Giro d’Italia 2026 Predictions: 18/1 Brit to record a family double in Rome?

It’s Giro time! Cycling’s Grand Tour season gets off to a flying start on Friday in Bulgaria with the Grande Partenza of the 2026 Giro d’Italia.

With Tadej Pogacar sitting this one out, the way is clear for Jonas Vingegaard to record a fourth Grand Tour title and be crowned reigning champions of two of cycling’s great stage races. Here are my Giro d’Italia 2026 predictions.

Giro d'Italia Betting Odds

The absence of Pogacar makes Vingegaard a huge 1/5 favourite to win a first Giro. Beyond the Visma-Lease a Bike star, Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe’s Giulio Pellizzari is the next most fancied at 5/1.

Felix Gall is 16/1 to come out on top, with Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates 18/1.

Adam Yates Outright E/W @ 18/1

The easiest approach would be to tip up Vingegaard, because as long as he stays on the bike he should win the race with a bit to spare. But in the search for value, I’m looking at an each-way option.

Last year’s winner was Bury-born Simon Yates, who followed up his 2018 La Vuelta success with a second career Grand Tour triumph.

His twin brother Adam has not reached that level yet, with stage victories in France and Spain the closest he has come, but then riding in the same team as the likes of Pogacar, Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso can leave you someway down the pecking order when it comes to team orders.

With Ayuso now at Lidl-Trek and Almedia and Pogacar not taking part in Italy, Yates finally has a chance to lead his team at a Grand Tour.

And he has the style I love on the bike. He likes to set the tone in attacks near the front, and while he hasn’t yet demonstrated the staying power of Vingegaard over a three-week event, he has the guts and the stamina to stick with the probable leader.

It might take a crash or two for Yates to have great hopes for the pink jersey, but I believe he’s in with a great chance of a podium finish and 18/1 looks big as a result.

Cycling Odds

Giulio Ciccone to win the King of the Mountains Classification @ 2/1

On his home roads, I’d say it’s massive odds on that Giulio Ciccone crosses the line in Rome with the maglia azzurra on his back. That’s because his biggest rival up the mountains has to be Vingegaard, who will be wearing pink in all likelihood.

They are the best two riders in the field when it comes to taking on the heavy threat of the the Apennines, Alps and Dolomites, so one has to think that Ciccone is well in with a chance of victory.

The fact that his biggest rival to win the blue jersey section is Vingegaard means something more than Ciccone donning the colour even if the Dane is ahead in the rankings.

It also means that the Lidl-Trek rider might get some leeway when it comes to racing for summits when Vingegaard’s main focus is on keeping the pace and focusing on the maglia rosa.

That makes the 2/1 about Ciccone collecting a third Grand Tour KOM prize, and second at the Giro, very appealing indeed.

You can read all our latest Cycling Betting Tips here.