The Giro d’Italia Women 2026 reaches its first major general classification test today, with stage 4 taking the riders from Belluno to Nevegal in a 12.7km uphill individual time trial. After three opening road stages that have kept Elisa Balsamo in the maglia rosa, the race now turns sharply towards the climbers and GC riders.
This is the first day of the race where gaps should be created rider by rider, rather than through bunch positioning, sprint bonuses or late splits. The distance is short, but the road to Nevegal is demanding enough to give the stage real weight. It is also one of the best viewing days of the opening half of the Giro, because the time gaps should develop clearly as each contender reaches the intermediate checks and finish line.
UK viewers can watch Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4 live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. TNT Sports lists the stage start at 12:05 BST, with the time trial format meaning riders will roll down the start ramp one at a time rather than setting off as a full peloton.
For wider race context, our Giro d’Italia Women 2026 full route guide explains how the Nevegal time trial fits into the nine-stage route, while our stage 4 preview looks at the riders most likely to gain time.
Photo Credit: RCSWhat time does Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4 start?
Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4 is scheduled to start at 12:05 BST on Tuesday, 2nd June.
Because this is an individual time trial, the stage will not have the same race rhythm as a road stage. Instead of one neutralised start and one peloton rolling out together, riders will begin at intervals, with the early starters setting the first benchmark before the leading GC riders begin later in the running order.
The key stage 4 timings for UK viewers are:
- Date: Tuesday, 2nd June
- Stage: stage 4
- Route: Belluno to Nevegal
- Distance: 12.7km
- Stage type: uphill individual time trial
- Scheduled start: 12:05 BST
- UK live coverage: TNT Sports and HBO Max
The exact finishing time will depend on the start order, rider intervals and final schedule, but the important point for viewers is that the stage should be worth watching from early in the broadcast. On a short uphill time trial, early reference times can remain relevant for a long period, particularly if one of the first riders judges the climb well.
How can UK viewers watch Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4?
UK viewers can watch Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4 live through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
TNT Sports is the linear TV option for subscribers watching through providers that carry TNT Sports channels. HBO Max is the main streaming route for viewers who want to watch on a laptop, phone, tablet or smart TV.
Full broadcast details for the race are covered in our guide on how to watch the Giro d’Italia Women 2026 in the UK.
For viewers using HBO Max, it is worth checking the live sport section before the stage starts. Time trials can sometimes appear differently in the schedule from road stages, and the stage tile may sit under Giro d’Italia Women, cycling, or live sport depending on the platform layout.
Why stage 4 is worth watching live
Stage 4 is the first day of the Giro d’Italia Women 2026 where the overall contenders should be separated properly. The opening stages gave Balsamo the chance to use her sprint and reduced-sprint strength, and she has taken full advantage. Nevegal changes the race completely.
The 12.7km route from Belluno to Nevegal is short enough to encourage aggressive pacing, but steep enough to punish riders who start too hard. The climb itself is 7.4km at an average of 8.2 per cent, with its steepest sections concentrated in the opening kilometres of the ascent. That balance should make it a compelling live stage.
It is also a stage where the time gaps will be easy to understand. In a road stage, a GC rider can lose time because of positioning, a crash, a split or team tactics. In this time trial, the result will be much cleaner. The riders who climb best against the clock will move forward. Those who struggle will have nowhere to hide.
What is the route for stage 4?
Stage 4 runs from Belluno to Nevegal over 12.7km. It is officially an individual time trial, but the profile makes it a climbing test rather than a conventional flat race against the clock.
The opening kilometres allow riders to settle into the effort before the route reaches the main ascent. From there, the road climbs towards Nevegal, with a sustained 7.4km section averaging 8.2 per cent. The steepest gradients arrive early on the climb, which makes pacing especially difficult. Riders who attack the first part too hard could be paying for it by the upper slopes.
This is not a day for pure sprint power or lead-out structure. It is about pacing, climbing strength and discipline. Riders will need to choose the right equipment, avoid going too deep in the early section, and still have enough left to push through the harder part of the climb.
What is the GC situation before stage 4?
Elisa Balsamo starts stage 4 in the maglia rosa after an outstanding opening three days. She was promoted to victory on stage 1 after Lorena Wiebes was disqualified for an underweight bike, then won stage 2 in Caorle and stage 3 in Buja.
Balsamo leads the general classification by 24 seconds over Lily Williams, with Elisa Longo Borghini third at 30 seconds. Several major GC riders are also within 30 seconds, including Anna van der Breggen, Niamh Fisher-Black, Silvia Persico and Demi Vollering.
That makes the Nevegal time trial a major pivot point. Balsamo has earned her lead, but this is the first stage that clearly favours the climbers and GC specialists. She may still defend well, but the course gives riders such as Vollering, Longo Borghini, Van der Breggen, Fisher-Black and Marlen Reusser the chance to pull the race towards them.
The full classification picture after Buja is covered in our GC and jerseys after Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 3 update.
Who should be strong on the Nevegal time trial?
Demi Vollering looks like one of the clearest favourites for stage 4 because the route matches her strengths so well. She can climb, pace a time trial and handle high-pressure GC moments, which makes this a natural opportunity for her to take time.
Elisa Longo Borghini should also be a major contender. She has the experience, climbing quality and stage-race intelligence needed for this kind of effort. On a course where rhythm and restraint matter as much as raw power, she should be well suited.
Marlen Reusser is another rider to watch. A flatter time trial would suit her even more obviously, but her sustained power still makes her dangerous if she can manage the steeper sections. Anna van der Breggen, Niamh Fisher-Black, Kristen Faulkner, Antonia Niedermaier, Urška Žigart and Isabella Holmgren are also among the names who could gain time or move up the standings.
For Balsamo, the target is different. She does not need to win the stage. Her priority will be limiting losses, riding within herself and trying to keep the maglia rosa for at least one more day. Even if she loses the jersey, her opening Giro has already been hugely successful.
What are the key late start times?
The final block of starters should carry most of the GC interest. Marlen Reusser is scheduled to start at 15:02 BST, with Demi Vollering at 15:34 BST and Anna van der Breggen nine minutes after Vollering.
Those start times make the final hour especially important for viewers. Reusser should provide one of the major benchmarks, Vollering is likely to be one of the strongest stage favourites, and Van der Breggen’s run will give another clear reference point for the GC picture.
Balsamo will start last as the race leader, which means the maglia rosa question should remain open until the very end of the stage.
What comes next after stage 4?
Stage 4 begins the harder middle phase of the Giro d’Italia Women. After the uphill time trial to Nevegal, stage 5 takes the race from Longarone to Santo Stefano di Cadore, bringing the peloton deeper into mountain terrain.
That sequence makes today especially important. A strong ride on Nevegal could give a GC contender the freedom to race more defensively on stage 5, while a bad ride could force earlier attacks. The Giro then continues towards the final weekend, where the Colle delle Finestre and Sestriere are expected to shape the overall result.
Stage 4 may not decide the Giro outright, but it should tell us who is truly ready to win it.
