The Grueling Giro D'Italia Cycling Race

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who wants to can participate in the Giro d'Italia. Races like the Tour de France have strict criteria for participation based on a rider's UCI World Tour ranking, but the Giro is much more of a free-for-all. Anyone with a road bike and the necessary license/assurance/immunizations can enter the race and some of them do. There are also Giro-specific categories for riders with special needs, such as the blind, deaf, or amputees. However, the Giro d'Italia is not for the faint of heart. This is a brutal race that showcases the very best in endurance athletics, and for some riders it will be a test of their very will to live. For example, the Giro d'Italia stages are almost always longer than their Tour de France counterparts, that's important to know because longer stages lead to longer days in the saddle.

Basics: What Is The Giro D’Italia?

The Giro d'Italia is a three-week road cycling race. It is the first of the three "Grand Tours" in professional cycling: the other two are the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. The Giro is the oldest and most prestigious of the three, and generally features higher altitudes and more challenging courses than the Tour de France or the Vuelta. The race was first run in 1909, and since then, it has grown to become the most important and prestigious cycling event in the world. Riders from all over the world are invited to compete, and the Giro is one of the only cycling races that can be won in any given year by a rider from any country. The Giro is run every May and June, while the Tour de France is held in July. The Vuelta is held in September.

How Long Does It Last?

The Giro d'Italia starts in Italy, travels to France, and then returns back to Italy. Each stage is about 200 kilometers long, and there are usually two rest days where no racing occurs. In all, the Giro d'Italia lasts about three weeks from start to finish. The Giro d'Italia is one of the three Grand Tours, along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. The Grand Tours are the most prestigious multi-week cycling races in the world, and the Giro is the oldest and most prestigious of the three.

Route Overview

The Giro d'Italia has three parts: a travel section, a home section, and another travel section. The travel section is the first part of the race and lasts about one or two weeks, with the exact length depending on which route the Giro takes through France. Once the race enters Italy, it stays there for the rest of the event. The travel section determines the winner of the race. It's not uncommon for top riders to finish in a dead heat for the win, and the person who comes out on top of the travel portion of the race takes the victory. The home section is the final 10 days of the race. It's held primarily in Italy, and it ends with a big event in Rome.

Key Stages: Where Things Get Exciting

The Giro d'Italia is a grueling event, so there are plenty of exciting stages but these are the ones where things get truly wild. Stage 14, the last time this stage was run, in 2017, the riders had to contend with 50-kilometer-per-hour winds. Injuries were reported as multiple crashes occurred, including one that took out seven of the top 10 riders. Stage 16, this is another stage where conditions can be extremely challenging. It often runs through mountains, where high altitudes make the heat even more oppressive. Stage 19, it's unusual to have a rest day in the middle of the Giro d'Italia, but Stage 19 features one. It's held on the day between the two rest days, so the riders will have raced for almost three weeks by the time they get a break.

Famous Moments In Giro D’Italia History

The Giro d'Italia has an exciting history, and these are some of the most famous moments.

1943: The Giro d'Italia was interrupted by World War II, and it didn't run again until 1946.

1947: British rider Bob Boston won the Giro d'Italia, just a few years after the war ended.

1953: Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali were the two biggest stars of the Giro d'Italia and they were fierce rivals. This year, there were two Giri d'Italias. 1964: Gaston "El Torpedo" Endura rode the Giro d'Italia without his hands, and still finished in fifth place.

Bottom line

The Giro d'Italia is a grueling and challenging race. The riders have to contend with challenging terrain, unpredictable weather, and their own physical and mental capacities under extreme pressure. Despite these challenges, the Giro d'Italia has been entertaining the world with its dramatic racing since 1919.