Tuesday 7 October 2014 15:02, UK
Next May’s Giro d’Italia will contain seven summit finishes, a 59.2km individual time trial and seven sprint stages, race organisers have revealed.
At a presentation ceremony in Milan attended by Alberto Contador and new world champion Michal Kwiatkowski, RCS Sport unveiled a more balanced route than the 2014 edition, with two fewer summit finishes and less transfer time between stages.
The race will begin with a 17.6km team time trial ending in San Remo on May 9 and conclude with a flat stage from Turin to Milan on May 31.
There will be two summit finishes in the first week, two in the second week, and then three more in a demanding final week in the Alps.
An RCS Sport statement said: “The philosophy behind the race route is balance, in line with recent years, with fewer transfers and an approach geared up for modern cycling.”
The 2015 race will contain five high-mountain stages and seven medium-mountain stages, with the most demanding of the seven summit finishes coming at Campitello Matese on stage eight, Madonna di Campiglio on stage 15, Cervinia on stage 19 and Sestriere on stage 20.
However, at almost 60km, it is the rolling individual time trial on stage 14 that could have the biggest say on the outcome of the race. Although the Giro won’t be won here, it will give the general classification a considerable shake-up and eliminate from contention any rider who is weak against the clock.
The Cima Coppi - or highest climb of the race – will be the Colle della Finestre on stage 20, while arguably the toughest ascent will be the legendary Passo del Mortirolo, which is the penultimate climb of stage 16.
The race will start in north-western Italy before looping south and then back up for the final week in the Alps.
Contador is the early favourite to win the 2015 Giro after announcing he would take part last month.
Stage 1: Saturday, May 9 - San Lorenzo al Mare to San Remo - 17.6km team time trial
Stage 2: Sunday, May 10 - Albenga to Genova - 172km
Stage 3: Monday, May 11 - Rapallo to Sestri Levante - 136km
Stage 4: Tuesday, May 12 - Chiavari to La Spezia -150km
Stage 5: Wednesday, May 13 - La Spezia to Abetone - 152km
Stage 6: Thursday, May 14 - Montecatini Terme to Castiglione della Pescaia - 181km
Stage 7: Friday, May 15 - Grosseto to Fiuggi - 263km
Stage 8: Saturday, May 16 - Fiuggi to Campitello Matese - 188km
Stage 9: Sunday, May 17 - Benevento to San Giorgio del Sannio - 212km
Monday, May 18 – first rest day
Stage 10: Tuesday, May 19 - Civitanova Marche to Forli - 195km
Stage 11: Wednesday, May 20 - Forli to Imola - 147km
Stage 12: Thursday, May 21 - Imola to Vicenza (Monte Berico) - 190km
Stage 13: Friday, May 22 - Montecchio Maggiore to Jesolo - 153km
Stage 14: Saturday, May 23 - Treviso to Valdobbiadene - 59.2km individual time trial
Stage 15: Sunday, May 24 - Marostica to Madonna di Campiglio - 165km
Monday, May 25 - second rest day
Stage 16: Tuesday, May 26 - Pinzolo to Aprica - 175km
Stage 17: Wednesday, May 27 - Tirano to Lugano - 136km
Stage 18: Thursday, May 28 - Melide to Verbania - 172km
Stage 19: Friday, May 29 - Gravellona Toce to Cervinia - 236km
Stage 20: Saturday, May 30 – Saint-Vincent to Sestriere - 196km
Stage 21: Sunday, May 31 - Torino to Milano - 185km
