It’s Giro d’Italia time. The 106th Giro will start on Saturday 6th May and wind its way around Italy via a brief foray in Switzerland to its conclusion in Rome on Sunday 28th May.

A grand total of 3,448.6km awaits the peloton with three time-trials and 51,300m of elevation across the 21 stages. The Cima Coppi comes on Stage 13 – unlucky for some? – in the form of the 34km Colle del Gran San Bernardo (2,469m), which takes riders across the border from Italy into Switzerland before they take on the Croix de Coeur and Crans Montana on the same stage.

Favourites for the maglia rosa in 2023 are Soudal-QuickStep’s World Champion and Vuelta a España winner Remco Evenepoel and Jumbo-Visma’s Primož Roglič, who last faced each other at the Volta a Catalunya with the Slovenian taking overall victory in what became quite a spicy affair with sprints for bonus seconds coming into play.

Looking to upset the party will be Damiano Caruso, Jack Haig (both Bahrain Victorious), Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), Hugh Carthy, Rigoberto Uràn (both EF Education-EasyPost), Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart (both Ineos Grenadiers) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates).

Meanwhile looking to take stage victories in sprint stages are Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan), Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla), Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates), David Dekker (Arkéa-Samsic), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), Alberto Dainese (Team DSM), Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck. In time-trials expect Evenepoel, Roglič, Thomas and Almeida to be competing for stage wins along with Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Edoardo Affini, Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) and Will Barta (Movistar).

Giro d’Italia 2023: Key information

Chris Auld

Dates: Saturday 6th May to Sunday 28th MayStart: Fossacesia Marina, ItalyFinish: Rome, ItalyCountries visited: Italy, SwitzerlandUK television coverage: Eurosport, GCN+, Discovery+Most wins: Fausto Coppi, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx (five)2022 winner: Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Giro d’Italia 2023 route

The first stage is an 18.4km individual time-trial from Fossacesia Marina in the Abruzzo region of Italy, and the race concludes three weeks later on Sunday 28th May with flat processional-style stage around a Rome circuit. Along the way the peloton will tackle five true mountain stages, five hilly days, eight flatter stages and three individual time-trials.

The first week is bookended by two TTs and will see the Giro d’Italia peloton take a flat route following the Adriatic coast towards Basilicata, crossing the Monte Vulture massif, dropping towards Rapolla, and then climbing to Melfi. Stage 7 towards Campo Imperatore sets the scene for the first major summit finish. The Gran Sasso d’Italia has only featured on six occasions with Adam Yates winning the last trip up its dizzying heights in 2018.

Sprinters and breakaway favourites will rejoice at the start of the second week. But after two flat days, the route heads towards Switzerland and the brutal Western Alps. It is here the peloton will meet the Cima Coppi – the highest point of the Giro – the Colle del Gran San Bernardo, which peaks at 2469m.

As usual, there is no let up in the final week. Beginning immediately with a mountainous day, Stage 16 towards Monte Bondone offers over 5,000m of vertical gain. Stage 19 across the Dolomites tackles the Passos di Campolongo and Valparola, and the ‘Holy Stairs’ of the Dolomites – the Passo Giau, Passo Tre Croci and Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The final two stages are an 18.6km mountain time-trial with parts ‘comparable to the Zoncolan’ according to organiser RCS, and the crowning day around the streets of Rome, which will see only one rider wearing the maglia rosa around the streets of Rome to end the 106th Giro d’Italia.

Giro d’Italia 2023 route: stage by stage

Stage 1: Saturday 6th May, Fossacesia Marina – Ortona, 18.4km

Giro d’Italia

The opening stage ITT is raced almost entirely along the Ciclovia dei Trabocchi – a cycle path built from the former ‘Ferrovia Adriatica’ railway line.

Stage 2: Sunday 7th May, Teramo – San Salvo, 204km

Giro d’Italia

Stage 2 almost entirely follows the coastline, occasionally dipping its toe inland to climb towards Silvi Paese, Chieti and Ripa Teatina before an expected sprint finish on the San Salvo Marina seafront. So coastal, this will be a breeze. 

Stage 3: Monday 8th May, Vasto – Melfi, 210km

Giro d’Italia

A stage of two halves: the first being pan-flat and the second heading upwards after entering Basilicata.

Stage 4: Tuesday 9th May, Venosa – Lago Laceno, 184km

Giro d’Italia

The first stage across the Apennines where riders will scale 3,500m of elevation. The climbs are lengthy and gradients range between 4-5%. The summit of the final climb, Colle Molella, arrives 4km before the finish.

Stage 5: Wednesday 10th May, Atripalda – Salerno, 172km

Giro d’Italia

The Passo Serra hits just 13 kilometres into Stage 4, although realistically this will be a day for sprinters given the flat finale.

