| 1926 Giro d'Italia | |
| Date: | 15 May – 6 June 1926 |
| Stages: | 12 |
| Distance: | 3249.7 |
| Unit: | km |
| Time: | 137h 55' 59" |
| Speed: | 25.11 |
| First: | Giovanni Brunero |
| First Nat: | ITA |
| First Natvar: | 1861 |
| First Team: | Legnano |
| Second: | Alfredo Binda |
| Second Nat: | ITA |
| Second Natvar: | 1861 |
| Second Team: | Legnano |
| Third: | Arturo Bresciani |
| Third Nat: | ITA |
| Third Natvar: | 1861 |
| Third Team: | Bianchi |
| Team: | Legnano |
| Previous: | 1925 |
| Next: | 1927 |
The 1926 Giro d'Italia was the 14th edition of the Giro d'Italia, a Grand Tour organized and sponsored by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The race began on 15 May in Milan with a stage that stretched 275km (171miles) to Turin, finishing back in Milan on 6 June after a 288km (179miles) stage and a total distance covered of 3249.7km (2,019.3miles). The race was won by the Giovanni Brunero of the Legnano team. Second and third respectively were the Italian riders Alfredo Binda and Arturo Bresciani.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Of the 206 riders that began the Giro d'Italia on 15 May, 40 of them made it to the finish in Milan on 6 June. Riders were allowed to ride on their own or as a member of a team. There were six teams that competed in the race: Berrenttini, Ganna, Legnano, Météore, Olympia, and Wolsit. Eighteen of the 206 riders were on a team.
The peloton was primarily composed of Italians. The field featured two former Giro d'Italia champions in two-time winners Costante Girardengo and Giovanni Brunero, 1924 winner Giuseppe Enrici, and returning champion Alfredo Binda. Other notable Italian riders that started the race included Giovanni Rossignoli and Angelo Gremo.
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type[8] | Winner | Race Leader | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 May | 275km (171miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 2 | 17 May | 250.5km (155.7miles) | Plain stage | |||||
| 3 | 19 May | 312km (194miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 4 | 21 May | 287.2km (178.5miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 5 | 23 May | 232.1km (144.2miles) | Plain stage | |||||
| 6 | 25 May | 262.9km (163.4miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 7 | 27 May | 250.8km (155.8miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 8 | 29 May | 266.5km (165.6miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 9 | 31 May | 357.8km (222.3miles) | Plain stage | |||||
| 10 | 2 June | 355.2km (220.7miles) | Plain stage | |||||
| 11 | 4 June | 291.7km (181.3miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| 12 | 6 June | 288km (179miles) | Stage with mountain(s) | |||||
| Total | 3429.7km (2,131.1miles) | |||||||
There were 40 cyclists who had completed all twelve stages. For these cyclists, the times they had needed in each stage was added up for the general classification. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the winner. Giuseppe Enrici won the prize for best ranked independent rider in the general classification.[9]
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legnano | ||
| 2 | Legnano | + 15' 28" | |
| 3 | Olympia | + 54' 41" | |
| 4 | Legnano | + 1h 11' 38" | |
| 5 | — | + 1h 15' 57" | |
| 6 | Wolsit | + 1h 26' 00" | |
| 7 | Olympia | + 2h 02' 52" | |
| 8 | Météore | + 3h 16' 58" | |
| 9 | Berrettini | + 3h 41' 39" | |
| 10 | Ganna | + 3h 59' 18" | |
| Final general classification (11–40) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | |
| 11 | Olympia-Dunlop | + 4h 47' 39" | ||
| 12 | Olympia-Dunlop | + 4h 58' 19" | ||
| 13 | — | + 5h 24' 11" | ||
| 14 | — | + 6h 32' 50" | ||
| 15 | — | + 6h 39' 28" | ||
| 16 | — | + 7h 04' 034" | ||
| 17 | — | + 7h 25' 00" | ||
| 18 | — | + 8h 11' 20" | ||
| 19 | — | + 8h 34' 21" | ||
| 20 | — | ? | ||
| 21 | — | + 9h 51' 36" | ||
| 22 | — | + 10h 42' 45" | ||
| 23 | — | + 10h 53' 49" | ||
| 24 | — | + 13h 11' 25" | ||
| 25 | — | + 13h 49' 42" | ||
| 26 | — | + 15h 04' 33" | ||
| 27 | — | + 15h 18' 16" | ||
| 28 | — | + 15h 19' 50" | ||
| 29 | — | + 15h 27' 27" | ||
| 30 | — | + 15h 31' 04" | ||
| 31 | — | + 16h 21' 06" | ||
| 32 | — | + 17h 02' 08" | ||
| 33 | — | + 17h 26' 33" | ||
| 34 | — | + 17h 49' 07" | ||
| 35 | — | + 19h 15' 39" | ||
| 36 | — | + 19h 40' 33" | ||
| 37 | — | + 20h 04' 07" | ||
| 38 | — | + 22h 20' 32" | ||
| 39 | — | + 22h 45' 07" | ||
| 40 | — | + 27h 26' 56" | ||