Tour of the Alps 2026 brings the Euregio to global spotlight

With less than a week to go, the Tour of the Alps is ready to roll once again, starting on Monday, April 20 from Innsbruck, the capital of Tirol. Five days of cross-border racing await the peloton, in what has become one of the most unpredictable and compelling stage races of the spring calendar.

In the year marking the 10th anniversary of the Euregio cooperation agreement, the Tour of the Alps confirms more than ever its identity as event beyond the race. Across the roads of Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino, a packed programme of initiatives and community-focused events, presented on Tuesday, April 14th in Trento, will accompany the sporting action, showcasing the authenticity of the region and the core values of cycling: togetherness, passion and human connection.

Welcomed by Roberta Famà, Chief of ESG, Brand and Institutional Relations at Cassa Centrale Banca, numerous institutional representatives attended the press conference: Simone Marchiori, Councillor for Housing Policies, Public Assets, State Property and the Promotion of Autonomy Awareness of the Province of Trento, Paolo Pozzi, President of Euregio Connect, Maurizio Rossini, CEO of Trentino Marketing, Alberto Pedrotti, Councillor for Economy and Mountain Affairs of the Municipality of Trento, Silvio Rigatti, President of Garda Dolomiti Tourism Company S.p.A, Renato Beber, President of the Trentino Cycling Federation, Stefano Deantoni, Marketing Director of Infront Italy, Giacomo Santini, Honorary President of the Tour of the Alps, and Maurizio Evangelista, General Manager.

STORER TO DEFEND THE CROWN, PELLIZZARI CARRIES THE ITALIAN AMBITIONS
The 2026 edition promises a highly competitive field, led by the top three finishers from 2025: Australia’s Michael Storer, Dutchman Thymen Arensman and Canada’s Derek Gee.
Wearing number one, Storer returns at the head of a strong Tudor Pro Cycling Team, aiming to defend his title against a line-up that includes seven WorldTour teams, six ProTeams, two Continental squads, and the national teams of Austria and Italy, invited to mark the Euregio anniversary. #TotA will also mark the debut for Roberto Amadio as Italian Technical Director. 

Among the most anticipated contenders is Italy’s Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe), who arrives in strong form after his podium finish at Tirreno-Adriatico and is targeting both the Melinda Green Jersey and a leading role ahead of the Giro d’Italia. The last italian rider to win the race was Vincenzo Nibali in 2013, who achieved the double crown at Giro del Trentino and Corsa Rosa.  

Alongside him, the team will field Aleksandr Vlasov, climber Giovanni Aleotti, rising talents Davide Donati (Paris-Roubaix U23 winner) and Lorenzo Finn, with the latter being the reigning U23 World Champion and recent winner of both the Giro del Belvedere and Palio del Recioto.

INEOS Grenadiers will once again rely on Thymen Arensman, while the possible participation of Egan Bernal remains open. Derek Gee, now racing for Lidl-Trek, returns after finishing third in 2025 and fourth at the Giro d’Italia, supported by Lennard Kämna, already a two-time stage winner in the Euregio (Niederdorf/Villabassa in 2022, San Valentino di Brentonico in 2023).

Other key names include Ben O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla), runner-up in 2024, and Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost). Bahrain Victorious bet on its youngest talents led by Giro Next Gen winner Jakob Omrzel, while Max Poole will be the captain for Team Picnic PostNL. Swiss Team Pinarello Q36.5 will take part in the race.

Italian squads such as Bardiani CSF Faizanè, Team Polti VisitMalta and Solution Tech NIPPO Rali — featuring returning veteran Domenico Pozzovivo — are expected to spice up the race alongside Team Vorarlberg and Team UKYO.

GLOBAL TV REACH ACROSS FIVE CONTINENTS 
Thanks to its partnership with Infront Sports & Media, the Tour of the Alps will once again deliver two hours of live coverage per stage in over 100 countries worldwide.

Broadcast distribution spans Europe and Asia via Eurosport/Discovery+, Italy via Rai, Austria via ORF, North America via FloSports, Brazil via X-Sports, France via L’Équipe TV, and Israel via Sports5. In addition, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and NOS will provide news coverage across multiple markets.

