Running from May 4 to 26 and celebrating its 96th edition, the Giro, like its French cousin the Tour de France, has its roots in newspaper circulation wars. In August 1908 the Italian sports paper Gazetta dello Sport announced the inaugural staging of the Giro which it planned to organise along similar lines to the car rally supported by their rivals Corriere della Sera; nine months later, May 13, 1909, and the Gazetta’s founder Eugenio Camillo Costamagna, along with director Armando Cougnet and its editor Tullio Morgagni unleashed the first edition with 127 riders set to race from Loreto Place in Milan. Eight stages and 2448 kilometres later Italy’s Luigi Ganna claimed the 5,300 Lira prize and his place in history as the first ever Giro d’Italia winner.
Always an epic opener to the big races of the year, the 2013 Giro will see particular attention paid to Bradley Wiggins, who has made it clear that the Italian race is a major goal for him (although, much the annoyance of Chris Froome, he’s also targeting a TdF double). Speaking ahead of this year’s Giro Wiggins comments, ‘Alongside the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix the Giro d’Italia is one of the biggest bike races in the world and one I’d love to win. I’ve watched the Giro since I was a kid and have seen my idols win it, which makes it even more special. It has always been a race that I’ve wanted to ride well in and I just can’t wait to get started. I believe the (Sky) Giro team this year is just as strong as the Tour de France team last year and the results prove that everyone is ready to go.’
Fighting talk and however things unfold he’ll certainly face stiff competition from the likes of Garmin-Sharp’s Ryder Hesjedal (defending champion), BMC’s Cadel Evans and Vincenzo Nibali of Astana – former teammate Mark Cavendish (now with Omega Pharma – QuickStep) probably shouldn’t be ruled out of contention either.
As always the Giro jerseys up for grabs are: Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) for overall classification leader, Maglia Azzurra (blue jersey) for king of the mountains, Maglia Ciclamino (mauve jersey) awarded to points classification leader, and the Maglia Bianca (white jersey) for best young rider.
This year’s Giro runs to 3,454,8km (that’s an average stage length of 164.5km); it comprises one team time trial (Stage 2, May 5), two individual time trials, four medium mountain stages (one with summit finish) and six mountain stages (all with summit finish). The 21 stages look like this:
Stage 1 May 4 Napoli – Napoli 130km
Stage 2 May 5 Ischia – Forio 17.4km (TTT)
Stage 3 May 6 Sorrento – Marina di Ascea 222km
Stage 4 May 7 Policastro Bussentino – Serra San Bruno 246km
Stage 5 May 8 Cosenza – Matera 203km
Stage 6 May 9 Mola di Bari – Margherita di Savoia 169km
Stage 7 May10 San Salvo – Pescara 177km
Stage 8 May11 Gabicce Mare – Saltara 54.8km (ITT)
Stage 9 May 12 San Sepolcro – Firenze 170km
Stage 10 May 14 Cordenons – Altopiano del Montasio 167km
Stage 11 May 15 Tarvisio (Cave del Predil) – Vajont (Erto e Casso) 182km
Stage 12 May 16 Longarone – Treviso 134km
Stage 13 May 17 Busseto – Cherasco 254km
Stage 14 May 18 Cervere – Bardonecchia 168km
Stage 15 May 19 Cesana Torinese – Col du Galibier 149km
Stage 16 May 21 Valloire – Ivrea 238km
Stage 17 May 22 Caravaggio – Vicenza 214km
Stage 18 May 23 Mori – Polsa 20.6km (ITT)
Stage 19 May 24 Ponte di Legno – Val Martello 139km
Stage 20 May 25 Silandro – Tre Cime di Lavaredo 203km
Stage 21 May 26 Riese Pio X – Brescia 197km
