Italy lead the way as 31 nations line up for 2026 Giro d'Italia
The Giro d’Italia may begin far from home this year, but the peloton that rolls out of Nessebar on 8 May will still have a familiar complexion. Italy once again provides the largest national contingent for the Corsa Rosa, with 41 riders on the start list for the 109th edition.
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That figure is down by seven compared to 2025, but it remains comfortably the biggest presence in the race. The home nation’s numbers are bolstered by the inclusion of Italian-licensed wildcard teams Bardiani CSF 7 Saber and Polti VisitMalta.
Behind Italy, the Netherlands have the second-largest representation with 17 riders, the same number as last year. Belgium complete the top three with 16, an increase of three on 2025.
Australia lead the way outside Europe with 12 riders, while Norway are the standout risers in this year’s field. Their presence has almost tripled from four riders in 2025 to 11 in 2026, a surge driven largely by Uno-X Mobility’s first appearance at the Giro as a WorldTour team.
Spain and Great Britain both start with 10 riders, while France drop to nine, four fewer than last year. Germany and Denmark each have eight riders, with Switzerland up sharply to five thanks in part to Tudor Pro Cycling Team’s strong Swiss core.
Giro competitors per country
| Country | Number of riders |
|---|---|
Italy | 41 |
Netherlands | 17 |
Belgium | 16 |
Australia | 12 |
Norway | 11 |
Spain | 10 |
United Kingdom | 10 |
France | 9 |
Germany | 8 |
Denmark | 8 |
Switzerland | 5 |
United States | 4 |
Colombia | 3 |
Austria | 3 |
Ecuador | 3 |
Portugal | 3 |
New Zealand | 3 |
Czech Republic | 3 |
Canada | 2 |
Ireland | 2 |
Uzbekistan | 1 |
Croatia | 1 |
Venezuela | 1 |
Malta | 1 |
Uruguay | 1 |
Slovakia | 1 |
Eritrea | 1 |
South Africa | 1 |
Russia | 1 |
Estonia | 1 |
Chile | 1 |
In total, 31 nations will be represented in the 184-rider peloton. Eleven of those countries have just a single rider on the start line, with Estonia, Chile, Uzbekistan, Malta, Uruguay, Slovakia, Eritrea and Russia all returning after being absent from the 2025 edition.
The race begins on Friday with a flat opening stage from Nessebar to Burgas, where the sprinters are expected to fight for the first maglia rosa of the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
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