Tour of the Alps
The 49th Tour of the Alps covers 760km across five days of mountainous racing in Austria and Italy, with 14,620m of total elevation gain. The 2026 route runs Monday April 20 to Friday April 24, traditionally serving as a final Giro d'Italia tune-up for GC contenders. The race features only one true mountain finish (Val Martello on Stage 2) but includes three stages that finish on descents, rewarding well-rounded riders who can descend as well as climb. A new 'Bonus Sprint' rule adds 6/4/2 seconds intermediate bonuses, often on climbs, directly impacting the GC battle. The race starts in Innsbruck, Austria, and concludes in Bolzano, Italy - uniting the Tirol and Südtirol/Alto Adige regions across the Alpine border.
Where to watch
⚠️ Spoiler warning: live streams and broadcaster home pages may show current standings. Disable autoplay & avoid sidebar recommendations on YouTube.
The route, day by day
Who to watch & what to watch for
Top Starters
Startlist TBD.
Jerseys
Fight for the overall
Narratives to watch
- Final Giro d'Italia form barometer — historically previews the Giro pink jersey contenders
- Arensman vs Bernal at INEOS — co-leadership tension as both target Giro GC
- Storer (Tudor) defending against the WorldTour heavyweights — underdog narrative
- Compact 5-stage format with daily climbing means GC gaps appear immediately — no waiting for the third week
Form book & lore
The Tour of the Alps was previously known as the Giro del Trentino until 2016. First raced in 1963, it has become a staple of the spring calendar and the traditional final Giro d'Italia warm-up for GC contenders. Past winners include Giro champions and future Grand Tour contenders - the race has a strong track record of identifying the year's Giro favourites. Memorable editions include Geraint Thomas's 2017 victory (just days before Michele Scarponi's tragic death) and Romain Bardet's 2022 win. Organizers are based in Arco, the Garda Trentino town that hosts a stage finish each year.
When to tune in
The Tour of the Alps is one of the best-kept secrets of the spring calendar - compact, scenic, and highly competitive. Tune in for the full Stage 2 to Val Martello (only mountain finish) and Stage 4 Queen Stage. Stages 1, 3, and 5 reward attacking riders with descent finishes. Spoiler caution: as a pro race, post-stage highlights and sidebar content frequently reveal winners.
What we know & don't know
- Broadcast No public broadcast coverage confirmed for this race. The race-data.json entries are placeholders flagged "Not available" — see broadcaster notes for organizer social-channel pointers.