Preview on all 21 stages of the 2024 Giro d’Italia

Where does the 107th Tour of Italy lead and how difficult are the individual stages? All the answers are here! First up: In total, there are 2 individual time trials, 6 flat stages, 6 mountain stages, and 7 hilly stages. This adds up to 3,321.2 kilometers and 42,900 meters of elevation gain.

Stage 1 | May 4 | Venaria Reale – Turin | 136 km

No chance for the top sprinters to don the pink jersey at the start of the Giro d’Italia. Like the Tour de France, the Tour of Italy 2024 begins with a challenging stage. On the relatively short section from Venaria Reale to Turin, riders must tackle three “classic” climbs: Berzano di San Pietro, Superga, and Colle della Maddalena. The last part – which also includes the 6.1-kilometer-long Category 2 climb Colle della Maddalena – is a circuit in Turin where a lot can happen.

Stage 2 | May 5 | San Francesco al Campo – Santuario di Oropa | 150 km

The first mountain finish “awaits” the riders already on day two. From San Francesco al Campo, the peloton crosses the Canavese and Biellese areas, climbs the Category 3 climbs Oasi Zegna and Nelvaum, to reach the base of the legendary Oropa climb after nearly 140 kilometers. The road leads up to the monastery for 11.8 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.2%. This climb became famous through Marco Pantani, where “Il Pirata” achieved a spectacular victory, overtaking everyone after a tire puncture and storming solo to the summit.

Stage 3 | May 6 | Novara – Fossano | 165 km

At first glance, the stage seems tailor-made for the top sprinters. No major difficulties on the 165-kilometer stretch from Novara through the Po Valley to Fossano. However, the route to the finish line includes a tricky, slightly uphill 1.8 kilometers.

Stage 4 | May 7 | Acqui Terme – Andora | 187 km

On the fourth day, the Giro leaves Piedmont after starting in Aqui Terme. Riders get a taste of Milan-Sanremo as the route crosses the Colle del Melogno (4th Category) and runs along the Ligurian coast, even passing over one of the famous Capi, the Capo Melle, in the finale. However, this small buildup is unlikely to lessen the sprinters’ chances of a stage win.

Stage 5 | May 8 | Genoa – Lucca | 176 km

From the capital of Liguria, the fifth stage runs along the Via Aurelia, along the coast, to end in Tuscany. In the stage finish at Lucca, the sprinters might again contest the victory if their teams control the race up to the Category 4 climb of Montemagno, which is crossed just 20 kilometers before the finish.

Stage 6 | May 9 | Viareggio – Rapolano Terme | 177 km

The sixth day leads into the heart of Tuscany. The destination, Rapolano Terme, known for its thermal springs, is just 20 kilometers from Siena. No wonder, then, that gravel sectors are included on this day – on the Strade Bianche of Tuscany. Riders must tackle three gravel sectors totaling 11.6 kilometers in length on the final nearly 50 kilometers. The second sector will be the toughest, leading 4.8 kilometers up to the Category 4 climb in Grotti.

Stage 7 | May 10 | Foligno – Perugia (ITT) | 37.2 km

The first of two individual time trials of this Giro covers 37.2 kilometers from Foligno to Perugia. While the first good 30 kilometers are a classic roller course where absolute power and aerodynamics count, the course rises towards the finish. Thus, the finale of this time trial is a Category 4 climb, 3 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7%.

Stage 8 | May 11 | Spoleto – Prati di Tivo | 153 km

The short 153-kilometer mountain stage with the finish at the “summit” in Prato di Tivo will be the first real form test for the classification riders and will show who is strong in the mountains. The route of the 8th day leads essentially only up and down.

Immediately after the start in Spoleto, the riders climb over 8.2 kilometers and almost 400 vertical meters up to the uncategorized Forca di Cerro. A descent is followed by the 16.3-kilometre category 2 climb to the Forca Capistrello. The riders are then on undulating roads on a high plateau for almost 80 kilometers before “climbing” again to Croce Abbio (1276 meters). From up there, the route leads downhill for around 35 kilometers before the final climb begins. The category 1 ascent leads 14.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 7 percent up to the ski area – not far from Campo Imperatore.

