Jake Latham
Monday October 5 marked the unveiling of the official route for the 2016 Giro d’Italia at the expo in Milan by race organisers RCS.
The 3,383 kilometer race has nine summit finishes, three individual time trials and seven stages for the sprinters. This will be a race that the climbers are right up against the all-rounders, something that race organizers RCS Sport aimed to balance for the upcoming race.
However, on Wednesday last week the route was accidently leaked via the internet, with punters being able to view next year’s race on the organiser’s website by changing the date in the URL, a tip-off given by another online cycling news outlet.
Starting in the Netherlands on a Friday, the first few stages will be aggressive after a 9.8km time trial at the beginning of the race. A TT early on will give the other riders a chance to see the form of their competitors.
Heading into the mountains on stage 6 for a taste of what is to come after stage 13. The biggest climb of the race is on stage 19, where riders will ascend 2744 meters to finish in Risoul.
Over the past few years the race seems to have forgotten about the sprinters, but with a possibility of seven sprint finishes it will surely inspire some intense line crossings during the race.
The official release confirms all the stages and the tour starts May 6, 2016.
2016 Giro d’Italia:
Stage 1, Friday May 6: Apeldoorn time trial, 9.8 km
Stage 2, Saturday May 7: Arnhem to Nijmegen, 190 km
Stage 3, Sunday May 8: Nijmegen to Arnhem, 189 km
Rest day, Monday May 9.
Stage 4, Tuesday May 10: Catanzaro to Praia a Mare, 191 km
Stage 5, Wednesday May 11: Praia a Mare to Benevento, 233 km
Stage 6, Thursday May 12: Ponte to Roccaraso (Aremogna), 165 km
Stage 7, Friday May 13: Sulmona to Foligno, 210 km
Stage 8, Saturday May 14: Foligno to Arezzo, 169 km
Stage 9, Sunday May 15: Chianti individual time trial, 40.4 km
Rest day, Monday May 16.
Stage 10, Tuesday May 17: Campi Bisenzio to Sestola, 216 km
Stage 11, Wednesday May 18: Modena to Asolo, 212 km
Stage 12, Thursday May 19: Noale to Bibione, 168 km
Stage 13, Friday May 20: Palmanova to Cividale del Friuli, 161 km
Stage 14, Saturday May 21: Alpago (Farra) to Corvara (Alta Badia), 210
Stage 15, Sunday May 22: Castelrotto to Alpe di Siusi mountain time trial, 10.8 km
Rest day, Monday May 23:
Stage 16, Tuesday May 24: Bressanone to Andalo, 133 km
Stage 17, Wednesday May 25: Molveno to Cassano d’Adda, 196 km
Stage 18, Thursday May 26: Muggiò to Pinerolo, 234 km
Stage 19, Friday May 27: Pinerolo to Risoul, 161 km
Stage 20, Saturday May 28: Guillestre to Sant’Anna di Vinadio, 134 km
Stage 21, Sunday May 29: Cuneo to Torino, 150 km
