Monday, October 6, 2014

2015 Giro d'Italia Race Route and Details


The 98th Giro d’Italia, organized by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, scheduled for 9-31 May 2015, was unveiled in Milan today,

The philosophy behind the race route is balance, in line with recent years, with fewer transfers and an approach geared up for modern cycling. In summary: 1 team time trial, 1 individual time trial, 5 high mountain stages, 7 flatter stages and 7 medium mountain stages.

Like an inverted, three-week Classicissima, the 2015 Giro starts near Sanremo in Riviera dei Fiori (Liguria) and finishes in Milan. Along the way, it tells a story with social, cultural, historical dimensions.

Final stage from Turin to Milan: Turin, the 2015 European Capital of Sport, and Milan, the host of Expo 2015, book-end the final stage.

Celebrating the career of Cadel Evans
During the Giro ceremony, Cadel Evans was invited to take to the stage for a presentation in recognition of his career. The Corsa Rosa and the invited audience gave him a standing ovation.

The Giro d’italia remembers Alfredo Martini
Respected former rider and coach Alfredo Martini (1921-2014) died in August. During his 23-year tenure as Italian national selector, he guided his riders to 6 World Championship wins. He will be commemorated during the Giro.

The Gran Fondo along a Giro stage route is to be revived in 2015
It will take place on Sunday 24 May, starting and finishing at Aprica and including the climb of the grueling Mortirolo.

The presentation included a performance by the young British singer Jasmine Thompson of her hit song ‘Let Her Go.’

Brian Cookson, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s world governing body, attended the Giro presentation, and commented: "I am delighted to see that the 2015 Giro d’Italia will go through some of Italy’s most iconic regions and cities. It reminds me of some of the great battles of past editions. The Giro d’Italia is a true legend in our sport and an important race for the future of road cycling. I believe that this 2015 edition will be extremely challenging, combining some testing early stages together with the highest mountains in the last week. I really cannot wait for May 2015."

THE 98TH GIRO D’ITALIA IN NUMBERS

1 – National border crossing (Switzerland)
2 – Rest Days (Monday 18 May, Monday 25 May)
4 – Giro race starts in Liguria (Genoa 1980, 1992, 2004; Sanremo 1987)
5 – Mountain stages (Fiuggi-Campitello Matese, Marostica-Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo-Aprica, Gravellona Toce-Cervinia, Saint Vincent-Sestriere)
7 – Sprint stages (Albenga-Genova, Montecatini Terme-Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto-Fiuggi, Civitanova Marche-Forlì, Montecchio Maggiore-Jesolo, Tirano-Lugano, Turin-Milan);
7 – Medium mountain stages (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Chiavari-La Spezia, La Spezia-Abetone, Benevento-San Giorgio del Sannio, Forlì-Imola (Enzo & Dino Ferrari Autodrome), Imola-Vicenza (Monte Berico), Melide-Verbania)
7 – Uphill finishes (Abetone, Campitello Matese, Vicenza (Monte Berico), Madonna di Campiglio, Aprica, Cervinia, Sestriere)
29 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by non-Italians
68 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by Italians
76.8 – Kilometres of time trials (17.6 km “Riviera dei Fiori” team time trial, 59,2 individual time trial Treviso - Valdobbiadene)
136 – Length of the two shortest road stages in kilometers (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Tirano-Lugano)
152 – Kilometers in the stage dedicated to Gino Bartali, La Spezia – Abetone
263 – Kilometers in the longest stage (Grosseto – Fiuggi)
1,854 – the altitude, in meters, of the Mortirolo, the Montagna Pantani in the 2015 Giro
2,178 – the altitude, in meters, of the Colle delle Finestre, the Cima Coppi in the 2015 Giro
3,481.8 - the total length of the Giro, in kilometers
43,000 – vertical meters climbed during the 2015 Giro

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.  


1 comment:

  1. A gran fondo associated with the Giro would be great. They have done it in the past. As much as the course (Aprica-Aprica via Mortirolo) sounds legendary, holding it before June could be risky. Those areas are still prone to bad weather, even snow, as we have seen recently. I hope they have a contingency plan!

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