The 2024 Giro d'Italia will include two time trials (of 40.6km and 31.2km), 11.6 m of Strade Bianche gravel sections on stage 6 and six mountain top finishes.
New to the route this year is the Intergiro sprint, a separate classification of mid-stage sprints to go along the the intermediate sprint that provides points toward the maglia ciclamino, and the time bonus sprints that factor into the general classification.
Race organiser RCS Sport has done a deal with UAE Team Emirates to secure the presence of Tadej Pogačar and he will surely be the star of the race in 2024.
The 107th edition of the Corsa Rosa starts in Turin on Saturday, May 4 and ends in Rome with a circuit stage around the Colosseum on Sunday, May 26.
The riders face three weeks of racing. However, RCS Sport have finally followed other Grand Tour and reduced stage distances to try to make the daily racing more exciting, with only four stages over 200km and many around 160km.
Total distance: 3,400.8 kilometres
Average stage distance: 161.9km
Total altitude gain: 44,650 metres
Possible sprint stages: 7
The full route was presented in Trento in October during the Gazzetta dello Sport Festival of Sport. 2023 winner Primož Roglič, his Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Jai Hindley, Filippo Ganna, Peter Sagan and two-time winner Vincenzo Nibali were all presented at the route presentation and liked what they saw.
The time trials are on stage 7 in Umbria, with a climb up to the finish in central Perugia after 40.6km and on stage 14 over a flat 31.2km near the foot of Lake Garda.
The mountain finishes start early in the 2024 Corsa Rosa meaning the overall contenders will have to be at their best when they travel to Italy in early May.
The first key stage is on stage 2 to Oropa, with other tough days in the mountain on stage 8 to Prati di Tivo in the southern Apennines and to Cusano Mutri inland from Naples on stage 10.
The final week is packed with climbs, with stage 15 finishing at 2385 metres in Livigno.
After the second rest day the riders climb the Passo dello Stelvio, the highest point in the 2024 Giro d'Italia at 2758 metres and so the Cima Coppi. Sadly the legendary climb come early in the stage followed by a fast valley ride east for an 11%, 2.7km mountain finish at Monte Pana near Santa Cristina in Val Gardena.
Stage 17 includes several climbs and finishes on the Passo Brocon, while stage 19 returns to Sappada to no doubt evoke memories of Stephen Roche's attack and overall victory in the 1987 Giro d'Italia.
Stage 20 offers a final chance to snatch overall victory with a double climb of Monte Grappa in the Veneto region. The fast descent to the finish could be as decisive as the two climbs.
The 2024 Giro d'Italia winner will be crowned like a Roman Emperor in the centre of Rome, after an environmentally unfriendly 550 km transfer to the capital.
Stage 1: Venaria Reale-Torino, 140km
- Berzano di San Pietro (cat. 4), km 48.4
- Intermediate sprint: km. 57.9
- Superga (via dei Colli) (cat. 3), km 78.5
- Intergiro time bonus sprint: km. 104.7
- Colle Maddalena (cat. 2), km.118.1
- Time bonus sprint: km. 130.4
The 2024 Grande Partenza was revealed in October with Turin and the Piemonte region hosting the opening three stages before the route heads south.
The northeast of Italy is a crossroads of Grand Tour racing in 2024, with the area also hosting a stage of the 2024 Tour de France after the Grand Depart in Tuscany, with reports that the 2025 Vuelta a Espana could also start in Piemonte.
Teams will stay in and around Turin, with stage 1 starting from Venaria Reale north of the city. This is the fourth Giro Grande Partenza in the city, with Ganna the last winner of an individual time trial in 2021.
The opening stage coincides with the 75th anniversary of the 1949 air tragedy when a plane carrying Turin's football team, known locally as Grande Torino, crashed on the Superga hilltop on the outskirts of the city and all 31 people on board died.
The 140km stage will climb the Superga climb mid-stage before the Colle Maddalena and a fast descent to the finish in central Turin. The sprinters will have to work for a shot at victory and the first maglia rosa.
Stage 2: San Francesco al Campo - Santuario di Oropa, 161km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 93.9
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 106.6
- Oasi Zegna (cat. 3), km. 122.7
- Neva (cat 3.), km 137.4
- Intermediate sprint, km. 150.1
- Finish: Santuario di Oropa (cat. 1), km 161
Stage 2 will be the earliest major mountain finish at the Giro d'Italia since the race began in Sicily in 1989 and went up Mount Etna.
The Oropa finish also marks the 25th anniversary of Marco Pantani's famous victory on the climb to the sanctuary in 1999, when he dropped his chain at the foot of the climb but blasted past all his rivals. A week later Pantani failed a haematocrit test and was excluded from the race, changing his career and life forever.
The Oropa climb is not long or steep at 11.8km and 6.2% but Tom Dumoulin distanced his rivals back in 2017.
