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Up to date: October 13, 2023
Giro d’Italia 2024 overview
First established again in 1909, round six years after the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia is certainly one of three Grand Excursions on the calendar, and the primary of the season.
Whereas nothing can contact the Tour when it comes to scale, the Giro has no scarcity of status, with the maglia rosa (pink jersey) one of the vital iconic and coveted prizes in skilled biking.
The 2024 Giro d’Italia would be the 107th version of the so-called ‘corsa rosa‘ and can happen from 4-26 Could. The race will comprise 21 phases, with a mix of mountains, time trials, flat terrain, and every little thing else Italy has to supply in a real take a look at of a motorcycle rider’s all-round credentials.
Whereas the Vuelta a España tends to throw up punchier terrain, the Giro d’Italia usually performs host to a number of the most gruelling phases you may see in Grand Tour racing, with lengthy days within the saddle and epic helpings of climbs within the Alps and Dolomites. The take a look at is made more durable by the climate, which is unpredictable in Could, when rain can bucket down and the place snow can nonetheless render a number of the mountains unscalable.
The rider who comes by these three weeks within the shortest general time shall be topped the winner and can get to elevate the well-known Trofeo Senza Wonderful – the ‘infinite’ spiralling golden trophy.
Giro d’Italia 2024 key data
When is the Giro d’Italia 2024? The 2024 version of the Giro d’Italia will begin on Saturday 4 Could and run till Sunday, 26 Could.
The place does the Giro d’Italia 2024 happen? The Giro d’Italia takes place in Italy, beginning in Piemonte and ending in Rome. The race heads south hugging the west coast, earlier than nipping over to the east and heading up the other coast to the Alps, the place the principle mountain phases happen within the remaining week.
Who gained the Giro d’Italia in 2023? The 2023 version was gained by Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), with the Slovenian taking the pink jersey from Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in a dramatic penultimate-day mountain time trial on Monte Lussari.
How previous is the Giro d’Italia? The Giro d’Italia was first held in 1909. The 2024 version is the 107th.
Who gained the primary Giro d’Italia? Luigi Ganna was the primary ever winner of the Giro d’Italia in 1909, successful three phases en path to the general title. Ganna immortalised each himself and the tortuous race he had simply gained with six easy phrases, “Mi fa tanto male il culo!” or, “My ass hurts a lot!”
Who has probably the most wins on the Giro d’Italia? Three riders stand on the prime of the all-time honours listing, with 5 victories every for Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi, and Eddy Merckx. They claimed their fifth titles, respectively, in 1933, 1953, and 1974.
Giro d’Italia 2024 route: A number of time trialling, lighter on climbing and distance
The 2024 Giro d’Italia route will function 68.2km of particular person time trialling, six summit finishes, phases impressed by Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, and a lighter contact.
The total route for the 107th version of the corsa rosa was formally unveiled in Trento on October 13, with organisers RCS Sport rolling out a 3,321km journey that begins in Turin on 4 Could and finishes, 21 phases and two relaxation days later, in Rome on 26 Could.
The headline information is that the Giro d’Italia has caught to its weapons as probably the most time trial-friendly of the three Grand Excursions. The entire distance towards the clock of 68.2km – unfold throughout two exams in weeks one and two – could also be a few kilometres wanting the 2023 whole, however then the ultimate TT there was on a mountain, whereas the terrain right here is mostly flat, tilting the stability in favour of the rouleurs.
That theme is bolstered by a comparatively mild serving to of mountains, though there are nonetheless six summit finishes. Final yr, these 70km towards the clock have been balanced out by a savage remaining week, however, whereas the excessive mountains are equally backloaded within the 2024 route, there are merely not as lots of them; the entire elevation acquire for the Giro as an entire is 42,900 metres, in comparison with 51,000m up to now two years.
It’s additionally fascinating to notice that the entire distance for the Giro (3,321km) is the shortest since 1979. So whereas the 2023 version was thought-about excessive in its dimensions, this can be a Giro with a lighter contact.
That mentioned, difficulties can come up somewhere else, and one of many standout components of this Giro is that it’s the toughest begin for a while. The opening stage takes riders over robust climbs round Turin, whereas the haul to Oropa on stage 2 is the earliest summit end since Mount Etna in 1989. The opening week additionally encompasses a mini variations of Milan-San Remo and a visit over the Tuscan gravel of Strade Bianche, though not in as huge a dose because the dramatic earlier go to in 2021.
The climbing could really feel much less excessive, however there are nonetheless some spectacular and savage mountains phases. There are three summit finishes earlier than we even attain the half-way mark and a monster to finish the second week on the Swiss border, measuring 220km with 5,200m of elevation. The mighty Stelvio opens the ultimate week because the Cima Coppi – the best level of the Giro – however the different essential mountain phases come afterwards and each function double ascents, of the Passo Brocon on stage 17 and the fearsome Monte Grappa on stage 20.
Other than the time trialling and the climbing, there is sufficient to go across the sprinters, with 5 clear-cut alternatives, together with the finale in Rome. There are just a few extra alternatives, too, if they will survive the scattering of small hills within the first two weeks that can tempt the formidable among the many puncheurs.
For a full take a look at the route, together with a breakdown of every of the three weeks, head to our route announcement page.
Giro d’Italia 2024 contenders: May Tadej Pogačar make his debut?
It stays to be seen who will goal the Giro d’Italia in 2024, with most common classification riders ready till they’ve seen the total routes for each the Giro and Tour earlier than mapping out their season programmes.
