What is it?
The Giro d’Italia is a three-week long cycling race notorious for being a brutal physical challenge ever since the first race in 1909. This edition celebrates the 100th time that a group of foolhardy cyclists will take to the roads of Italy to show the world what they are made of, with the hope of not just enduring some of the steepest climbs in the world, but conquering them. The race has become a little more professional than in the early days when riders were seen taking the train to catch the peloton up…slightly easier to spot than the doping of today!
When is it?
The race will run from the 5th to the 28th of May and will include five stages of high difficulty climbing, including the world renowned Stelvio Pass. This perilously steep mountain ascent is the toughest of the race, and as such is referred to as the Cima Coppi, paying homage to one of, if not the, greatest Italian cyclists of all time.
THE ONES TO WATCH:
GIRO D'ITALIA 2017
Photo: musement.com