Overview
- The race opens with three stages in Bulgaria: Nessebar to Burgas on the Black Sea, a hilly run to Veliko Tarnovo with three category‑3 climbs, and Plovdiv to Sofia via the long Borovets Pass ascent.
- After a transfer to Calabria, the peloton heads north through Italy, passing Naples and tackling Blockhaus in Abruzzo before a 40.2km Stage 10 time trial from Viareggio to Massa.
- Stage 19 is the queen stage over Passo Giau — designated the Cima Coppi — to a summit finish in Alleghe, with the penultimate day featuring two climbs to Piancavallo.
- Organisers detail a climbing‑heavy route totalling 3,458 km and 50,000 meters of elevation gain, presented as a more modern design with shorter yet demanding stages.
- The Women’s Giro runs May 30 to June 7 from Cesenatico to Saluzzo with Elisa Longo Borghini defending her title, while reports differ on the men’s start date (May 8 or May 9).