Full details of the route for the Giro d’Italia 2014 have been unveiled. It will begin on Friday, May 9 in Northern Ireland at the Titanic Belfast visitor centre with a 21.7km Team Time Trial, with the second day (218km) beginning in Belfast and taking in Antrim, Bushmills and the Giant’s Causeway. Day three of the non-Italian action is a 187km cross-border route from Armagh to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. The day-early start, accepted and ratified by the UCI for 2014, has been introduced to facilitate an extra rest day for the transfer of the race to the Italian in Giovinazzo on May 13. 2014 marks the 11th time that the Giro has started outside of Italy.
Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicolas Roche, who participated in the presentation launch for the Giro d’Italia 2014, commented on the inclusion of both Northern Ireland and the Republic: ‘I think it’s great. I know that people have been working very hard for many years to get the Giro to the two countries so I think it’s really exciting and it’s a huge achievement for the people involved and for both countries to host this fantastic cycling event. For the cycling fans in both countries, it’s going to be a unique experience…’
The full route for the Giro d’Italia 2014 Route is:
Stage 1 May 9, Belfast – Belfast 21.7km (TTT)
Stage 2 May 10 Belfast – Belfast 218km
Stage 3 May 11 Armagh – Dublin 187km
Rest Day
Stage 4 May 13 Giovinazzo – Sari 121km
Stage 5 May 14 Taranto – Viggiano 200km
Stage 6 May 15 Sassano – Montecassino 247km
Stage 7 May 16 Frosinone – Foligno 214km
Stage 8 May 17 Foligno – Montecopiolo 174km
Stage 9 May 18 Lugo – Sestola 174km
Rest Day
Stage 10 May 20 Modena – Salsomaggiore Terme 184km
Stage 11 May 21 Collecchio – Savona 249km
Stage 12 May 22 Barbaresco – Barolo 46.4km (ITT)
Stage 13 May 23 Fossano – Rivarolo Canavese 158km
Stage 14 May 24 Agliè – Oropa 162km
Stage 15 May 25 Valdengo – Montecampione 217km
Rest Day
Stage 16 May 27 Ponte di Legno – Val Martello 139km
Stage 17 May 28 Sarnonico – Vittorio Veneto 204km
Stage 18 May 29 Belluno – Rif. Panarotta 171km
Stage 19 May 30 Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa 26.8km (ITT)
Stage 20 May 31 Maniago – Monte Zoncolan 167km
Stage 21 June 1 Gemona del Friulli – Trieste 169km
For further details on the Giro d’Italia 2014 see gazzetta.it
