to Sofia, which allowed the younger rider to pass him. If Milan can time his kick correctly, he has shown more than enough power to win in Naples.

Unibet Rose Rockets star rider, Dylan Groenewegen, has already won four times this year and finished third on stage three behind Magnier and Milan.

Another rider who has been close is Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM) who was agonisingly close to victory on stage one. Just behind him that day was Ethan Vernon (NSN), who hopes to achieve the biggest win of his career at this Giro.

Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost) has two top-five finishes so far and unlike the other sprinters is having to do much of his positioning work himself.

Other riders to look out for include Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana Team), Orluis Aular (Movistar), last year’s stage winner Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) and the experienced Pascal Ackermann (Jayco AlUla).