Stage 3: Novara - Fossano, 166km
- Lu (cat. 4), km. 58.1
- Intermediate sprint, km. 78.8
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 97.1
- Time bonus sprint, km. 143.9
The sprinters will finally get their chance on stage 3 to Fossano, which last hosted a stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2014 as the start town of stage 13.
Stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora, 190km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 79.2
- Colle del Melogno (cat. 3), km. 88.1
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 116
- Time bonus sprint, km. 130.6
The sprinters could also look to stage 4 to Andorra on the Ligurian coast as a second opportunity if they can survive the midstage Colle del Melogno, which comes midway through the stage. A small climb, the Capo Mele, before the finish could limit the size of any bunch sprint.
Stage 5: Genova - Lucca, 179km
- Passo del Bracco (cat. 3), km. 63.1
- Intermediate sprint, km. 100.2
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 119.3
- Time bonus sprint, km. 151.2
- Montemagno (cat. 4), km. 157.8
Stage 5 to Lucca on the Tuscan coast is also relatively flat with the category 3 Passo del Bracco in the first half. Sprinters would have to survive the late Montemagno climb to contest for the stage win.
Stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme, 180km
- Volterra (cat. 4), km. 80.4
- Intermediate sprint, km. 103.8
- Grotti (cat. 4), km. 140.4
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 152.7
- Time bonus sprint, km. 164.5
Stage 6 from Lucca to Rapolano Terme is more testing, with the second half of the 180km stage in the Chianti hills south of Siena.
The stage covers the Vidritta and Bagnaia dirt roads used in Strade Bianche each spring, plus a new sector near Pievina and an uphill finish in Rapolano Terme. It seems a perfect day for the Classics riders will be a test of bike skills and nerve for the overall contenders, too.
Stage 7: Foligno - Perugia (ITT), 40.6km
- First intermediate time check: km. 18.6
- Second intermediate time check: km. 34
The stage 7 40.6km Foligno to Perugia time trial is an early important stage for anyone targeting the maglia rosa. Lose a minute here and it will be difficult to recover.
Stage 8: Spoleto - Prati di Tivo, 152km
- Forca Capistrello (cat. 2), km. 37.1
- Intermediate sprint, km. 58
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 104.4
- Croce Abbio (cat. 3), km. 112.6
- Time bonus sprint, km. 146
- Finish: Prati di Tivo (cat. 1), km. 152
Stage 8 ends with the 14.6km climb to Prati di Tivo near the Gran Sasso in Abruzzo. The climb was used in the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico, with Tadej Pogačar beating Simon Yates to set up the overall victory.
Stage 9: Avezzano - Napoli, 214km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 132.2
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 158.5
- Monte di Procida (cat. 4), km. 178.3
- Time bonus sprint, km. 181.4
Stage 9 takes the Giro peloton to Napoli for the now traditional circuit finish in the hills of the city.
Stage 10: Pompei - Cusano Mutri, 142km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 52.1
- Camposauro (cat. 2), km. 82.5
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 104.8
- Time bonus sprint, km. 121.4
- Finish: Cusano Mutri (cat. 1), km. 142
The riders will enjoy the first rest day on Monday, May 13 in the Naples area before stage 10 starts from Pompeii and its famous Roman ruins that were buried under ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius erupted on a massive scale in 79 A.D.
The 142km stage is short but includes a number of climbs and ends with the 20.9km, 4.6% grind to Cusano Mutri and the Bocca della Selva climb.
Stage 11: Foiano di Valfortore to Francavilla al Mare, 207km
- Pietracatella (cat. 3), km. 48.4
- Intermediate sprint, km. 75.4
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 137.9
- Time bonus sprint, km. 172.5
The route crosses to the Adriatic coast for the second week, with a sprint stage likely in Francavilla a Mare on stage 11. The category 3 climb early in the stage and some small uncategorized hills just before the finish could make life tough for pure sprinters.
Stage 12: Martinsicuro - Fano, 193km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 77.5
- Osimo (cat. 4), km. 93.2
- Monsano (cat. 4), km. 126.8
- Ostra (cat. 4), km. 138.4
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 147.8
- La Croce (cat. 4), km. 150.6
- Time bonus sprint, km. 161.4
Stage 12 to Fano may look flat but includes a series of short steep climbs in the second half of the 193km stage, which seems ideal for a breakaway but also another GC showdown.
Stage 13: Riccione - Cento, 179km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 65.8
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 95.1
- Time bonus sprint, km. 113.3
Stage 13 is as flat as it gets with 179 kilometres and barely a highway overpass to climb before the finish in Cento in Emilia Romagna.