Stage 6: Thursday 11th May, Napoli – Napoli, 156km

Giro d’Italia

Passing north of Vesuvius, the peloton will cross the Valico di Chiunzi towards a circuit of the Amalfi coast and endure twisting roads towards Pompei. It’s unlikely to be an explosive stage as from there it’s then straight to the Naples seafront. 

Stage 7: Friday 12th May, Capua – Gran Sasso d’Italia (Campo Imperatore), 218km

Giro d’Italia

Stage 7 incorporates a 45km stretch to Campo Imperatore that ‘ascends endlessly’, with a false-flat drag halfway through. The Gran Sasso has hosted four Giro stage finishes, but in 1985 the line was drawn in Fonte Cerreto (almost 1,000m below). Simon Yates was the last winner here in 2018.

Stage 8: Saturday 13th May, Terni – Fossombrone, 207km

Giro d’Italia

Time your breaks right, because almost the entirety of Stage 8’s altitude gain is slotted into the final 60km. Perhaps the summit of the Salita dei Cappuccini at just 5km from the finish can ignite some attacking fireworks for victory.

Stage 9: Sunday 14th May, Savignano sul Rubicone – Cesena (Technogym Village), 33.6km 

Giro d’Italia

Another time-trial. This time it’s pan-flat. Have a book nearby.

Stage 10: Tuesday 16th May, Scandiano – Viareggio, 190km

Giro d’Italia

We travel through Tuscany after the first rest day. Another seafront finish awaits at Viareggio, but I’ll spare you the puns. Someone may be able to slip away to a stage win.

Stage 11: Wednesday 17th May, Camaiore – Tortona, 218km 

Giro d’Italia

Stage 12: Thursday 18th May, Bra – Rivoli, 179km

Giro d’Italia

Riders will pass the finish line in Rivoli before taking a circuit and ascending the Colle Braida, then heading back down to the finish.

Stage 13: Friday 19th May, Borgofranco d’Ivera – Crans Montana, 208km 

Giro d’Italia

Friday. Stage 13. Cima Coppi. Switzerland. Need I say more?

The route takes in a lengthy (34km), yet not forbidding climb up to the Colle del Gran San Bernardo, this year’s Cima Coppi at 2,469m. Next comes an equally long descent. The route then climbs up the 15km Croix de Coeur at an altitude of over 2,000m, then descends for over 20km.

After a short flat section, the course negotiates the final climb up to Crans Montana, coming from a different side than the usual access road to the resort.

Stage 14: Saturday 20th May, Sierre – Cassano Magnago, 194km

Giro d’Italia

A breakaway victory would be a sight to see here, the early climb disrupting what would otherwise be a nailed on sprint stage.

Stage 15, Sunday 21st May: Seregno – Bergamo. 191km.

Giro d’Italia

Stage 15 will finish in Bergamo and channel Il Lombardia – recently won by Tadej Pogačar. The peloton have three climbs to scale towards a punchy finale.

Stage 16: Tuesday 23rd May, Sabbio Chiese – Monte Bondone, 198km

Giro d’Italia

The first part of Stage 16 traverses the western shore of Lake Garda. Don’t stop to look at the view though, as up comes the Passo di Santa Barbara and Passo di Bordala.

A technical descent towards Calliano is followed by a flat sector before tackling the 21km, average 6.7% climb up Monte Bondone.

Stage 17: Wednesday 24th May, Pergine Valsugana – Caorle, 192km

Giro d’Italia

It’s one long descent for Stage 17 through the Venetian plain on wide and straight roads.

Stage 18, Thursday 25th May: Oderzo – Val di Zoldo. 160km.

Giro d’Italia

Just a few kilometres from the start in Oderzo, this mountainous stage ascends the Cansiglio, crosses the Alpagno region and scales three climbs in quick succession including the Coi, which is appearing for the first time.

Stage 19: Friday 26th May, Longarone – Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Rif. Auronzo), 182km

Giro d’Italia

Stage 19: the last mountain day (that’s not a time-trial) across the Dolomites.

After reaching Arabba, the route heads to the Passo Campolongo, immediately followed by the Passo Valparola and the ‘Holy Stairs’ of the Dolomites, namely the Passo Giau (coming from Selva di Cadore), the Passo Tre Croci and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Stage 20: Saturday 27th May, Tarvisio – Monte Lussari, 18.6km

Giro d’Italia

Just chaos. I love it. The penultimate stage of the 2023 Giro d’Italia is a 18.6km individual time trial, with almost half of those kilometres taking shape in a climb with an average gradient of 12%. Giro organisers compared this to the Zoncolan, as it tops 15% over its initial 4.8km.

