About Giro d'Italia
The “Giro d’Italia”, also known as “la Corsa Rosa” or simply “il Giro”, is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race that usually takes place in the month of May and s reserved for professional cyclists only.
This year marks its 106th edition and since its establishment in 1909, it has always been held except for the two interruptions due to the two world wars.
Along with “le Tour de France” and “la Vuelta a España“, represents one of the most prestigious and important races in the world cycling scene.
It is a powerful lure for the strongest riders who compete against each other in final spurts and uphill sprints along the roads of our beautiful country to win the prestigious pink jersey, that of the leader of the final general time classification.
In addition, an endless number of ‘Giro’ related events are organized each year in all the municipalities touched by the route
Amateur rides, shows, exhibitions and parties accompany and frame the great professional event, attracting even more tourists and fans of this wonderful sport.
There is also ‘the Giro Baby, for young under-23s, as well as ‘the Giro Donne‘, reserved for professional women cyclists, which usually take place at a later date.
THE JERSEYS AND PRIZES OF THE GIRO ITALIA
Returning to the ‘Giro’ par excellence, we have already mentioned that the final leader takes the pink jersey, but there are also the winners of the individual stages as well as further classifications, divided into two types – time and points – based on the rankings of the competitors and teams.
The cyclists born after January 1st, 1998, and who therefore are no older than 25 during that calendar year, compete also to win the white jersey, that of the junior leader.
The Ciclamino Jersey, on the other hand, goes first in the individual points classification, which is determined according to placings in the individual stages.
The mountains classification, which determines the best climber and is valid for the blue jersey, is determined on the basis of the points obtained in the various intermediate and final climbs.
There are in fact numerous Grand Prix, divided into different categories according to their difficulties, which award points to those who place in the top positions.
Additional prizes are also given to those who win the most points in the intermediate sprints of each stage, the so-called “traguardi volanti”, with the exception of the time trials where there are none.
The ‘premio fuga’ is awarded to those who, on each race day and throughout the entire ‘Giro’, distinguish themselves with an action of technical prowess and courage by going into a ‘breakaway’, individually or with a group of fewer than 10 riders, for a minimum of 5 kilometres.
Finally, there is also the ‘Faiplay prize‘, awarded to the team that distinguishes itself through its members for its respect for the rules and mutual fairness, as well as a general ranking. This is determined by adding the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage. The formations with fewer than three riders are excluded from the team classification.
In fact, it regularly happens that one or more cyclists are forced to retire for a variety of reasons: crashes and consequent injuries, Covid or because they are unable to fit within a predetermined gap from the winner of the day and are therefore considered to be ‘out of time’.
THE TEAMS AND STAGES OF GIRO ITALIA 2023
The teams taking part in this edition of the ‘Giro’, initially composed of eight riders each, are 22 in total: four invited, part of the UCI pro team and a further 18 registered for the top series, the UCI World Tour 2023, team Jumbo Visma, Ineos Grenadiers, Quick Step and UAE Emirates, to name a few.
The route of the Giro d’Italia 2023 is divided into 21 stages of different categories according to their difficulty, covering a total of 3489.2 km and 51400 m of elevation.
The city of the ‘big start’ of the pink race is Fossacesia, in the province of Chieti, where the opening time trial, is scheduled for the 6th of May.
After leaving the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo, they will first cycle south, passing by the beautiful Laceno Lake, Venosa in Basilicata, Naples and the amazing Amalfi coast, and then back north through Umbria, Marche, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. Finally, via Liguria, they will reach the dreaded Alps, the background of all the crucial battles. Croix de coeur, the ascent to Crans Montana to cross into the Swiss soil, the Simplon Pass, Selvino and Roncola Alta will certainly animate the classification before the third and final week of racing, the toughest and usually decisive one.
Here the riders will tackle Monte Bondone, the Forcella Cibiana, Palafavera, the Campolongo, Valparola, Giau and Tre Croci passes, before arriving at the magnificent Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the highest point touched by the route and therefore the ‘Cima Coppi‘ of this ‘Giro’ with its 2304 metres above sea level.
The penultimate day of racing, Saturday the 27th of May will be the last tricky stage for the cyclists of the Giro d’Italia 2023, with the uphill time trial from Tarvisio to the spectacular Mount Lussari, the highest inhabited village in Italy.
On May 4th, FUnActive TOURS conducted the inspection of the penultimate stage with a true legend of Italian cycling, champion Gilberto Simoni!
“FunActive” is among the sponsors of this marvellous unprecedented 18.6km stage, which has become the postcard of this edition of the race and the last chance for the riders to overturn the fate of the final classification before the final parade in Rome.
It is at the Imperial Forums, in fact, that the name of the leader of the 2023 general classification, winner of the much coveted and prestigious pink jersey, will be decreed. His name will be engraved, alongside that of his predecessors, on the prestigious ‘endless trophy’ that will be presented to him in the capital.
On paper, the favourite cyclists for the final victory this year are Primoz Roglič, Remco Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas, Joao Almeida, Damiano Caruso, and Lennard Kämna, and we look forward to finding out whether they will be the ones to fulfil the predictions or whether it will be an outsider who will win this edition of the pink race.
Regardless of the name of the future leader, however, the Giro d’Italia 2023 will certainly be an appointment not to be missed, a theatre of exciting battles that will give us strong emotions under the sign of fairness and sportsmanship.
It will be a race through the breathtaking landscapes that only Italy can offer, and which have been in the past and will always remain in the future the background of this marvellous and famous cycling event.
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