Explainer: What is the Red Bull KM in the Giro d'Italia?
The Red Bull KM will return for the 2026 Giro d’Italia after making its debut last year as the race organisers aim to increase the number of explosive stage finishes and make the GC battle more dynamic. Here's a look at what the Red Bull KM is and how it can impact the race.
First introduced to the Giro d’Italia in 2025, the Red Bull KM serves as the only intermediate point where those battling for the GC can pick up bonus seconds on a stage, alongside the stage finish.
The first three riders who cross the Red Bull KM first collect six, four, and two bonus seconds respectively to reduce their GC time, an attempt by the Giro race organisers to enhance dynamic racing.
All 20 road stages in the upcoming Giro, with the exception of the individual time trial on stage 10, will feature a Red Bull KM.
Compared to last year, the race organisers have highlighted that the Red Bull KMs have been placed strategically closer to the finish line in each stage, in an attempt to increase their significance.
What is the Red Bull KM?
The Red Bull KM, first introduced in 2025, serves as the only intermediate point on a Giro d'Italia stage, alongside the stage finish, where the riders can pick up bonus seconds towards the general classification. The first three riders to cross the Red Bull KM score six, four and two bonus seconds respectively. All 20 road stages of the 2026 Giro d'Italia will feature a Red Bull KM.
For example, stage 15 to Milan is the only stage when the Red Bull KM comes further than 40km from the finish, with 42.2km to go on that occasion.
The majority of the Red Bull KMs come inside the final 20km of stages, with stage 9’s Red Bull KM just 11.4km from the finish line in Corno alle Scale.
In 2025, Isaac del Toro, who led the race on the penultimate stage, before slipping to 2nd behind Simon Yates, picked up 14 seconds across the Red Bull KM’s, illustrating that there is an opportunity to make a difference in the GC via gaining them.
The 2026 Giro begins on May 8 with a debutant nation hosting the Grande Partenza in the shape of Bulgaria. The first three stages on Bulgarian soil will see the Red Bull KM placed with 32.3km, 15.5km, and 13km from the finish line, respectively.
Jonas Vingegaard, who is set to make his Giro debut, headlines the provisional start list as the Dane attempts the Giro-Tour double, a feat achieved only by eight different male riders, and most recently by Tadej Pogačar in 2024.
| Stage | Date | Red Bull KM distance from finish (km) |
|---|---|---|
Stage 1: Nessebar – Burgas | May 8 | 32.3 |
Stage 2: Burgas – Veliko Tarnovo | May 9 | 15.5 |
Stage 3: Plovdiv – Sofia | May 10 | 13.0 |
Stage 4: Catanzaro – Cosenza | May 12 | 11.6 |
Stage 5: Praia a Mare – Potenza | May 13 | 28.8 |
Stage 6: Paestum – Napoli | May 14 | 23.7 |
Stage 7: Formia – Blockhaus | May 15 | 11.9 |
Stage 8: Chieti – Fermo | May 16 | 25.3 |
Stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale | May 17 | 11.4 |
Stage 11: Porcari (Paper District) – Chiavari | May 20 | 12.6 |
Stage 12: Imperia – Novi Ligure | May 21 | 13.4 |
Stage 13: Alessandria – Verbania | May 22 | 16.7 |
Stage 14: Aosta – Pila | May 23 | 17.0 |
Stage 15: Voghera – Milano | May 24 | 42.2 |
Stage 16: Bellinzona – Carì | May 26 | 12.4 |
Stage 17: Cassano d’Adda – Andalo | May 27 | 15.4 |
Stage 18: Fai della Paganella – Pieve di Soligo | May 28 | 16.7 |
Stage 19: Feltre – Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) | May 29 | 32.4 |
Stage 20: Gemona del Friuli 1976-2026 – Piancavallo | May 30 | 23.7 |
Stage 21: Roma – Roma | May 31 | 19.8 |
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