The 61st edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico will take place from March 9th to March 15th, 2026. The ‘Race of Two Seas’ will traverse five Italian regions with a varied route offering opportunities for all types of riders, from the individual time trial in Lido di Camaiore, which traditionally opens the battle for the Azzurra jersey, to the final stage in San Benedetto del Tronto, where the Neptune Trident will be raised in victory.
Departing from the high-altitude finishes that have characterized recent editions, the 2026 course remains challenging, featuring a gravel sector closing out the stage in San Gimignano and numerous short, steep climbs in the stages of Marche, likely playing a decisive role in the overall classification. The total elevation gain increases to 15,550 meters, up from 14,400 meters in the 2025 edition.
THE 2026 STAGES
Stage 1: Monday, March 9th. Lido di Camaiore (12:40)-Lido di Camaiore (15:44), 11.5 km ITT
Perfil de la 1ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A perfectly flat individual time trial, composed of two almost entirely straight sectors going and returning along the promenades of Camaiore and Viareggio. The route presents only a few connecting curves and a turning point. There is a change of direction at km 5.4 in Viareggio, where the intermediate time check is located. Riders return on a straight road to Lido di Camaiore, where an S-bend leads to the last kilometer.
Stage 2: Tuesday, March 10th. Camaiore (10:55)-San Gimignano (15:45), 206 km
Perfil de la 2ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A hilly and demanding stage, especially in the second half. Starting from Camaiore, the route passes through Montemagno before reaching Pisa and then the Province of Livorno area. The race leaves the coast near Cecina and heads inland towards Pomarance. The climb up the Cerreto road features several slopes of over ten percent. The race continues with the ascent to Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, followed by a succession of rolling roads leading to a 5.3 km gravel sector just outside San Gimignano. The gravel section is mainly uphill, with some extremely steep ramps. The finish line is in the town center, with a short final ramp of 7% as riders enter San Gimignano.
Stage 3: Wednesday, March 11th. Cortona (10:40)-Magliano dé Marsi (15:45), 225 km
Perfil de la 3ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A very long stage with gently rolling terrain. The route unfolds through a series of gentle undulations, including sections near Todi and the Marmore area. The finale is fast, but gradually uphill over the last 15 km, reaching the final straight with an average gradient of around 3%.
Stage 4: Thursday, March 12th. Tagliacozzo (10:25)-Martinsicuro (15:45), 210 km
Perfil de la 4ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
The stage opens with two classic Apennine climbs: Ovindoli and the Valico delle Capannelle. A long descent then leads to Teramo. The final part of the stage is characterized by a sequence of steep climbs and short, punchy ramps. Riders tackle Castellalto, with long sections of around 12%, followed by Mosciano Sant’Angelo. At 12 km from the finish is the climb to Tortoreto by Badetta, reaching gradients of up to 20% in its final section. A brief descent precedes approximately 8 km along the promenade to the finish line.
Stage 5: Friday, March 13th. Marotta-Mondolfo (10:55)-Mombaroccio (15:45), 186 km
Perfil de la 5ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A very undulating stage, dotted with numerous climbs of varying difficulty: at least ten in total, some classified as mountain passes. From Marotta, the route passes through Mondolfo and then tackles a series of climbs in the Metauro river area, including Villa del Monte and Monterolo, before ascending to Monte delle Cesane, whose first kilometers reach gradients of around 15%. After passing through Saltara and Cartoceto, the race reaches Mombaroccio and enters a final 21.6 km circuit, which will be completed twice. The circuit features several undulating sections and the extremely demanding climb to the Santuario del Beato Sante. The summit finish is 1.5 km from the finish line, followed by a final climb of 300 m to the finish.
Stage 6: Saturday, March 14th. San Severino Marche (10:45)-Camerino (15:45), 189 km
Perfil de la 6ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A very demanding, constantly rolling stage with numerous climbs, including the ascent of Sassotetto (Valico di Santa Maria Maddalena) approximately halfway through the race. The race reaches Camerino ascending from the eastern side of the town to access a final 18.6 km circuit, which will be completed twice. The circuit is extremely demanding, starting with a long descent that turns into a gradual climb near Castelraimondo, culminating in the last 3 km on the Muro della Madonna delle Carceri, with gradients of up to 18%. The finish line is at the top of the second ascent.
Stage 7: Sunday, March 15th. Civitanova Marche (12:30)-San Benedetto del Tronto (15:45), 143 km
Perfil de la 7ª etapa © Tirreno-Adriático
A stage with limited difficulty in the opening part and completely flat over the final 80 km. The start runs along the Adriatic coast before entering the Aso valley in Pedaso, climbing to Montefiore dell’Aso. After a brief descent, riders tackle the gentle climb to Ripatransone. A long descent leads to Grottammare, where the race enters a final 15 km circuit that will be completed five times. The circuit runs mainly on wide, straight and fully paved roads.
