Giro d'Italia 2019 route revealed

The  2019 Giro d'Italia route has been unveiled in Milan, with the 102nd edition of the Corsa Rosa offering a finely balanced but testing route that includes three individual time trials and five mountain finishes. The winner of the maglia rosa will be crowned in the Verona amphitheatre after a decisive 15.6km time trial.

After the Israel Grand Partenza in 2018, the 2019 Giro d'Italia will stay in Italy, apart from a brief visit to the enclave republic of San Marino for the uphill finish of the stage 9 time trial. The 21 stages cover a total distance of 3,518km, with the start in Bologna on Saturday, May 11, and the finish in Verona on Sunday, June 2.

The route includes legendary climbs such as the Passo Gavia, the Passo del Mortirolo and the Passo Manghen, and other lesser-known climbs that are as equally tough. Stage 13 ends with the stunning Colle del Nivolet up to Lake Serru', while stage 14 is short at 131km with four steep climbs, including the Colle San Carlo – a twisting 10.5km climb at 9.8 per cent. Stage 15 to Como is a replica of the Il Lombardia finale with the Ghisallo Colma di Sormano and Civiglio.

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The final week offers just one chance for the few sprinters that are expected to stay in the race, with the final mountain stages to Ponte de Legno – which includes the Passo del Mortirolo just 27km from the finish – Anterselva, San Martino di Castrozza in the shadow of the Dolomites and then the Croce d'Aune the day before the conclusive Verona time trial.

Defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) was at the presentation in Milan, where the audience watched a video of this year's race highlighting his incredible attack over the dirt road Colle delle Finestre and 80km solo ride to Jafferau above Bardonecchia.

Froome was diplomatically coy about returning to defend the maglia rosa in 2019, as he eyes a fifth Tour de France victory. Team Sky is expected to send Egan Bernal and Gianni Moscon to the Giro d'Italia, with Geraint Thomas reportedly contemplating a possible Giro-Tour double.

Hilly time trial start in Bologna

Into the mountains

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