Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the global media giant, has extended its broadcast rights agreement with promoter RCS Sports for a multi-race package that includes the iconic annual Giro d’Italia ‘Grand tour’ road cycling race.
The extension will run through “at least” 2029 and spans 50 European markets as well as the US, covering the Giro d’Italia, its associated women’s and youth-category races, as well as several other RCS-promoted races.
The full list of races covered in the package features: the Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, Milan-Torino, Giro d’Abruzzo, Il Lombardia, Gran Piemonte, and the UAE Tour, and will include both the men’s and women’s editions for the races that feature both.
WBD will continue to disseminate coverage across its HBO Maxi streaming service internationally, as well as the Eurosport linear networks in most of Europe, and the TNT Sports linear channels in the UK and Ireland.
Speaking on the deal, RCS Sport chief executive Paolo Bellino commented: “This agreement reaffirms the global value of our events and their growing appeal, across both men’s and women’s racing.
“Together, we will keep pushing the boundaries of cycling storytelling, building on the rich heritage of our competitions while showcasing the achievements of the sport’s new generation of champions. Our goal is to further expand our global fanbase and inspire new audiences to connect with cycling.”
WBD Sports Europe senior vice president for sports rights acquisitions and syndications, Trojan Paillot, added: “Cycling is at the heart of our live multi-sport offer […] by extending our rights to show the Giro d’Italia, Giro d’Italia Women and a whole host of premier Italian races, we have underlined our commitment to supporting the long-term growth of the sport.
“As a trusted partner to RCS and the Giro, we will continue to invest in enhancing our coverage and know we can attract the widest set of viewers around the world with this approach to help inspire the next generation of cycling stars.”
With the broadcaster positioning itself as the ‘home of cycling’, WBD’s European cycling portfolio also includes the two other Grand Tours (the Tour de France and Vuelta a España), all five Monuments (the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege alongside the aforementioned Milan-Sanremo and Il Lombardia), and over 35 UCI World Tour events.
The 2026 edition of the men’s Giro d’Italia will begin on May 8 and run through May 31, spanning across Italy, but with the first three stages taking place in Bulgaria.
The 2025 edition was won by British rider Simon Yates of the Visma-Lease a Bike team, with other prominent recent winners including Tadej Pogacar (2024) and Primoz Roglic 92023), with the race’s position as the first grand tour of the season typically attracting a competitive field.
Indeed, this year’s edition will feature the likes of Visma-Lease a Bike star (and likely favorite) Jonas Vingegaard, UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Joao Almeida, and home favorite Fillipo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers.
The women’s Giro d’Italia will begin on May 30 and, with nine stages, will run through June 7, while the Giro Next Gen (for under-23 male riders) will take place in June.
