Five things we learned from the Giro d'Italia's opening weekend

The 2026 Giro d'Italia's opening weekend, known as the Grande Partenza, took place in Bulgaria and was marked by significant incidents, including a major pile-up at the finish of Stage 1 and illness affecting numerous riders, with manure reportedly blamed as a contributing factor. Jonas Vingegaard is considered a strong favorite for overall victory. The chaotic start has left teams dealing with depleted rosters and raised questions heading into the rest of the race.