Saronni gained the overall lead after the conclusion of the sixth stage and maintained an advantage through the fifteenth day of racing.

[4] An El Mundo Deportivo writer believed LeMond, Moser, and Saronni to be the favorites to win the overall crown.

[4] In addition, the writer felt that Pedro Muñoz had the best chances to win the race, out of all the Spanish riders entering the event.

[4] Atala-Ofmega sports director Franco Criblori believed that Saronni's results would depend on what form he could maintain in the mountains.

[3] In addition, Criblori thought Dutchman Johan van der Velde and Swiss rider Niki Rüttimann were two foreigners to consider for a high place in the general classification.

[3][5] The route for the 1986 edition of the Giro d'Italia was revealed to the public on television by head organizer Vincenzo Torriani on 8 February 1986.

[3] Author Bill McGann believed Torriani designed the route to be relatively flat in order to increase the likelihood of Italian riders Giuseppe Saronni and Francesco Moser winning the race.

"[2] The Giro began with a 1 km (0.6 mi) prologue that navigated through the streets of Palermo, which was won by Urs Freuler by one second over the second-placed finisher.

[2] Sergio Santimaria won the stage through a field sprint, and, with the time bonus, he earned race leader's maglia rosa (English: pink jersey).

[1][2] Del Tongo-Colnago won the time trial by nine seconds over Supermercati Brianzoli-Essebi, which put their rider Giuseppe Saronni into the pink jersey.

[15] In the race's sixth stage, Roberto Visentini won the leg after attacking a few kilometers from the finish.

[16] Saronni regained the race lead after finishing second on the stage and earning a fifteen-second time bonus.

[19] Malvor-Bottecchia-Vaporella rider Acácio da Silva won the stage as the top of the general classification rankings remained unchanged from the previous days.

[19][20] The twelfth stage of the race was a 46 km (28.6 mi) individual time trial that stretched from Sinalunga to Siena.

[21][22] Due to his strong time on the stage, Saronni increased his advantage over all of his rivals except for Visentini who finished quicker.

[25] As the peloton made its way up the final climb, Pedro Muñoz, Martin Earley, and Stefano Giuliani formed a breakaway group out in front.

[31][32] Panasonic–Merckx–Agu rider Johan van der Velde won the next leg of the race after attacking on a descent before the stage's final climb to Peio.

[2] Four riders escaped off the front of the peloton, meanwhile the general classification contenders remained together behind the leading group.