Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 route - Stage-by-stage guide

As usual, the race kicks off in Lido di Camaiore, and for the sixth consecutive edition, the opening stage takes shape in the form of an individual time trial.

The 11.5km route is essentially an out-and-back effort along the same carriageway, and thus suits the specialists as there are few technical sections to disrupt the riders from getting the watts out and being aero.

The first 5km are dead straight before a U-turn at Marina di Pietrasanta, marking the intermediate time check, and where the riders will head back in the opposite direction. 

Shortly before the flamme rouge with 1.2km remaining, the riders will tackle a right-left S-bend on a narrowed road, which the race organisers describe as the only technical feature on the course. The final kilometre is once again straightforward as the riders will see the finish line from a distance and have the opportunity to empty the tank before they cross the line.

After a dominant victory in 2025, Italian champion Filippo Ganna will be the rider to beat.

The second stage begins with some early climbing action in Camaiore before over 100km of transitional flat roads. The road continues to rise towards the intermediate sprint in Pomarance, before a categorised ascent to Castelnuovo Val di Cecina. 

From here, there are still well over 50km until the finish, and the majority of the stage is on rolling terrain, until a significant key feature inside the final 10km. 

The finale features gravel roads and an uphill finish to San Gimignano. The final 5km takes place on gravel as the road rises to the finish with gradients peaking at 14% under the flamme rouge, making this a prime opportunity for the puncheurs to shine, but also an opportunity where differences can be made in the GC.

Stage 3 is the longest of the race at 221km in length from Cortana to Magliano de’Marsi and is one that the sprinters will have pencilled, but it won’t be straightforward. 

The distance of the stage will take its toll on plenty, but also the fact that the stage is deceptively undulating, particularly in the final 50km. 

The closing kilometres in the run-in are flat and mainly straight, but once the route reaches Magliano de’ Marsi, the road rises to a gradient of around 2% to the finish line, but this shouldn't impact the sprinters any more than the distance of the stage would.

This is the third consecutive stage that is over the 200km distance mark, and features 2,500 metres of altitude gain.

The stage starts at a relatively high altitude in Tagliacozzo, the town where Juan Ayuso won a mountain-top sprint on stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia last year. 

There is a lot of climbing in the first half of the stage, with two Apennine climbs to Ovindoli and Valico delle Capannelle. Following the two ascents, the peloton will descend its way towards Teramo, where the punchier part of the stage awaits.

A series of what the race organisers describe as short, sharp “walls”, including Castellalto, Mosciano Sant'Angelo and Badetta, could see plenty of action. The final ascent to Badetta sees gradients reach 20% towards the summit, which comes 8km from the finish. 

From here, a descent follows towards the finish along the seafront in Martinsicuro, with the final kilometre flat and straightforward.

This is the first of back-to-back stages to receive a four-star difficulty rating from the race organisers, indicating that the focus will be firmly on the GC. In total, this 184km stage packs in a whopping 3,900 metres of altitude gain from Marotta-Mondolfo to Mombaroccio.

When the route reaches Mombaroccio for the first time, two laps of a 21.6km finishing circuit await. The circuit traverses rolling terrain with a standout feature being the ascent to the Santuario del Beato Sante.

The final summit of the second ascent of the climb to the Santuario comes just 1.6km from the finish line, and with a downhill run-in awaiting, whoever crests the summit in first could go on to win the stage, as long as they don't make a mistake on the short descent.

The final 500 metres to the finish line ramp up to 7%, which will burn the legs after an all-out effort on the previous climb, but it is set to be the sight of a glorious victory in Mombaroccio after a brutal day of action.

Just like its predecessor, stage 6 manages to pack in 3,900 metres of altitude gain across 188km from San Severino Marche to Camerino. This is the final chance for those in contention for the general classification victory to make a difference ahead of the final sprint stage.

Beginning in San Severino Marche, the first significant landmark on the route is the long-winding ascent of Sassotetto. Given that the climb sits well over 100km from the finish, it's unlikely that the race will be decided here, but it can certainly be lost if the legs aren't cooperating.

The stage and possibly the GC will more likely be decided once the riders reach Camerino for the first time, where two laps of a 29.1km circuit await. where the Madonna delle Carceri wall, which has gradients of up to 18%, will be tackled twice.

If two ascents on the climb haven't caused enough damage, the race organisers have designed the route to ensure that the stage can finish atop the wall. The final 350 metres see the road surface turn to paved stone until the finish line, with the gradients easing slightly in the closing metres.

It's a stage that is ultimately designed to see the strongest rider prevail and ensure a worthy winner of the 61st Race of the Two Seas. 

Keeping with current tradition, the final stage is set for a sprinters' showdown in San Benedetto del Tronto along the coast.

This 142km stage beginning in Civitanova Marche will be all about the sprinters preparing for a frantic finale, the GC contenders focusing on keeping out of danger, and perhaps some bold riders who are daring to roll the dice with an attack. 

The final 80km are flat, covering five laps of a 15km finishing circuit around San Benedetto del Tronto, so the riders will be well aware of what to expect come the final kilometres.

The final 3km of the circuit take place mostly on flat roads, but do feature some sweeping bends, before a double bend near the flamme rouge.