Stage 9 | 12. May | Avezzano – Napoli | 206 km

On day nine of the Giro d’Italia, the riders have to tackle the first of four “long belts” with a distance of over 200 kilometers. There are no real difficulties on the route from Avezzano to Naples. At the beginning, the course is downhill. The final 30 kilometers are slightly undulating. However, the sprinters in the slipstream of their teammates are likely to fly over these “kickers” towards the finish at a good pace and decide the winner in a sprint royal.

Stage 10 | May 14 | Pompei – Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva) | 141 km

After the first rest day of this Tour of Italy, Stage 10 starts in Pompei. The course then continues relatively flat through Nola and Montesarchio before ascending again to the limestone massifs such as Camposauro – a category two climb of 6.1 kilometers and an average gradient of 7.8%. Following a descent, there’s a moderate ascent combined with undulating terrain over Guardia Sanframondi, before reaching Cusano Mutri.

Just past this town starts the final climb with a length of nearly 18 kilometers and a moderate average gradient of 5.6%. Despite the mountain finish, this section offers nearly perfect terrain for a breakaway group filled with climbers, from which the winner might emerge.

Stage 11 | May 15 | Foiano di Valfortore – Francavilla al Mare | 203 km

Sprinters’ teams versus breakaways! This could be the theme for the 203-kilometer section. While the stage, starting from Foiano di Valfortore, might challenge the explosive, fast-finishing men due to the climb, after about 50 kilometers, the toughest part is done. If the sprinters’ teams organize well here, they will have nearly three race hours towards the sea to catch the “fugitives”. It could get interesting again if the wind blows stronger on- or offshore in the afternoon, as the final 80 kilometers run along the coast.

Stage 12 | May 16 | Martinsicuro – Fano | 183 km

This stage of the Giro is for puncheurs and classic hunters. After about 60 kilometers of flat start, the remaining 120 kilometers of the 12th day’s segment includes over a dozen short and steep climbs in the Marche region. Only five of these are categorized, and the decisive one will likely be the climb up to San Costanzo, which is located 12 kilometers before the stage finish in Fano. Here, one or more riders from the breakaway group might pull ahead to contest the victory among themselves.

Stage 13 | May 17 | Riccione – Cento | 179 km

The stage with the least elevation awaits the riders between Riccione on the Adriatic and Cento. Just 150 meters of elevation will be recorded at the end of the utterly flat 179 kilometers. Thus, it is a day section seemingly crafted for sprinters.

Stage 14 | May 18 | Castiglione delle Stiviere – Desenzano del Garda (ITT) | 31 km

The second time trial of this Giro d’Italia could, due to the flat course, be an event for the rouleurs among the time trial specialists. The route, which curves broadly to the finish at Lake Garda, is flat and straightforward. Time trial specialist “Pippo” Ganna will surely mark this day red on his calendar.

Stage 15 | May 19 | Manerba del Garda – Livigno | 220 km

With the longest stage, the second week of the Giro d’Italia 2024 ends. Riders have to cover 220 kilometers from the shores of Lake Garda to the high mountains. As if the distance were not enough of a challenge, the elevation also adds up to a record value of over 5200 meters for this Tour of Italy.

Originally, the route of this king stage of the Tour of Italy was supposed to go through Aprica, the Forcola di Livigno in Switzerland, and the Passo d’Eira. However, the Swiss authorities did not give the green light for securing the Alpine pass Forcola di Livigno, so the race organizer RCS had to replan and adjust the course layout. The second part of the stage leads over Mortirolo and Foscagno Pass to the final climb in Livigno.

From the start in Manerba del Garda, the 15th stage leads up to Lorino to the first real climb of the day: the Colle San Zeno. This category-two climb stretches over 13.8 kilometers with steep sections of up to 14 percent. A good warm-up for what awaits the riders in about 120 kilometers. The first of the three category-one climbs is the Mortirolo at race kilometer 153.4.

After the descent, the road rises steadily again before the actual ascent to Foscagno Pass begins. It stretches over 14.6 kilometers with an average gradient of 6.5 percent, reaching 2,291 meters—the roof of this stage. After a short descent, the route leads the final 2 kilometers up the Mottolino ski slope with gradients of up to 18 percent.

