italian alps cycling tours

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• On the roads of Tour de France
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• A luxury journey along bootleggers' paths of Como lake
• On the roads of Giro d'Italia in the Alps
• Legendary climbs of the Alps
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Biking tours in the Alps

Ride where the champions wrote the history of cycling.

• useful info

Welcome to the Alps

What Italian does not feel his heart leap in his chest at the sight of the Alps, and who does not feel the same emotion as one who reaches the seashore for the first time? For do not these mountains form the boundary and stronghold of Italy?  Carolina Invernizio, Italian authoress

Alps and their highest passes - some of them above 2500m - have provided fame or infamy for cyclists over the past hundred years during Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and many other professional races.

Cycling fans use to write the names of their favorite champions on the asphalt of Giro and Tour ascents, right where the champions have written the history of our favorite sport. The names of these Alpine mountain passes might be daunting to some: Stelvio, Mortirolo, Gavia, Foscagno, Cancano, Colle delle Finestre, Sestriere in Italy; Galibier, Izoard, Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer in France, to name a few.

We want to ride together you where legends like Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Gino Bartali, Louison Bobet, Felice Gimondi, Raymond Poulidor, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome wrote unforgettable pages in the history of cycling.

Meet Daniele

Get in touch by email, phone or reserve a video call with us.

OUR CYCLE TOURS IN THE ALPS

Tour of the legendary climbs of the Alps

• Days/nights:
• Guided € 4249
• Self guided € -
• Supported € 4249

Highlights from our rides

Because it's not just cycling

Yes, Mortirolo is really unforgettable. Our legs can't actually forget that Hors Catergorie ascent. It's one of the toughest climbs in Europe and one of the most famous. A brutal stretch where cyclists from everywhere catch up with one goal: just getting to top, no matter the climbing time! Come with us to discover why it is great accomplishment!

For sure is one we don't get tired of. 48 unforgettable hairpins and 2750m for a climb that - since decades - challenges either pro or simply committed cyclists from around the world. But if we consider Stelvio a challenge, let's keep in mind that the guy in this photo - Fausto Coppi - and his fellow racers rode up an unpaved Stelvio with 15kg bike and a ridiculous gearing. That's one reason why we call 'legendary' these climbs!

Two faces of a medal

It's usual among those who did the climb up Stelvio to ask other riders which of the two Italian sides (from Bormio, Lombardy) or Prato allo Stelvio (Trentino) is their favorite. We don't tell you what we like best, it would be the beginning of a debate that doesn't take anywhere. And we don't want either mention that we use to climb up there also from the Swiss side: so it'd be a bizarre three-face medal!

Cancano lake

Along with the 'big climbs', like Stelvio, Gavia or Mortirolo, there's another one - amazing and yet sometimes neglected - taking up to the Cancano lakes. It's so beautiful that - despite a blind road - it is the finish line of a Giro stage as well as of many famous Granfondos.

Are you interested in riding on the Alps?

Find out why you should, when and where.

• Where to ride

When is the best time for cycling?

It is easy: from late spring to summer. The travel window for these high mountains is very narrow, just before June and until the beginning of September.

Towards the extremities, the weather is less stable. So we use to organize our trips inside the 'safe' window, as the weather is more stable. Facing bad weather on a mountain ride is not pleasant: it means a drop in temperature of several degrees, and if you are on the Stelvio at 2700 metres when it happens... well, let's put it this way: it's no fun.

Some days with rain can happen in the core of the good season, but if you go towards the beginning or end of the season, the possibility of a long bad weather increases dramatically, making, not just a single day, but the whole trip an epic experience, but one that you would never want to make.

What's the best cycling area in the region?

The Alps are large and encompass areas that Italian cyclists are used to dividing into very different areas: we call the mountains in the western belt, enclosed mostly in Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta, the Alps, while the Dolomites are further east and in the territory of Trentino and Veneto.

The two areas are considered very different in many respects, socially, economically, touristically and in terms of language. But cycling is also very different. Generalising, the Alps make us imagine very long climbs: starting from around 1000m, one reaches very high altitudes, such as the Stelvio (2750m) or the Gavia (2650m).

