Giro d’Italia 2021 route: When does it start, how to watch live TV coverage, and which teams and riders are racing? – GETTY IMAGES
What is this race, and why should I care about it?
For many fans, the Giro is a cyclist’s most significant test. Why, it’s only the 104th edition of the Giro d’Italia, the first of the three grand tours scheduled to take place this year. The stages regularly are longer, higher, and, very often, colder than those at the Tour de France, its better-known and slightly older cousin.
When does the Giro d’Italia start?
This year’s Giro d’Italia begins with a nine-kilometer individual time trial around Turin on Saturday, May 8, 2021.
How long is this year’s Giro d’Italia?
The opening grand tour of the season comprises 21 stages and will be raced over 3,450.4km – that’s 2,144 miles in old money.
After setting off from Turin with a short individual time trial, the peloton will spend the next three weeks winding its way toward the nearby city of Milan. Before reaching Milan, however, the race first heads south before looping back on itself and venturing into the high mountains.
Bookended with two races against the clock, the three-week race features stages for every type of rider: sprinter, climber, puncheur, breakaway specialist, and whatever other description you care to use. As you can see from the entire race profile (below), as is traditional, most of the seven mountainous stages come towards the end of the second and third weeks. In the high mountains, the race for the maglia rosa, the leader’s pink jersey, is widely expected to be won or lost, though.
While some headline acts may be missing in 2021 – we are looking at you, Passo Dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia – route planners have decided to take the riders up one of the most feared climbs in world cycling, the dreaded Monte Zoncolan (stage 14). Two days later, the Passo Fedaia and Passo Giau feature in the queen stage in the heart of the Dolomites, with the Cima Coppi prize coming atop the Passo Pordoi (2,239m), which is the highest point in this year’s race. In addition to the numerous climbs, descents, and typically chaotic finales throughout the race, including two stages with gravel sections (stages nine and 11) will test the riders’ resolve further still.
And when does the Giro d’Italia finish?
The Giro d’Italia concludes with the race’s second and final individual time trial, the 29.4km test from Senago to Milan.
Where does each stage start and end?
How can I follow the race?
Those with Eurosport or GCN Race Pass subscriptions are in luck; both will be broadcasting daily, as will Welsh terrestrial channel S4C. Live shows and highlights programs will be shown at different times each day. Alternatively, if you are stuck at work or do not subscribe to Eurosport or GCN Race Pass, you can follow the action as it unfolds with Telegraph Sport. Almost all of the 21 stages will be liveblogged by our team – see details below – while each evening, selected race details and standings in the main classifications will be published.
What teams will ride the Giro d’Italia?
As with all WorldTour races, each of the 19 teams that make up the top flight of professional cycling receives an invite, and in the case of the Giro d’Italia, all units are contracted to race.
In addition to the WorldTeams, Alpecin-Fenix qualified as the No one ranked ProTeam from 2020, while race organizers RCS handed wild card entries to Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani-CSF-Faizane, and Eolo-Kometa.
How to watch live TV coverage and follow the race
All dates, times, and distances are correct at publishing or have yet to be released. Telegraph Sport will update accordingly.
Saturday, May 8
Giro d’Italia, stage one: Turin, 8.6km – time trial
The stage starts at 1 pm (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: None
Live: Eurosport1 1.50pm, S4C TBC
Sunday, May 9
Stage two: Stupinigi (Nichelino) to Novara, 173km
The scene starts at: 12.10 pm (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: None
Live: Eurosport1 12pm, S4C TBC
Monday, May 10
Stage three: Biella to Canale, 187km
The scene starts at: 11.30 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From 1 ImLive: Eurosport1 12.15 pm, S4C TBC
Tuesday, May 11
Stage four: Piacenza to Sestola, 186km
The scene starts at: 11.20 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From 1 ImLive: Eurosport1 12 pm, S4C TBC
Wednesday, May 12
Stage five: Modena to Cattolica, 177km
The scene starts at: 12.20 am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1.30 ImLive: Eurosport1 1.05 pm, S4C TBC
Thursday, May 13
Stage six: Grotte di Frasassi to Ascoli Piceno, 160km
The stage starts at: 11.50 am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1.30 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Friday, May 14
Stage seven: Notaresco to Termoli, 181km
The scene begins at noon (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: None
Live: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Saturday, May 15
Stage eight: Foggia to Guardia Sanframondi, 170km
The scene starts at: 11.50 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From 1 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Sunday, May 16
Stage nine: Castel di Sangro to Campo Felice, 158km
The scene starts at: 11.25 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From 1 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Monday, May 17
Stage 10: L’Aquila to Foligno, 139km
The stage starts at: 11.25 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From 1 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Wednesday, May 19
Stage 11: Perugia to Montalcino, 162km
The scene starts at: 12.10 pm (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From around 1.30 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Thursday, May 20
Stage 12: Siena to Bagno di Romagna, 212km
The stage starts at: 10.30 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From about one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Friday, May 21
Stage 13: Ravenna to Verona, 198km
The stage starts at: 11.35 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: None
Live: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Saturday, May 22
Stage 14: Cittadella to Monte Zoncolann, 205km
The scene starts at: 10.40 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From around one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Sunday, May 23
Stage 15: Grado to Gorizia, 147km
The scene starts at: 12.20 pm (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From about one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Monday, May 24
Stage 16: Sacile to Cortina d’Ampezzo, 212km
The scene begins at 10 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From about 1 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Wednesday, May 26
Stage 17: Canazei to Sega di Ala, 193km
The stage starts at: 11.10 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From around one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Thursday, May 27
Stage 18: Rovereto to Stradella, 231km
The scene starts at: 10.45 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From around one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Friday, May 28
Stage 19: Abbiategrasso to Alpe di Mera (Valsesia), 176km
The stage starts at: 11.20 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From about one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Saturday, May 29
Stage 20: Verbania to Valle Spluga-Alpe Motta, 164km
The scene starts at: 11.30 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From about one ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
Sunday, May 30
Stage 21: Senago to Milan, 30.3km – time trial
The stage starts at: 12.35 am (BST)
Telegraph Sportliveblogg: From around 1.30 ImLive: Eurosport TBC, S4C TBC
