Grand Tour season is upon us! La Vuelta Femenina is already well underway over in Spain, and the men’s Giro d’Italia starts on Saturday, May 4 in Turin.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) are among the big names set to roll out at the Grande Partenza for three weeks of racing in Italy. In that time, we will be treated to some early action, a bit of gravel, two time trials, and plenty of mountains – although the total amount of elevation gain on the docket is somewhat reduced from years past. So too are the stage lengths, as Giro organizers look to up the excitement factor.
In other words: it looks like everything we expect from a Giro d’Italia route: early summit finishes will establish favorites and hopefuls (while possibly ending some riders’ GC hopes); two long time trials offer a chance to regain time lost on climbers, and a third week packed full of Dolomite goodness finishes it off.
Here is your stage-by-stage guide to the 2024 Giro d’Italia. We’ll have a full contenders preview shortly.
The full start list is available here.
How to Watch
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Stage coverage times will vary but streaming generally starts somewhere between 6:00-7:00AM EDT / 13:00-14:00 UK / 14:00-15:00 EU / 20:00-21:00 AEST.
Play our Giro fantasy game!
The Giro d’Italia Fantasy is here! Fantasy competitions can be complicated, but playing this one couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is select one rider per stage to lead your team. The twist? You can only choose a rider once! To make the competition even more fun you have the ability to challenge your friends with a mini-league.
Still not sure? Check out this handy ‘How to play cycling fantasy games.’
To play simply head here. Alternatively, download the app from either the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android), and you’re all set.
Stage 1: Venaria Reale to Torino – 140 km
Date: Saturday May 4, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: The Giro d’Italia should get underway with some excitement thanks to a stage 1 profile that features some interesting challenges. After the Superga climb – which should be familiar to fans who have watched Milano-Torino – puts some fatigue into the legs, the second-category Colle Maddalena should force at least some selection. It could also spur real attacks, with a tricky descent to follow, and then an uncategorized ascent before the finish. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see some of the GC contenders in the mix for the stage win alongside the more versatile stage hunters.
Stage 2: San Francesco al Campo to Santuario di Oropa (Biella) – 161 km
Date: Sunday May 5, 2024
Stage type: Hilly (summit finish)
Summary: The Giro’s first summit finish awaits just two days into the race at the Santuario di Oropa. This is a relatively short stage with a tricky climb to close things out that will almost certainly bring the overall hopefuls to the fore earlier than we usually expect at a Grand Tour. All told, it’s an 11.8 km climb at a 6.2 percent average gradient, but there is very steep stretch in the middle and then the final 4 km are at nearly 8 percent. With the prospect of a pink jersey for a climber likely up for grabs this early, expect fireworks.
Stage 3: Novara to Fossano – 166 km
Date: Monday May 6, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: This is the Giro’s first sprint stage. A Cat. 4 climb in the half of the stage is the only categorized ascent on the menu, and a big group should make it to Novaro Fossano to contest the win. There are some tricky hairpins just after the 4 km to go mark that will challenge the leadout trains, but the run to the finish is a long straightaway that should see some pretty high speeds.
Stage 4: Acqui Terme to Andora – 190 km
Date: Tuesday May 7, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: The fourth stage should be another one for the sprinters, although the up-and-down stretch in the middle of the day and a visit to the Capo Mele – which you likely know from Milan-San Remo – offers at least the possibility of intrigue. Anything other than a bunch sprint, however, seems pretty unlikely.
Stage 5: Genova to Lucca – 178 km
Date: Wednesday May 8, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: Could a third straight day go to the sprinters? The late Montemagno climb does not look all that hard, so the fast finishers could get yet another chance when the race arrives in Lucca.
Stage 6: Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio) to Rapolano Terme – 180 km
Date: Thursday May 9, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: Gravel! After a flat first 70 km, the road gets bumpier in more ways than one on stage 6, with an undulating profile and three sections of gravel roads in the Tuscan hills. Race favorite Tadej Pogačar has a history of doing well in this part of the country. Will he mix it up with the Classics specialists on the start list here? Will the other GC hopefuls falter on less-familiar terrain?
Stage 7: Foligno to Perugia – 40.6 km (ITT)
Date: Friday May 10, 2024
Stage type: Time trial
Summary: Get excited, time trial fans. A race against the clock awaits on stage 7. Most of the route from Foligno to Perugia is pan flat but things kick up in the finish, which could present some interesting pacing issues for those who don’t save up a little bit of energy for the final ascent. At 40.6 km, this stage should have a big impact on the GC battle at the 2024 Giro.
Stage 8: Spoleto to Prati di Tivo – 152 km
Date: Saturday May 11, 2024
Stage type: Mountains
Summary: Immediately after the TT is the first five-star difficulty (according to the organizers) stage of the Giro. It should also be a fun one. A short day at 152 km, stage 8 finishes with the first-category slog to Prati di Tivo, 14.6 km in length and at a relatively steady 7 percent grade. Anyone who went too deep in the time trial could lose chunks of time.
Stage 9: Avezzano to Napoli – 214 km
Date: Sunday May 12, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: The last stage before the first rest day seems likely to come down to a sprint, but the Giro sees its fair share of surprise breakaway successes on stages like this, and what’s more, the late lumps could whittle down the group a bit or even spur attacks on the run-in to Naples.