Therefore, doing more than one climb a day is not for everyone. The Dolomites have shorter, but constantly steep (the 9% rule) climbs. A famous area for cycling is Valtellina and its main town is Bormio. We often use it as a base for our weeks in the Alps.

Where can I fly to?

Depending on the trip, we suggest either Milan MXP or Bergamo BY.

How are roads?

Asphalt is as good as mountain asphalt can be. The frost of winter slowly damages the asphalt. There is nothing critical. Repaving takes place quite often.

Traffic must be taken into account, especially when travelling up some iconic climbs like the Stelvio, which is very popular with motorists and motorcyclists, or when riding from Bormio to Livigno.

Weather and rainfall in the Alps

• Need help? Let's Chat
• Design team / HQ / Sardinia Giovanni Online
• Design team / Sicily Simone Online
• Design team / Lombardy Daniele Online

Design team / HQ / Sardinia

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Italian Alps Road Bike Tour

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Test your cycling endurance in the gorgeous Italian Alps

Take the first step towards a private travel experience, customized just for you.

About this tour:

What travellers are saying about 10Adventures

Jennifer W.

Why travellers choose this tour

At 10Adventures, we take care of the details so that our guests can focus on making memories. Enjoy these key features on this tour.

We're Canadian

Book with a Canadian company whose mission is to help you travel the world.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 6 nights are included.

Don't worry about meals. 6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included.

Check out the 'What's Included' tab for more info on personal transfers during your tour.

Local Support

Travel stress-free knowing in-country local support is available by regular phone or WhatsApp to support you during your tour.

Payments Made Easy

Enjoy the flexibility and ease of staggered payments in your own currency using your choice of credit card.

Route Resources

Route notes, maps, and/or a trail app make navigation on this tour a breeze.

Park Entrance Fees

Included where possible! Check the 'What's Included' tab for more info on park entrance fees during your tour.

Luggage transfers

Take a load off, with optional or included luggage transfers. Check inclusions for further details.

Accommodation for Italian Alps Road Bike Tour

This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 3 and 4-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.

In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travelers Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel for  $395 USD where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.

Hotels along Italian Alps

You’ll spend each night of this tour in comfortable, welcoming hotels in towns of the Italian Alps, some with spas and resort amenities available to you as extras.

Hotels on Standard Tour

Planning a group trip?

Learn how we help group of friends, outdoor clubs and families get the tour they’ve been dreaming about.

Italian Alps Road Bike Tour Details

Overview for italian alps road bike tour.

For strong cyclists yearning for the gorgeous mountains of Italy, the Italian Alps Road Bike Tour is an unbeatable adventure. This is an epic guided cycling tour that takes you to the top of some of Italy’s highest mountain passes, like Mortirolo Pass, Gavia Pass, Bernina Pass, and Stelvio Pass.

These are the roads where Giro d’Italia legends were born. This tour follows the tracks of those who embarked on epic adventures on two wheels, following the tracks of unforgettable endeavours linked to the biggest names in international cycling. Surrounded by glaciers, mountains and unspoilt nature, expect a week in the Alps that will be demanding, but extremely rewarding.

The tour begins and ends in Bormio, a renowned ski resort that will become your home for a week. After each ride, the delicious cuisine of the Valtellina will be waiting for you. This is the adventure of a lifetime!

Itinerary for Italian Alps Road Bike Tour

Arrival in bormio.

Welcome! Spend today settling in, getting your bike ready, and enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.

Cycling the Gavia Pass

Starting off from Bormio, the first stage of the tour will be the least demanding pass of the week, Gavia Pass. One of the highest mountain passes in Europe, it represents one of the epic climbs of the Giro d’Italia and is the home of unforgettable images shown around the world of exhausted cyclists in the snow in some editions of the Giro. Today, you won’t be battling quite the same conditions!

