2026 Giro dell'Emilia preview: Is Pidcock the man to beat as McNulty debuts rainbow?

The Giro dell'Emilia has always attracted the biggest names in the cycling world, and with multiple ascents of the San Luca climb near Bologna, it's a paradise for attacking racing.

The recent roll of honour has seen young superstar Isaac del Toro pipping Tom Pidcock in 2025, a Tadej Pogačar exhibition in 2024, and Primož Roglič inflicting 'Roglifcation' on Pogačar in 2023. Enric Mas took his only one-day victory in his career in 2022, with Roglič and Aleksandr Vlasov the other victors in the 2020s.

This year's edition marks a special occasion for the newly crowned world champion Brandon McNulty, who will feature in his first outing with UAE Team Emirates-XRG in the rainbow jersey.

• 📅 Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
• 📍 Route: Ferrara - San Luca, Bologna
• 📏 Distance: 197.9km / 122.9 miles
• ⛰️ Elevation Gain: 2,339m / 7,674ft
• ⏱️ Start Time: 10:50 CET
• 🏁 Expected Finish: 15:10 CET

The 2026 route of the 109th edition of the Giro dell'Emilia sees the peloton cover 197.9km from Ferrara to Bologna. 

The first ascent comes after 111.5km, when the peloton tackles the Loiano, which is 6.6km and has an average gradient of 5.7%. It's a gentle introduction to what's to come.

The next climb up is the Pianoro va Belvedere, which is a short 1.8km at 9.2%. But then the fun really begins, with five ascents of the San Luca climb to come. The first ascent is crested with 37.5km to go, before the race tackles the first of four ascents of the 1.1km climb of Monte Albano. 

The San Luca is a real brute of a climb. Although just under 2km in length, it has cruel gradients. Pacing is important on the climb too, with the opening 500 metres in double digits, before dipping down to 7%. But the most wicked gradients appear soon afterwards, with ramps at 15% after 900m in a series of tight hairpins that are always packed with screaming tifosi.

The gradient reaches a maximum of 20% before the climb tails off, with one last kick located in the closing metres. It almost inevitably gives rise to a slugging match in the finale.

Based on his attacking display in Montreal last Sunday, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5) stands out as one of the main challengers. This is supported by the fact that the Briton has finished runner-up in the previous two editions of the Giro dell'Emilia. 

His performance in the Worlds was full of vigour and relentlessness, with Pidcock attacking several times in the race in a bid to win the rainbow bands, to no avail. 

If he does climb as he did in that race, then Pidcock will be a difficult rider to beat, with the San Luca climb suiting the Briton to a tee.

Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) makes his debut in the rainbow jersey and his race debut at the Giro dell'Emilia. 

On a high from becoming world champion, McNulty should have plenty of momentum to carry into this race, and his climbing prowess and ability to read race situations could be key.

McNulty is joined by both Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narvaez, but if the race becomes selective among the strongest climbers, then it could prove too challenging for either pair to compete for victory.

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) played a key role in McNulty’s Worlds triumph and features alongside Davide Piganzoli, who recently won the Tour de Luxembourg, Jørgen Nordhagen and Ben Tulett. Jorgenson finished eighth in Montréal, while Piganzoli was 20th.

Meanwhile, Thymen Arensman and Oscar Onley are set to line up for Netcompany-Ineos. Arensman hasn't raced since abandoning the GP Montréal, while Onley was combative at the Worlds, ultimately finishing 17th. 

Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) is also a threat on the San Luca climb. He finished third last year behind Isaac del Toro and Pidcock.

Mikel Landa is on his Soudal Quick-Step fair well tour, and it will be intriguing to see whether he can embed himself in the top ten; his best result in this race was 13th in 2025.