2023 Giro d'Italia route revealed

The 106th edition of the Italian Grand Tour features three time trials and five mountain top finishes from the Adriatic Coast around Italy in a clockwise direction into the Alps and Dolomites before a transfer for the finale in Rome this May

Race organizers announced that the Italian Grand Tour will run from Saturday May 6th - Sunday May 28th on classic route.

The route is impressive, with a total of 3,449km and 51,300m of climbing. There are three time trial stages totaling 71km on the opening stage, stage before the rest day and a more difficult uphill affair on the penultimate stage before a long transfer down to Rome.

Sprinters will have plenty of opportunities on eight fairly flat stages. For the climbers three stages contain over 5,000 metres of climbing and six stage are over 200km long.

Week 1

The 2023 Grande Partenza starts on Stage 1 with an an 18.4 km time trial on a coastal cycle path that has been recreated from a former railway line in the region of Abruzzo on the Adriatic coast. 

Almost the entire time trial will be on the spectacular Costa dei Trabocchi cycle path that hugs the coast line before a short climb to the finish in Ortona.

The opening stage will be an important day for the GC contenders that won't want to lose any time.

Photo: Costa dei Trabocchi Cycle Path

Stage 2 is a 204 km route heads south from Teramo to San Salvo that is hilly in the first part but expected to end in a bunch sprint. 

Stage 3 will also start in the Abruzzo region from Vasto to Melfi which features the climb of the Laghi di Monticchio 30km from the end which could upset a breakaway or a sprinters before the run into the finish.

Swinging northward on the heel of Italy, Stage 4 ignites the uphill fun with the final climb of Lago Laceno after ascending the Passo Delle Crocelle and Valico Monte Carruzzo along the way.

The stage will suit a breakaway, however CC contenders will have to be ready for a showdown on the final climb if a favorite tries to stamp his authority on the race early on in the race.

Stage 5 will see the sprinters working hard on the opening climbs to stay in contention for the dowhill run into Salerno on the Mediterranean shores, another bunch sprint is expected.

Stage 6 is a loop southwards around Napoli which again will see sprinters working hard on the opening climbs to stay in contention for the flat run into the finish, another bunch sprint is expected.

Stage 7 will be a long day with a summit finish at over 2000 meters which will make for the first high mountain stage in the Apennines.

The finale takes place atop the Gran Sasso d'Italia (Campo Imperatore). The final 6 kilometers average around 8% and top over high altitude, a replica of the 2018 finale where Simon Yates took his first of three stage wins.

Photo: Gran Sasso d'Italia

Stage 8 is another opportunity for the Sprinters to shine as the race heads north on another long stage.

Stage 9 is the second ITT the day before the first rest day. It's fairly long at just over 30km, GC contenders will need to perform will after 8 days of hard racing to not lose any time.

Week 2

After a day off, the peloton returns with a hilly Stage 10 that could see some sprinters lose touch with the head of the race early on if the peloton doesn't let a breakaway go up the road. A bunch sprint is likely unless a breakaway gains significant gap atop the Passo delle Radici.

Stage 11 moves the race evermore closer to where the real actions behinds in the Haute Mountains. The flat stage should see the Sprinters battle it out in Tortona.

Stage 12 to Rivoli should a bunch sprint of a breakway doesn't survive being caught on the slopes of the Colle Braida 24km before the finish line, could be a bunch sprint, could see the breakaway snatch victory in Rivoli.

Stage 13 is a stage you don't want to miss! It's going to be a brutal mountain stage as the race heads into Switzerland in the second week for a high-mountain finale atop the the jaw-dropping climb of Crans-Montana, 16 kilometers at an average of 7%, crossing the Colle del Gran San Bernardo on the way.

The Colle del Gran San Bernardo is the Cima Coppi, the highest point in the race at 2,473 meters high. It's likely to be the longest climb, a total of 34 kilometers at around 5% average gradient. It will be the first race day in the Alps and one that should create serious differences.

Photo: The jaw-dropping climb of Crans-Montana

Stage 14 could again see Sprinters working hard to stay in contention atop the Passo del Sempione before a long run into the finish in Cassano Magnago.

Stage 15 should be familiar be cycling fans, a very similar profile used in the Il Lombardia race in 2021. This includes the ascent of the Passo di Ganda (9.4Km; 7.1%) before descending into Bergamo to close out the second week.

Week 3

Week three is a familiar brutal script for the 106th edition with back to back mountai stages in the Alps and Dolomites.

Stage 16 will be a decisive day for GC contenders and one of the hardest stages, with a familiar finish for the thousands of Tifoisi atop Monte Bondone on the outskirts of Trento. Amatuer cycling fans will recognize te climb which was used in the 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World championships.

Photo: View atop the Monte Bondone

After yesterday's brutal affair, Stage 17 gives the whole peloton a rest with a downhill run into Carole for any surviving sprinters to battle it out for Victory.

Stage 18 is the first of three stages where the Fight For Pink will hot up as GC contenders battle it out with back to back brutal mountain stages. It's all uphil to arrive atop the Zoldo Alto and will be a key stage for the Pink Jersey.

Photo: The Zoldo Alto

In true Giro style the race leaves the Queen Stage on Stage 19 at the very end to ensure there is no doubt as to who the likely winners of Pink Jersey will be. The Queen Stage heads deeps into the Dolomites, for a day that could be really treacherous if the weather is bad. 

A combination of the Passo Campolongo, Passo Valparola, Passo Giau and the Passo Tre Croci in succession. All ridden at high altitude, and the Passo Giau will be an incredibly tough climb with almost 10 kilometers at 10%.

The climb of Tre Cime di Lavaredo is the summit finish at over 2,300 meters high, with 4 kilometers at 11%.

Photo: Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Stage 20 is the final chance for the overall classification and contenders to take back time. A 9 km flat first half, and a brutal second half.

The ascent to Monte Lussari is 7.2 kilometers at an average gradient of 12.1%, which features several km's over 15%. If the Pink Jersey hasn't been decided beforehand, it certainly will be the end of this stage.

Photo: Monte Lussari 

After a long transfer, the peloton returns to the streets of Rome for a foinal fast circuit, the opportunity for the remaining Sprinters to go for glory. An epic finale for an arduous 106th editon of the Giro d'Italia.