Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. The start of the Giro d'Italia (La Grande Partenza) is a significant occasion, one that takes months to prepare for and that involves the local community, authorities and huge investments.
The history
The first race was organized in 1909 to increase sales of the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport; however, it is currently run by RCS Sport. The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1909, except when it was stopped for the two world wars (1915–1918 and 1943–1945). As the Giro gained prominence and popularity, the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the globe.
The race
The race usually covers approximately 3,500 kilometers (2,200 mi), passing through Italy and neighboring countries over a 23-day period in late May and early June. It's made up of 21 stages. Usually, there are seven flat stages, five mountain stages, seven hilly stages and two-time trial stages. The winner wears a pink jersey for the next stage. It's called the maglia rosa or "pink jersey."
A UCI World Tour event
The Giro is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI ProTeams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers can invite. Along with the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, the Giro makes up cycling's prestigious three-week-long Grand Tours.
The place of the event
For nearly half a century, the Giro started and finished by Milan, the city where the headquarters of the Gazzetta dello Sport is located. In 1911, these events took place in Rome to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Italy's unification. With the occasional exception, the start and finish in Milan were the standards for the Giro d'Italia. However, since the 1960s, the place of departure has changed each year and finishes in cities such as Verona, Brescia, Trieste, Turin and Rome have become more frequent. Part of the race is taking place between Siena and Bologna. You can stay at the Tuscan villa nearby and experience the Giro d'Italia at the full scale.