It’s extremely unlikely that the Giro will function its defending champion, as Primož Roglič apparently engineered a transfer away from Jumbo-Visma to Bora-Hansgrohe with the categorical objective of successful the Tour de France. In the meantime, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step) is gearing up for his Tour de France debut so will not be returning to the Giro.
The large query is whether or not Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) might be tempted. The Slovenian gained the Tour twice in 2020 and 2021 however has misplaced out to Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) up to now two years. It might be odd for such a multi-faceted rider to go so lengthy with out showing on the Giro, however then once more the Tour is of nice significance and the Giro is more durable to align along with his rising Classics ambitions.
Vingegaard appears to be like set to return to hunt a 3rd yellow jersey in France, however that would go away the door open for Sepp Kuss, who gained the 2023 Vuelta a España in dramatic style, to step extra firmly into that management position.
There are a bunch of different potential big-name candidates, together with 2022 Giro champion Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (UAE Group Emirates), Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla), and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).
Which groups are racing the Giro d’Italia 2024?
The 2024 Giro d’Italia will comprise 22 groups, 18 of that are the WorldTour groups, and two of that are set to be the automatically-invited prime two second-division ProTeams. That leaves two wildcard slots for the organisers to grant to groups of their selecting.
- AG2R Citroën
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Arkéa Samsic
- Astana Qazaqstan
- Bahrain Victorious
- Bora-Hansgrohe
- Cofidis
- dsm-firmenich
- EF Schooling-EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
- Jayco AlUla
- Jumbo-Visma
- Lidl-Trek
- Movistar
- Soudal-Quick Step
- UAE Group Emirates
- Lotto Dstny (in the event that they take up their invite)
- Israel Premier Tech (in the event that they take up their invite)
- Wildcard invite
- Wildcard invite
Giro d’Italia jerseys
Pink jersey (maglia rosa) – worn by the chief of the final classification, the rider with the bottom general time.
Blue jersey (maglia azzurra) – worn by the chief of the mountains classification, with factors awarded on all categorised climbs.
Purple jersey (maglia ciclamino) – worn by the chief of the factors classification, which relies on ending positions on all street phases. That is usually a sprinter.
White jersey (maglia bianca) – worn by one of the best younger rider, being 25 or beneath, on the final classification.
Further classifications: Though there aren’t any jerseys, there’s a groups classification, a devoted classification for the intermediate sprints discovered on every stage, and a ‘Fuga Pinarello’ prize for probably the most kilometres spent in breakaways.
Giro d’Italia historical past
The Giro d’Italia, or Tour of Italy, was first established again in 1909, round six years after the Tour de France. Like its French counterpart, the Giro was born out of an try to spice up gross sales of a nationwide sports activities newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport. The primary version virtually didn’t go forward because the organisers lacked the 25,000 lire wanted to carry the race.
After just a few charitable donations from different Italian companies, which included a 3,000 lire donation from La Gazzetta’s publishing rivals, Corriere della Sera, the race went forward and 127 riders rolled out of Milan on the thirteenth Could at 02:53am, able to embark on an eight-stage journey into the unknown.
The house favorite, Luigi Ganna, gained three of those phases on his option to successful the general classification – crowning himself the primary ever victor of what would quickly turn into Italy’s most prestigious bicycle race. After his landmark victory, Ganna immortalised each himself and the tortuous race he had simply gained with six easy phrases, “Mi fa tanto male il culo!” or, “My ass hurts a lot!”
Just like the Tour de France did in its early years, the Giro d’Italia snowballed in recognition and by the 20s it was one of many largest sporting occasions within the nation. One of many Giro’s legends, Alfredo Binda, dominated throughout this decade, taking 4 general victories earlier than a record-breaking fifth within the early 30s.
Solely two riders that adopted him have managed to equal his unimaginable achievement and rating 5 wins on this race, Fausto Coppi within the 40s and 50s, and Eddy Merckx within the 60s and 70s.
Coppi’s title is likely one of the many synonymous with the Giro d’Italia, as is his arch-rival’s, Gino Bartali. The 2 Italians animated a number of the most memorable editions of the Giro and created a rivalry that break up a complete nation, very like Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor did in France through the 60s.
A number of different legends of Italian biking adopted Coppi and Bartali, each claiming Giro titles of their very own. These Italian icons embody: Felice Gimondi, the second-ever rider to win all three Grand Excursions, Gianni Bugno, a two-time World Champion, and naturally, Marco Pantani, a rider recognized to many as ‘Il Pirata’.
In newer years the Giro d’Italia has diversified its pool of winners and has seen a lot of different nations flourish. Canada, Colombia, Ecuador and Australia have all taken maiden general victories within the final 11 years, courtesy of Ryder Hesjedal (Canada) in 2012, Nairo Quintana (Colombia) in 2014, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) in 2019, and Jai Hindley (Australia) in 2022.
The Italians have remained stalwart and ever-present on this race nonetheless; since 2010 they’ve taken 4 general titles, one with Ivan Basso in 2010, one with the late Michele Scarponi in 2011, and two with the evergreen Vincenzo Nibali in 2013 and 2016.
The variety of Italian wins on this race will get even higher the additional again by historical past you go. In all, the house nation has taken an unimaginable 69 general titles on this race. To place that determine into perspective the closest nation to them is Belgium who sit on a lowly seven, adopted by France on six.
29 Jun – 21 Jul |
Tour de France |
2.UWT |
12 Aug – 18 Aug |
Tour de France Femmes |
2.WWT |
4 Could – 26 Could |
Giro d’Italia |
2.UWT |
19 Feb – 25 Feb |
UAE Tour |
2.UWT |
8 Feb – 11 Feb |
UAE Tour |
2.WWT |
Supplied by FirstCycling
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