For the 2026 edition of Tirreno Adriatico, the organisers have opted for a route that is somewhat different from the norm. The menu does not include a true summit finish -traditionally the decisive moment of the Race of the Two Seas – but instead features a succession of stages designed for ambushes and aggressive racing. As a result, the overall classification is likely to remain wide open from the first day to the last, forcing all GC contenders to stay alert at all times.
There are, however, two undeniable certainties: the start in Versilia, from Lido di Camaiore, and the finish on the Adriatic coast, on the Riviera delle Palme in San Benedetto del Tronto, after seven days of true coast-to-coast racing. For the 12th consecutive year, the race will get underway in Lido di Camaiore, once again with an individual time trial, 11.5 km along the seafront, featuring a turnaround point and an intermediate time check in Fiumetto after 5 km. The course is pancake flat, meaning the first Maglia Azzurra will almost certainly be claimed by a pure specialist against the clock.
Stage 2 already promises fireworks. While the elevation profile may not look particularly intimidating on paper, the Camaiore–San Gimignano stage stretches over a demanding 206 km and features a decisive 5.3 km gravel sector in the finale. Just a few days after Strade Bianche, the riders will once again take on an evocative off-road section right on the doorstep of the finish. The gravel rises gently through the heart of the Val d’Elsa and is sure to spark the imagination of those who know these roads well and enjoy racing on them.
The fast men will have to wait until Stage 3 for their first tangible opportunity. At 225 km, the Cortona–Magliano de’ Marsi stage is a true marathon, taking the peloton from near Lake Trasimeno into Abruzzo, but without presenting any significant climbing challenges.
Stage 4 could also end in a sprint, despite its demanding nature. The Tagliacozzo–Martinsicuro stage covers another long distance, namely 210 km, and will require the sprinters to dig deep. The opening half of the stage includes the long climbs of Ovindoli and the Valico delle Capannelle, while the final 60 km feature a series of tricky obstacles: Castellalto (5.5 km at 5.7%) and, most notably, the Via Badette ramp in Tortoreto (1.8 km at 7.8%), which crests just 13 km from the finish. With so many ups and downs, it would not be surprising to see a late attack stick, putting an end to the sprinters’ hopes.
The grand finale, comprising the last three stages, will unfold entirely in the Marche region. And when cycling fans think of the Marche, they inevitably think of the leg-breaking muri – short, brutally steep climbs – which will once again play a central role in Stages 5 and 6 of Tirreno Adriatico 2026.
Stage 5, from Marotta-Mondolfo to Mombaroccio, covers 186 km and features the Monte delle Cesane midway through the day (7.3 km at 7%). The decisive action, however, is likely to come later: after the Monte della Mattera climb – 6 km long, irregular, and with double-digit gradients – the race enters the 21.6 km Mombaroccio circuit, to be tackled twice. The key feature is the climb to the Santuario del Beato Sante (4 km, with gradients frequently exceeding 10%), which tops out just 1.5 km from the finish. With so many changes of rhythm, all the ingredients are in place for an explosive stage.
Fraction 6, the San Severino Marche–Camerino stage (189 km), features a demanding 3,900 metres of elevation gain and follows a similar blueprint to previous stages — though this time including the ascent of Sassotetto, the Valico di Santa Maria Maddalena, one of the most iconic climbs in the entire region. The ascent measures 13.1 km at an average gradient of 7.4%, but coming more than 120 km from the finish, it may be tackled at a controlled tempo rather than all-out racing.
Once the riders reach Camerino, they will hit a 29.1 km finishing circuit to be covered twice, featuring a punchy rise toward the finish line – tackled three times in total — that cannot be underestimated. At nearly 3 km in length, the climb includes several double-digit gradient ramps, making it a key selection point in the finale.
The Adriatic coast hosts the traditional final stage, usually little more than a ceremonial parade before the final sprint. The race starts in Civitanova Marche and finishes in San Benedetto del Tronto after 143 km. Following the Ripatransone KOM, crested 90 km from the finish, the peloton heads onto the San Benedetto del Tronto circuit – 14.5 km long and to be completed five times – setting the stage for the final bunch sprint and the crowning of the new King of the Two Seas.