DECISIVE STAGES IN TRENTINO 
The final three stages, all held in Trentino, are expected to play a decisive role in the general classification. Stage 3 (April 22) will run from Latsch/Laces (Südtirol/Alto Adige) to Arco (Trentino) over 174.5 km, featuring the race’s highest point at Hofmahdjoch/Passo Castrin and a technical finale via Passo del Ballino and the Tenno circuit.

Stage 4 (April 23), the queen stage, covers 167.8 km from Arco to Trento, including the climbs of Passo Bordala and Passo Redebus, followed by a demanding circuit and the decisive ascent to Povo, already a key point in the 2021 European Championships. 

The final stage (April 24) from Trento to Bozen/Bolzano (128.6 km) will bring the race to its end, passing through Palù di Giovo, where the intermediate sprint will be dedicated to the memory of Sara Piffer. 19-year-old local cyclist who passed away after being hit by a car during training in 2025. On the same day, Trento will also kick-off the Trentino Film Festival, underlining once again its international and cultural background.    

SIDE EVENTS FOCUSED ON ROAD SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY AND ENHANCING LOCAL COMMUNITIES 
The Tour of the Alps continues to build strong ties with local communities through a wide programme of side events, including initiatives focused on sustainable mobility and road safety, such as the Safe2Ride project targeting schools and young riders.

In Trento, on April 23, the event will also pay tribute to Michele Scarponi and Sara Piffer, two victims of road accidents whose memory is deeply felt across the cycling world. On Thursday April 23, at Palazzo Geremia in Trento, the Fondazione Scarponi will present a book together with author Alessandra Giardini. On Friday April 24 morning, a safety ride dedicated to the memory of Sara Piffer will take place, reinforcing the event's commitment to promoting a safer cycling culture. On the same day, Trento will host again the Ride&Dunk event with local Serie A team Aquila Basket.

Following last weekend’s partnership with Football Club Südtirol, fan engagement will be further enhanced through initiatives such as the Bike Day in Bozen/Bolzano, collaborations with local sports organisations, and community activities across all stages. The full list of side events can be found on the official website.

A GROWING INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM FOR PARTNERS
The continued growth of the Tour of the Alps is reflected in a strong partner network, including regional tourism boards — Tirol Werbung, IDM Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino Marketing — alongside long-standing top partners such as Melinda and Gruppo Cassa Centrale.

Thanks to the support of Infront Sports & Media, the race organized by Sport Alto Garda can rely on a vast panel of brands and sponsors. Melinda will once again mark the Green Jersey for the GC Leader, while Gruppo Cassa Centrale holds the KOM Blue Jersey. The Red Jersey for the Points Classification is sponsored by Caffé Bocca della Verità, the White Jersey for the Best Young rider by FORST, and the Breakaway King Special Jersey by eVISO Giro.

New and returning brands further strengthen the event’s international profile, with Festina joining as Official Timekeeper, alongside Suzuki, Alé Cycling, A22, Acqua Eva, Würth, Coppa Italia delle Regioni and Val Di Cembra Wines. Among the new entries are Brenner Outlet, Pro Action, Crich, Allegrini Costruzioni, Proger, and Gravity Media.

As per previous years, Infront will also offer an exclusive Bike Experience, bringing fans to cycle through Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino alongside the event’s ambassadors.

DIGITAL AND FAN ENGAGEMENT BEYOND THE RACE 
Fans worldwide will be able to engage again with the race through the #LiveUphill Challenge on Rouvy from April 20th to May 31st, allowing users to ride the final kilometres of each stage virtually. 

Another renewed partnership is with FantaCycling, with a free-to-play league and daily live YouTube and Twitch content from the Euregio, offering a fresh perspective on the race.

EUREGIO IDENTITY AT THE HEART OF THE EVENT 
Symbolising the unity of the region, the Euregina “Springstar” — the official Euregio plant for 2026 — will feature throughout the race, with floral installations across the stages by Fiori del Trentino – Associazione Florovivaisti Trentini. The Osteospermum “Springstar” symbolizes the beauty and vividness of Alpine nature. 

This initiative reflects the shared cultural identity of Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino, reinforcing the Tour of the Alps as a unique cross-border project in international cycling.

A22 HIGHWAY: LESS POLLUTION, MORE SAFETY 
The A22 Brenner Highway represents the most important road infrastructure of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, and it’s now facing the challenge of monitoring traffic. With the goal of reducing pollution and enhancing safety, the A22 traffic prediction system helps drivers to better plan their trips avoiding peak hours and traffic jams.