Stage 14: Castiglione delle Stiviere - Desenzano del Garda (ITT), 31.2km
- First intermediate time check, km. 7.8
- Second intermediate time check, km. 23.2
The second time trial comes on stage 14, with a flat and fast 31.2km 'cronometro' from Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda on the southern edge of the lake. It is a time trial for the specialists and the last chance to gain time before the mountains of the final week.
Stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Livigno (Mottolino), 222km
- Lodrino (cat. 3), km. 37.7
- Colle San Zeno (cat. 2), km. 64.7
- Intermediate sprint, km. 130.3
- Passo del Mortirolo (cat. 1), km. 155.4
- Time bonus sprint, km. 193.2
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 197.6
- Passo di Foscagno (cat. 1), km. 213.3
- Finish: Livigno (cat. 1), km. 222
The high mountains begin on stage 15 and the third Sunday of the race. The 222km stage remains the longest of the 2024 Giro d'Italia despite a route change after Swiss authorities blocked passage across the border to the final climb of Livigno.
As a result, the third-category climb to Aprica and the first-category Forcola di Livigno are off the route, instead replaced by the fearsome first-category 12.6km Mortirolo and another first-category test up the 15km Passo di Foscagno.
The final remains in Livigno, though climbing up the Italian side to the town with a short and very sharp 4.7km ascent with gradients once again hitting well into the double digits.
Stage 16: Livigno - Santa Cristina Valgardena (Monte Pana), 202km
- Passo di Stelvio (Cima Coppi), km. 53.4
- Intermediate sprint, km. 157.4
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 173.7
- Time bonus sprint, km. 180.8
- Passo Pinei (cat. 1), km. 190
- Finish: Monte Pana (cat. 2), km. 202
The riders will spend the second day at altitude in Livigno, unable to escape the mountains to come.
Stage 16 is 202km and starts with the Passo dello Stelvio. Having the Cimas Coppi so close to the start is a pity but will still hurt. The stage then descended into the valley and across to the Val Gardena dolomites for the climb up the little-known Passi di Pinei and up further to Val Gardena.
Stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena - Passo del Brocon, 159km
- Passo Sella (cat. 2), km. 8.9
- Intermediate sprint, km. 46.7
- Passo Rolle (cat. 1), km. 67.6
- Passo Gobbera (cat. 3), km. 100.4
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 112
- Passo Brocon (cat. 2), km. 127.2
- Time bonus sprint, km. 147.2
- Finish: Passo Brocon (cat. 1), km. 159
Stage 17 is arguably the tappone of the 2024 Giro d'Italia and so the Queen stage. The 159km ride starts immediately with the Passo Sella and then climbs the Passo Rolle and then the high plain Passo Brocon twice via a nasty loop. The middle third of the 10.9k climb is especially hard, with a gradient of 10.5% for three kilometres.
Stage 18: Fiera di Primiero - Padova, 178km
- Lamon (cat. 4), km. 17.6
- Intermediate sprint, km. 67.9
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 106.8
- Time bonus sprint, km. 131.5
RCS Sport have put a long descent and so expected sprint finish at the end of stage 18 to Padua but the mountains return on stage 19 for the final GC battle of the 2024 Giro.
Stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada, 157km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 56.1
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 100.4
- Passo Duron (cat. 2), km. 104.9
- Time bonus sprint, km. 116.3
- Sella Valcalda (cat. 3), km. 121.7
- Cima Sappada (cat. 2), km. 150.8
Stage 19 climbs high to Sappada close to the border with Austria, with an extra climb from the village up to Cima Sappada and the Biathlon arena included in the short 157km stage.
In 1987, Roche attacked race leader and fellow Carrera team leader Roberto Visentini and went on to gain 6:50 and the maglia rosa in Sappada. Perhaps the road will inspire similar skulduggery in 2024.
Stage 20: Alpago - Bassano del Grappa, 184km
- Muro di ca 'del Poggio (cat. 4), km. 30.3
- Intermediate sprint, km. 75.3
- Monte Grappa (cat. 1), km. 106.1
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 135
- Monte Grappa (cat. 1), km. 153.3
- Time bonus sprint, km. 163.6
Stage 20 is over 184km and includes two climbs of Monte Grappa, which overlooks the Vento plains and remembers the many lives lost in the First World War and the many members of the Italian resistance who were killed at the end of World War II when Germany occupied Italy.
The stage also passes through San Martino di Colle Umberto to remember Ottavio Bottecchia on the hundredth anniversary of his Tour de France victory. It climbs Monte Grappa from the Treviso side and Semonzo, with riders facing an 18.1km climb on the nearly constant 8% military gradients and sweeping hairpins.
Stage 21: Rome - Rome, 125km
- Intermediate sprint, km. 68
- Intergiro bonus sprint, km. 96.5
- Time bonus sprint, km. 106
Whoever is in the maglia rosa after the final summit finish will surely be crowned the overall winner of the 2024 Giro d'Italia the following day in central Rome.