Stage 10: Pompei to Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva) – 142 km
Date: Tuesday May 14, 2024
Stage type: Hilly (summit finish)
Summary: After a rest day, the peloton will have its work cut out for it on a stage 10 with a great chance of GC action. After leaving from historic Pompei, the riders will cover plenty of up and down on an otherwise short stage. The Bocca della Selva climb is a stair-step affair with a particularly steep final 6 km.
Stage 11: Foiano di Val Fortore to Francavilla al Mare – 207 km
Date: Wednesday May 15, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: The peloton will see the Adriatic coast for the first time on stage 11, a day tailor made for the sprinters. Speeds should get pretty high in the waterfront finale, where the fast finishers will have more than 3 km of straightaway on the run-in to the line.
Stage 12: Martinsicuro to Fano – 193 km
Date: Thursday May 16, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: Another stage along the coast, this one has the potential to be another sprint finish, but that’s not guaranteed given all the small climbs on the menu. None is particularly challenging but altogether – and including the uncategorized Monte Giove ascent at the end of the day – they could bring the more versatile riders to the fore.
Stage 13: Riccione to Cento – 179 km
Date: Friday May 17, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: There is nary a categorized climb on the stage 13 profile. In fact, it’s about as flat a stage as you’ll see as a Grand Tour. Plus there’s a time trial the next day. Anything other than a big bunch sprint would be a surprise.
Stage 14: Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda – 31.2 km (ITT)
Date: Saturday May 18, 2024
Stage type: Time trial
Summary: One week after the first TT comes the second, a 31.2 km affair in Lombardy. The course should suit the specialists, which could also mean that any of the purer climbers hoping to be in the mix for pink could ship quite a bit of time when all is said and done.
Stage 15: Manerba del Garda to Livigno (Mottolino) – 222 km
Date: Sunday May 19, 2024
Stage type: Mountains
Summary: The longest stage in the 2024 Giro will also be one of the hardest, with a mid-stage trip over the Mortirolo and some high elevations on tap. The finale will throw two Cat. 1 climbs at riders in short succession with a blazing descent between them. As with any day in the mountains, the battle for the stage could come down to the break, but it’s hard to see the GC group staying together on these gradients regardless. At least there will be a rest day to follow the action.
Stage 16: Livigno to Santa Cristina Valgardena/St. Christina in Gröden (Monte Pana) – 202 km
Date: Tuesday May 21, 2024
Stage type: Mountains
Summary: After a restful Monday, riders will get right back to climbing with an interesting stage 16 that traverses the Cima Coppi (the highest point in the race) on the Passo di Stelvio before a descent of 2,500 meters of elevation. After a long flat to slightly downhill stretch, the road will kick up sharply in the form of a Cat. 1 climb with a quick downhill to follow and then one last very steep Cat. 2 ascent to the line.
Stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena/Wolkenstein in Gröden to Passo del Brocon – 159 km
Date: Wednesday May 22, 2024
Stage type: Mountains
Summary: The Giro will throw more challenging climbs at the peloton as we get to watch the race roll through the beautiful scenery of the Dolomites on stage 17, and isn’t that what it’s all about? This is a day for the climbers, obviously, and it should have GC implications, though the stage win itself could be one for the breakaway with all of that up-and-down. Note that although you will see the Passo Brocon twice at the end of the day, the riders will take on the climb via different directions each time.
Stage 18: Fiera di Primiero to Padova – 178 km
Date: Thursday May 23, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: The trek from Fiera di Primiero to historic Padua (Padova in Italian) will give the GC riders a bit of a break as the sprinters come to the fore for a bunch kick. After a straight run-in to the city center, there are two 90-ish-degree turns inside the last kilometer, which could make things interesting at the very end of the day.
Stage 19: Mortegliano to Sappada – 157 km
Date: Friday May 24, 2024
Stage type: Hilly
Summary: The breakaway specialists should like their chances on the Giro’s 19th stage. The flat first half of the day should see the early move get a sizable gap, and then the second half of the day has enough climbing to put the sprinters in difficulty but not enough to guarantee GC action. Punchy riders who aren’t in contention for pink are going to have this stage on their minds.
Stage 20: Alpago to Bassano del Grappa – 184 km
Date: Saturday May 25, 2024
Stage type: Mountains
Summary: Given the start list and the route of this Giro, it seems likely that the general classification will be mostly decided by the time the riders take on the penultimate stage, but if the race does happen to still be close here, two trips up and over Monte Grappa will certainly provide the opportunity for fireworks. It’s one of the harder first-category climbs you’ll find in a Grand Tour this year, with gradients to 14% in spots – certainly steep enough to force a selection. Descending skills will be key here as well: From the top of the second ascent, it’s just over 30 mostly downhill kilometers to the finish.
Stage 21: Roma – 125 km
Date: Sunday May 26, 2024
Stage type: Flat
Summary: Three weeks of Grand Tour racing will come to an end in the Italian capital. After a quick trip to the seaside and back, the peloton will do eight laps on a finishing circuit in Rome. The sprinters will get one last shot at a win before the pink jersey celebrates the overall victory at the line.
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