Sunday May 17th – Giro d’Italia 2026 stage 9: Cervia → Corno alle Scale (184 km)

Stage 9 takes the Giro from the Adriatic coast to the northern Apennines, finishing on the long climb to Corno alle Scale. The first half of the stage is flat and straightforward; the final 30 kilometres contain the ascent that determines the outcome.

From Cervia the route heads inland via Forlì and Faenza. The roads are wide and regular, allowing the peloton to settle into its rhythm before the terrain begins to rise. Before the final climb the road ascends for 11.5 kilometres at 4.2% (Querciola, third category).

The final climb to Corno alle Scale is officially 11 kilometres long with an average gradient of around six percent. The steepest sections come early, with several kilometres that remain above nine percent. The middle part is more regular, before the gradient increases again near the ski station. The road is narrow in places, and the long straight sections make the gaps clearly visible.

This stage suits pure climbers and general classification contenders. A true unipuerto stage on the day before the second rest day.