Giro-E Enel: presented the 8th edition

From Calabria to the Alps, all the way to the final parade in Rome. 18 stages, 1,091 kilometres and over 20,000 metres of elevation gain – an exclusive experience on pedal-assist bikes, from 12 to 31 May on the roads of the Giro d’Italia. On 9 May, the Green Fun Village will open in Catanzaro Lido, with games, educational activities and entertainment focused on the future of green mobility. The route was unveiled today in Milan at the Enel store in via Dante.

Enel will once again stand alongside RCS Sports & Events as Title Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year, promoting the values of sport and sustainable mobility, perfectly embodied by an event that is both an exclusive e-bike experience and the only Grand Tour in the world raced on pedal-assist road bikes, as well as a true ambassador of the green economy.

The 2026 route and the Enel Blue jersey for the overall leader were unveiled today in Milan at the Enel store in via Dante, in the presence of Marco Sanza (Head of Enel Commercial Italy), Paolo Bellino (CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events) and Roberto Salvador (Giro-E Director).

Officially launching the Giro-E Enel 2026 were two team captains, Damiano Cunego (Continental) and Justine Mattera (Enel), who also tested the special 2026 “Corrente Corallo” edition by Lombardo Bikes, the Official E-Bike Manufacturer of the Giro-E.

What’s new in 2026

An even more memorable experience, that’s the goal of Giro-E Enel 2026, with several rule changes designed to further enhance the participant experience.

At the end of each stage, the traditional captains’ sprint will be replaced by a team-by-team parade under the finish arch, allowing for a fully shared moment and the chance for a truly unforgettable photo.

After the finish, each day a captain and a guest will be interviewed by the Giro d’Italia speakers under the finish line, sharing their experience with the crowd waiting for the arrival of the professional race. The number of participants also increases: for the first time, official teams – which can field up to five riders in addition to the captain – will have two “wild cards” to use during the event, reserved for new participants who have not taken part in previous stages or editions, either as riders or captains.

The traditional special challenges remain unchanged, adding excitement to each stage: the Sustainable Kilometre, the Time Trial and the Blind Time Trial.

The route

The route will once again offer a journey through Italy’s beauty on e-bikes, following the roads and calendar of the Giro d’Italia, but it will be far from a ride in the park. The 2026 edition features 1,091 km in total, averaging 60 km per stage, with over 20,450 metres of elevation gain.

The first and third weeks will be particularly demanding, each exceeding 7,000 metres of climbing, with major mountain stages such as Roccaraso–Blockhaus, Sasso Marconi–Corno alle Scale, Agordo–Alleghe and San Daniele del Friuli–Piancavallo. Stage 16 will be the toughest, with 2,700 metres of elevation gain in just 66 km.

The longest stages (all over 80 km) include Pompei–Napoli (81.4 km), La Spezia–Chiavari (87.4 km) and Savona–Novi Ligure (91.6 km), while the shortest will be Forte dei Marmi–Massa at 29.6 km.

Key finish locations include Cosenza, Potenza, Napoli, Milano and Rome, where the event will conclude with its traditional final parade.

Discover the route, click here.

The Green Fun Village by Continental

The Green Fun Village by Continental will once again accompany the event, offering entertainment and raising awareness around sustainable mobility and the energy transition in every start city.
The Green Fun Village will be inaugurated on Saturday, 9 May in Catanzaro Lido with a big Opening Party, headlined by DJ Federico Scavo. The following day, Sunday 10 May, the Green Fun Village will host the Giro-E Enel Teams Presentation with all the captains.

Quotes

Paolo Bellino, CEO at RCS Sports & Events: “The Giro-E Enel is an event that expresses great joy, and it has grown exponentially over the years thanks to a fantastic team. It was created with the aim of giving clients the opportunity to experience the Giro d’Italia. We started with just four people and a borrowed van; today it is a major event, with important partners and a unique stage in the world: that of the Corsa Rosa. It is an integral part of the Giro, because it offers a unique opportunity to enjoy its atmosphere together with friendly people who are there to have fun—not to compete, but to live an experience on an assisted road bike, an outstanding touring vehicle that allows riders to cover many more kilometers while taking in the surrounding landscape. It is an important project not only for sponsors but also for local communities: host cities are developing increasingly engaging formats for the public. The partnership with Enel is fantastic and has been there from the very beginning: it is an exceptional partner for us and for an event whose success is proven by the fact that everyone who comes to the Giro-E wants to come back”.
Roberto Salvador, Giro-E Enel Director: “Over the years, awareness and sensitivity among host cities towards the Giro-E have continued to grow. This is reflected in the increased number of lead-up activities in the stage cities this year, with many local initiatives. The Green Fun Villages will therefore be bigger, more vibrant, and increasingly strategic for the Giro-E”.