Stage 16 | May 21 | Livigno – Santa Cristina val Gardena (Monte Pana) | 202 km

The riders continue after the rest day where they left off on the previous stage 15, in terms of difficulty, length, and location. Right after the start in Livigno at 1,915 meters, the road climbs for 4.5 kilometers to the uncategorized Passo di Eira (2,210 meters). Followed by a short descent, a short climb up to Passo di Foscagno (2,281 meters) begins immediately. After a good 20-kilometer-long descent, the approach to this Giro’s Cima Coppi begins in Bormio. The Stelvio Pass, at 2,758 meters, is the highest point of this Giro d’Italia. The climb is 20.2 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7.2 percent—spread across 39 turns.

From the summit, a 25-kilometer-long descent through 48 curves leads down to Prad. Through the Etsch Valley and over Meran, the riders then reach Bolzano at race kilometer 157.9. Just behind the capital of South Tyrol, the finale of this stage begins. First with the gentle but long category-1 climb up to Pander Saddle (23.4 km at 4.7%), and after a short intermediate descent, the route climbs over 7.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.1 percent to the mountain finish (category 2) in Santa Christina in Val Gardena.

Stage 17 | May 22 | Selva di Val Gardena – Passo del Brocon | 154 km

The short and sharp 17th stage leads over 159 kilometers through the Dolomites. Right after the start in Wolkenstein, the pros climb the 2,244-meter-high Passo Sella—a category-2 climb of 8.9 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.4 percent. After a short, fast descent and a longer slightly descending section through the Fassa Valley, they reach Predazzo. Here, the ski jumping competitions of the 2024 Winter Olympics will take place.

From Predazzo, the course leads partly through open terrain, partly through the forest up to the category-1 mountain Passo Rolle. A long climb with an average gradient of 4.8 percent, it is not too difficult to ride from this side due to its average gradient of 4.8 percent. After the long descent, the peloton then crosses the shorter Passo Gobbera (category 3) before the finale with the double Passo Brocon is introduced.

Just 50 kilometers before the finish, the first passage leads over 13.3 kilometers with an average gradient of 6.5 percent up to the pass height. After a 15-kilometer-long descent, the climbing part to the last mountain finish of this Giro d’Italia begins. With a length of 14 kilometers and ramps of up to 14 percent, it provides the scene for a duel of the best.

Stage 18 | May 23 | Fiera Di Primiero – Padua | 166 km

A breather stage for the GC riders and their teammates. However, not for the “daredevils” and the sprinter teams. For during this 166-kilometer-long section, the expected and popular cat-and-mouse game between breakaways and sprinter teams will occur as the peloton sets off from Feltre through the Prosecco vineyards heading towards Padua.

Stage 19 | May 24 | Mortegliano – Sappada | 154 km

The profile is like a painting for strong, climbing-focused breakaways. With 2,700 meters of elevation over 155 kilometers, it’s not as challenging as a high mountain stage but demanding enough to make a break. The course continuously climbs from the start in Mortegliano through Tolmezzo to the summit of Passo Duron (category 2). After a descent, the second topographical challenge of the day, Sella Valcalda (category 3), follows before heading into the final climb to Sappada. The category-2 mountain is 8.5 kilometers long with an average gradient of 4.7 percent. Once the pass height is reached, the last 7 kilometers first descend then rise slightly to the finish.

Stage 20 | May 25 | Alpago – Bassano Del Grappa | 175 km

The last tough mountain stage of this Giro d’Italia occurs on the penultimate day of the race, crossing Monte Grappa twice—from the Semonzo side each time. After a flat first half of the stage, which only includes the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio (category 4), the climb starts at race kilometer 80. The road winds up 18.2 kilometers with an average gradient of 8.1 percent to the pass height at 1,675 meters. After a descent with a short intermediate climb at Il Pianaro, the course drops over 27.4 kilometers down to Semonzo, where the second act of this mountain drama begins. From the last crossing, it’s then 30.5 kilometers to the finish in Bassano del Grappa.

Stage 21 | May 26 | Rome – Rome | 126 km

As in 2023, the Giro will also conclude in the eternal city in 2024. The Colosseum provides a spectacular backdrop to showcase the riders after the three-week ordeal. The victory in Rome will be contested among the remaining sprinters in the race.

Images Profiles: R.C.S.