After last year's revolutions in the cycling calendar, we are finally back to a regular season which luckily got off to a smooth start. The month of May is the classic period of the pink race: let's see in detail the 21 stages of the Giro d'Italia 2021 and then make an analysis of the route.
The features of this edition
This year's Giro starts from Turin, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the unification of Italy and ends, as usual, in Milan, after 3479.9 km. But 2021 coincides with two other historical commemoration: they are 90 years since, in 1931, it was decided to assign the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) to the leader, linked to the Gazzetta dello Sport which organized the race. Furthermore, 700 years ago Dante Alighieri died in Ravenna: the Sommo Poeta died after a pilgrimage that lasted 19 years as a result of his exile from Florence. Both events will be remembered with initiatives and celebrations during the route.
Here are the details of the stages:
- 1. 08 May - Torino-Torino (TT, 8,6 km)
- 2. 09 May - Stupinigi-Novara (173 km)
- 3. 10 May - Biella-Canale (187 km)
- 4. 11 May - Piacenza-Sestola (186 km)
- 5. 12 May - Modena-Cattolica (171 km)
- 6. 13 May - Grotte di Frasassi-Ascoli Piceno (150 km)
- 7. 14 May - Notaresco-Termoli (178 km)
- 8. 15 May - Foggia-Guardia Sanframondi (173 km)
- 9. 16 May - Castel di Sangro-Campofelice (160 km)
- 10. 17 May - L’Aquila-Foligno (140 km)
- - 18 May - Day off
- 11. 19 May - Perugia-Montalcino (163 km)
- 12. 20 May - Siena-Bagno di Romagna (209 km)
- 13. 21 May - Ravenna-Verona (197 km)
- 14. 22 May - Cittadella-Monte Zoncolan (205 km)
- 15. 23 May - Grado-Gorizia (145 km)
- 16. 24 May - Sacile-Cortina d’Ampezzo (212 km)
- - 25 mag - Day off
- 17. 26 May - Canazei-Sega di Ala (193 km)
- 18. 27 May - Rovereto-Stradella (228 km)
- 19. 28 May - Abbiategrasso-Alpe di Mera (178 km)
- 20. 29 May - Verbania-Valle Spluga/Alpe Motta (164 km)
- 21. 30 May - Senago-Milano (cronometro, 30,3 km)
Analysis of the stages of the Giro
Analyzing this year's Giro d'Italia map, we see that the northern and central Italy areas is privileged, a choice that comes from the need to start the race from Turin. The stages develop in a southerly direction in the first half, up to Foggia and Guardia Sanframondi in Campania as the southernmost points. Then it goes up the Peninsula to get to face the Alps in the last week, as usual.
A look at the composition of the stages: the first and last are two time trials (respectively of 8.6 km and 30.3 km) where Filippo Ganna is expected to perform well. There are four flat stages for sprinters, eight uphill finishes, while the rest are mid-mountain stages or ups and downs suitable for finisseurs. Definitely a tough Giro (total elevation gain of 47,000 meters), spectacular and unpredictable, which in recent years has seen great battles between various cyclists, many of whom belong to the new generations.
The mountains of the Giro 2021
In the first part of the race there will be a first skimming in Sestola (4th stage) and another more demanding test in the ascent to Campo Felice (9th stage on Sunday 16th May). The second part is a succession of historic mountains: the arrival at Zoncolan in stage 14, Sacile-Cortina d'Ampezzo with Pordoi (this year's Cima Coppi with its 2239 m) and Passo Giau in number 16, the ascent to Sega di Ala the following day. Before the final time trial, the two stages in Piedmonte that will probably prove decisive: uphill finishes at Alpe di Mera (Valsesia) and Alpe Motta on days 28th and 29th. We will see if the time trial from Senago to Milan will be necessary to settle the GC.
We will passionately follow the Giro to celebrate Bernal, Yates, Evenepoel, maybe a revived Nibali or the other numerous outsiders in pink in Milan!