For the fourth time in history, the Giro d’Italia will start from Piedmont. This will happen on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with the departure of Venaria Reale l passing through the Superga hill 75 years after the Grande Torino tragedy.
This was announced at the long-awaited presentation of the 2024 Giro d’Italia route (May 4 to 26). The 107th edition of the Corsa Rosa will have more than 3,200 kilometers and almost 43,000 meters of accumulated unevenness, it will have a varied bet in which, although it is true that great peaks that have accompanied the mystique of the race are missed, Throughout its history, there will be opportunities for all types of runners.
The time trial will take a more decisive role than ever, exceeding 60 kilometers of fight against the clock, something rarely seen in recent grand tours. And as always happens in the Giro d’Italia, the mountains will be especially protagonist in the final week.
REACTIONS
Mauro Gianetti, manager of the UAE Emirates TEam, expresses himself like this about the possibility of Pogacar making his debut in the Giro: “There are many rumors, but nothing has been decided yet. First we want to see the route of the 2024 Tour de France, talk about it with the entire team during the first meeting for next season. Only then can we announce our plans and objectives for 2024.”
Primož Roglič, winner of the 2023 Giro d’Italia: “The victory at Monte Lussari represents one of the most exciting moments of my life. I reviewed the images from that stage several times in the following months, it was wonderful to celebrate with my fans. Looking ahead to 2024, the stage I like the most is stage 20, I think the double climb to Monte Grappa will be decisive for the Maglia Rosa.
Filippo Ganna, winner of six stages of the Giro d’Italia: “It will be a very challenging Giro, clearly my focus will be on the two time trials. Of the two, the one in Desenzano is the most suitable for me. “I want to feel satisfied because winning stages in the Giro is always special.”
Jai Hindley, winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia: “The second week will be very hard, stage 15 is perhaps the most challenging. You will not miss the arrival at the heights of Livigno. The arrival of Roglič to the team will give a lot to my team, it will undoubtedly be an improvement for the Grand Tours where we will be very competitive.
Peter Sagan, winner of two stages of the Giro d’Italia and the Maglia Ciclamino in 2021: “The first week is very hard, thank God I retired… I retired from my road race but I still have the dream of the five laps. the Olympic Mountain Bike Trial in Paris. “I know it will be difficult to qualify, but I want to have fun.”
THE STAGES 2024
Stage 1, Saturday, May 4: Venaria Reale – Turin, 136 km (half-mountain)
First soft contact with the competition, with a short day of only 136 km. Of course, the first maglia azzurra (mountain) will already be at stake with the passage through three passes. The last of them (2nd cat.) can give a lot of play in the final stretch, since it aspires to compromise the outcome to the sprint with its 6 km at 7.4% on average.
Stage 2, Sunday, May 5: S. Francesco al Campo – Sant. from Oropa, 154 km (half mountain)
The first high finish of this Giro will come on the second day of the race. A mid-mountain chain in the final stretch of the very interesting stage, which will culminate with the ascent to the Santuario di Oropa. Throughout its 11.8 km at 6.2% and maximum ramps of 13%, we will be able to see the first differences between the men in the general classification.
Stage 3, Monday, May 6: Novara – Fossano, 165 km (flat)
The Corsa Rosa will conclude its passage through the Piedmont region on this third day. Without a doubt, it will be the first clear chance of victory for the sprinters, although the last meters, which slope slightly upwards, may lead to surprises on the part of some runners with a different profile.
Stage 4, Tuesday, May 7: Acqui Terme – Andora, 187 km (flat)
Day of presumed transition, with a small 3rd category elevation located in the middle of the stage as the only mountainous difficulty of the day. The finish line located in Andora should host a new outcome to the sprint.
Stage 5, Wednesday, May 8: Genoa – Lucca, 176 km (mid-mountain)
Mostly a flat day, although with two small mountainous difficulties: one of the 3rd category and another of the 4th category. It will be the latter that can compromise a new outcome in the form of a volata, but it seems difficult since it is crowned 19 km from the finish line.
Stage 6, Thursday, May 9: Viareggio – Rapolano Terme, 177 km (flat)
After several years of waiting, the sterrato (dirt roads) makes an appearance again at the Giro. In total, 11.6 km divided into three sections that are located in the final part of the stage and that can make differences. Especially the second of them, the Grotti, with 4.2 km uphill. Day in which you do not win a three-week round, but in which you can lose.
Stage 7, Friday, May 10: Foligno – Perugia, 37.2 km (CRI)
First key day in the future of the general classification. First of the two individual times that the route of this Giro has, this stage 7 being the longest with its 37.2 km. And be careful, because the final stretch will be the most demanding, with 6.5 km uphill to the finish line in Perugia. Climbers will be able to minimize losses.
