Giro d'Italia 2026 team-by-team guide – Leaders, objectives and riders to watch for every squad on the start list

CyclingNews has published its comprehensive team-by-team guide for the upcoming 2026 Giro d'Italia, offering an in-depth look at all 23 squads set to tackle the Bulgarian parcours this May. The guide details each team's designated leaders, strategic objectives, and key riders to watch, providing fans with crucial insights ahead of the Grand Tour's unique starting location.

This annual pre-Giro ritual from CyclingNews serves as an indispensable resource, particularly given the unusual decision to host the *Grande Partenza* in Bulgaria. While such guides are standard, the 2026 edition carries added weight as teams navigate unfamiliar terrain and logistical challenges. It’s a vital primer for understanding how established GC contenders and opportunistic stage hunters alike plan to approach a race that promises both spectacle and potential chaos, setting the stage for the first Grand Tour of the season.

One can only hope the teams have studied this guide as diligently as the fans, especially considering the inevitable "unforeseen circumstances" that always accompany a Giro venturing into new territory.