Stage 21: Sunday 28th May, Roma – Roma, 115km

Giro d’Italia

We made it. The final stage. The finale in Rome will be the capital’s fifth in Giro d’Italia history, the last in 2018 when it was neutralised due to the state of the roads…

Stage 21 is an 11.5km circuit around the centre of Rome, which riders will take on 10 times before finishing at the Imperial Fora near the Colosseum.

Giro d’Italia 2023 live TV guide

Chris Auld

As per every WorldTour race, the Giro d’Italia will be broadcast live on Eurosport and available to stream live on GCN+ and Discovery+ (all with pretty much the same coverage, times below).

GCN+ costs £6.99 paid monthly, or £39.99 per year and Discovery+ costs £6.99 per month or £59.99 per year for sports and entertainment (for fans of shows like Wheeler Dealers and Naked and Afraid).

Streaming coverage via GCN+ will be available worldwide including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, but double-check territory restrictions to avoid disappointment.

Giro d’Italia 2023 start list

Chris Auld

Some riders TBA.

AG2R-Citroën

Alex BaudinMickaël CherelPaul LapeiraAurélien Paret-PeintreValentin Paret-PeintreNicholas ProdhommeAndrea Vendrame

Alpecin-Deceuninck

Nicola ConciKaden GrovesAlexander KriegerSenne LeysenStefano OldaniOscar RiesebeekRamon Sinkeldam

Arkéa-Samsic

Warren BarguilMaxime BouetDavid DekkerThibault GuernalecMichel RiesClément RussoAlessandro Verre

Astana Qazaqstan

Samuele BattistellaMark CavendishJoe DombrowskiGianni MosconVadim PronskiyLuis Léon SánchezChristian ScaroniSimone Velasco

Bahrain Victorious

Yukiya ArashiroSantiago BuitragoDamiano CarusoJack HaigAndrea PasqualonJonathan MilanJasha SütterlinEdoardo Zambanini

Bora-Hansgrohe

Giavanni AleottiCesare BenedettiNico DenzBob JungelsLennard KämnaPatrick KonradAnton Palzer

Cofidis

François BidardThomas ChampionDavide CimolaiSimone ConsonniAlexandre DelettreJonathan LastraRémy RochasHugo Toumire

Corratec

Valerio ContiNicolas Dalla ValleStefano GandinALessandro IacchiAlexander KonychevCharlie QuartermanVeljko SotjnićKarel Vacek

EF Education-EasyPost

Eolo-Kometa

Vincenzo AlbaneseDavide BaisMattia BaisErik FetterLorenzo FortunatoFrancesco GavazziMirco MaestriDiego Pablo Sevilla

Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizane’

Luca CoviliFilippo FiorelliDavide GabburoFilippo MagliMartin MarcellusiHenok MulubrhanAlessandro TonelliSamuele Zoccarato

Groupama-FDJ

Bruno ArmirailIgnatas KonovalovasStefan KüngFabian LienhardRudy MolardThibaut PinotJake StewartLars van den Berg

Ineos Grenadiers

Thymen ArensmanLaurens De PlusFilippo GannaTao Geoghegan HartSalvatore PuccioPavel SivakovBen SwiftGeraint Thomas

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty

Sven Erik BystrømNiccolò BonifazioLaurens HuysArne MaritSimone PetilliLaurenz RexLorenzo RotaRein Taaramäe

Israel-Premier Tech

Sebastian BerwickSimon ClarkeMarco FrigoDerek GeeDomenico PozzovivoMatthew RiccitelloStephen WilliamsMads Würtz Schmidt

Jayco-AlUla

Alessandro De MarchiEddie DunbarMichael HepburnMichael MatthewsLukas PöstlbergerCallum ScotsonCampbell StewartFilippo Zana

Jumbo-Visma

Edoardo AffiniKoen BouwmanRohan DennisMichel HessmannSepp KussPrimož RogličJan TratnikJos van Emden

Movistar

Will BartaFernando GaviriaMax KanterJosé Joaquín RojasEiner RubioÓscar RodríguezAlbert TorresCarlos Verona

Soudal-QuickStep

Davide BalleriniMattia CattaneoJosef ČernyRemco EvenepoelJan HirtPieter SerryIlan Van WilderLouis Vervaecke

Team DSM

Alberto DaineseJonas Iversby HvidebergAndreas LeknessundNiklas MärklMarius MayrhoferFlorian StorkMartijn TusveldHarm Vanhoucke

Trek-Segafredo

Amanuel GhebreigzhabhierDaan HooleAlex KirschBauke MollemaMads PedersenToms SkujinšNatnael TesfatsionOtto Vergaerde

UAE Team Emirates

Pascal AckermannJoão AlmeidaAlessandro CoviDavide FormoloRyan GibbonsBrandon McNultyDiego UlissiJay Vine

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Main image credit: Tim de Waele via Getty Images

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