Stage 8, Saturday, May 11: Spoleto – Prati di Tivo, 153 km (mountain)
Only high mountain day that will be included in the first block of the race. A test that will serve to determine the strength of the candidates for the Senza Fine Trophy. The high finish in Prati di Tivo, a climb that exceeds 14 kilometers, will allow us to see differences.
Stage 9, Sunday, May 12: Avezzano – Naples, 206 km (flat)
Stage that precedes the first rest day of the Giro. As in the last two editions, the Corsa Rosa will arrive in Naples with a nervous route in the final part, with a succession of slopes that are ideal to see a breakaway triumph.
Stage 10, Tuesday, May 14: Pompei – Cusano Mutri, 141 km (mountain)
After the rest day, the Giro will return with force. It will be a short, mountain day, with only two scoring passes, but a very broken terrain that gives no respite. With the finish high in Cusano Mutri, almost 18 km, things will start to get serious.
Stage 11, Wednesday, May 15: F. di Valfortore – Francavilla al mare, 203 km (flat)
Except for a major surprise, a transition stage with a practically flat route that exceeds 200 km. Unless there is a strong intention to form fans, as long as the wind allows it, victory should be resolved in a massive sprint.
Stage 12, Thursday, May 16: Martinsicuro – Fano, 183 km (half-mountain)
It doesn’t seem like it, but the twelfth stage of this Giro d’Italia is home to considerable toughness. There will be more than 2,000 meters of accumulated unevenness that is largely concentrated in five 4th category elevations. A Comanche territory that will not give you respite and that will be conducive to getaways.
Stage 13, Friday, May 17: Riccione – Cento, 179 km (flat)
Flat stage without any type of technical or mountainous difficulty. Everything that is not an outcome of the sprint will be an absolute surprise.
Stage 14, Saturday May 18: C. delle Stiviere – Desenzano del Garda, 31 km (CRI)
Once a new transition day has been completed, another decisive point will arrive: the last individual time trial. Unlike the first, this one will be for specialists and pure riders, with its 31 km completely flat.
Stage 15, Sunday, May 19: Manerba del Garda – Livigno, 220 km (mountain)
The second block of the race will culminate with what is probably the queen stage of this Giro. It will be the longest, with a total of 220 kilometers, and also the one with the greatest accumulated gradient: 5,200 m. An authentic tappone of five scoring climbs that will go through Swiss territory for a stretch before culminating at the end of Livigno: 8 km with maximum slopes of 18% that culminate at 2,385 meters of altitude. Tremendous.
Stage 16, Tuesday, May 21: Livigno – S. Cristina Valgardena, 202 km (mountain)
The third week, after the second and last day of rest, gives clues to what the last block of the race will be: a lot of mountains. The Stelvio, Coppi summit of this edition, will be ascended, but more than 150 km from the finish line it may remain a mere anecdote. The final fireworks will come in the last part, with two united passes that make up more than 30 km of ascent to the finish line.
Stage 17, Wednesday, May 22: S. Val Gardena – Passo del Brocon, 159 km (mountain)
Another real tappone. Short mileage, but a profile that gives no respite from start to finish: you start the day climbing and finish the same way. In total, five chained passes and a high finish in a 1st category like the Passo del Brocon.
Stage 18, Thursday, May 23: Fiera di Primiero – Padova, 166 km (flat)
The sprinters will make an appearance again in one of the last clear opportunities for victory for them in this Giro. After a slightly favorable initial stretch, the outcome is expected to be the sprint in the town of Padova.
Stage 19, Friday, May 24: Mortegliano – Sappada, 155 km (half-mountain)
Mid-mountain day that concentrates all its hardness in the last kilometers. Menu that includes a 3rd and two 2nd gear passes with the final explosive in Sappada (ramps up to 15%). Taking into account everything that may be at stake in the next stage, it would be normal for the escapees to play for victory…
Stage 20, Saturday, May 25: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa, 175 km (mountain)
If the differences between the men in the general classification are still small, the penultimate day will decide the champion of the Corsa Rosa. It is not a very spectacular profile, but the double (and consecutive) ascent of Monte Grappa makes your hair stand on end: 18.2 km at 8.1% average. The goal is reached after a long descent of about 30 km, so this can also be a decisive factor, more than the climb itself.
Stage 21, Sunday, May 26: Rome – Rome, 125 km (flat)
Triumphant walk through the streets of the Eternal City, where the sprinters will have the greatest role in the fight for victory, apart from the runner who retains the pink jersey as champion of the race.
Source: Diario AS