Head towards Santa Caterina on a wide road which narrows and becomes demanding. This very special ride alternates easy stretches that allow you to enjoy the beautiful view with demanding sections. After the effort of the climb, face the descent to enter the province of Brescia at a famous ski resort in the splendid Valle Camonica. This valley is well-known for its rock etchings and prehistoric remains that led to the area becoming the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Italy in 1979.

Descending the valley, you reach Monno, where you’ll ascend Mortirolo Pass.This side of this epic pass is easier than the Valtellina side, but after you’ve done Gavia Pass, it will be a great challenge. Descend to Bormio for food and wine.

Cycling to Bernina Pass

After breakfast, transfer to Tirano where the climb starts off steep to reach Lake Poschiavo. Here you’ll get your breath back for a moment. You’ll be cycling through a significant difference in altitude, but the breathtaking landscapes and fabulous scenery of the Bernina glaciers will inspire you. Should you need a rest, the minibus is always there.

Cycle over a Swiss pass that connects the Valtellina and Upper Engadine. Here you have a spectacular panoramic view towards the Alpine peaks of Pizzo Bernina (4049m) Pizzo Palù (3906m) and the Morteratsch (3751m) with its imposing glacier. After this spectacular pass you’ll head to Livigno, a beautiful mountain village called Little Tibet.

The last climb of the day takes you to Foscagno Pass where you start the descent towards Bormio. As a reward, you can expect an excellent dinner paired with local wines.

Relaxing Bike Tour to Madonna del Ghisallo

Just like professional cyclists during the big races, your team needs a relaxing day to recover some energy. Immediately after breakfast, with the bikes on the minibus, head for the lower Valtellina. Today’s ride is an easy trip completely on the flat. Enjoying the incomparable beauty of Lake Como, you will arrive in Varenna and then reach Bellagio by boat.

In Bellagio, start a climb towards the famous Madonna del Ghisallo, the Patron Saint of Cyclists. Then, return to Bellagio where the ferry will transfer you to Menaggio. From here, riding on the east shores, you will conclude the day.

Cycling to the Montirolo Pass

Full of energy once again, take the minibus to Mazzo, the starting point today. Today you’ll cycle one of the most popular but also hardest ascents in Europe; it became famous when it was included in the Giro d’Italia route in 1990. It was here that, in 1994, the great Marco Pantani broke free, winning the stage, and in memory of the epic endeavours of the “Pirate,” a monument was placed in his honor at kilometre 8 on the Valtellina side in 2006.

Passo del Mortirolo is “the pass of all passes,” where the toughest, most important battles of the Giro d’Italia are fought. You too will have the opportunity to try out this ascent, always with the minibus there for support should it be required. Return via a different route through Trivigno to reach the Aprica Pass. Thoroughly deserved after so much effort, a fine dinner awaits.

Stelvio Pass

A generous breakfast will help you face the last of your epic climbs from Bormio to the Stelvio Pass. This is the highest Italian pass open to motorised vehicles and connects the Valtellina with Val Venosta in the province of Bolzano. An impressive series of hairpin bends and breathtaking nature write the story of this famous climb. The grandeur and majesty of the Ortler, with its huge glaciers, will be the reward for your efforts. Head downhill to visit the Trentino side from Prato dello Stelvio, then up to the fortified town of Glorenza, a few kilometers from the Swiss border.

After passing the Swiss border, another epic ascent is waiting: Umbrail Pass.From the top of this pass you will return to Bormio for dinner.

After a challenging but overwhelmingly rewarding week, you’ll pack up and head home. Safe travels!

Tour Highlights

Highlights for italian alps road bike tour.

Take on big mountain passes and challenging ascents on this up-levelled cycling experience.

Ride through picture-perfect scenery as you explore the mountains, lakes, and valleys of the Italian Alps.

Stay in a renowned ski resort town known for its spa, restaurants, and enchanting scenery.

Pedal to the top of some of Europe’s highest mountain passes for unrivalled sightlines.

What's Included

What's included for italian alps road bike tour.

6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included.

Transportation during the Tour

All required minibus transfers are included, and the minibus will be available to you throughout the tour should you need a break. Required ferry transfers are also included.

Also Included

• Minibus assistance
• Technical bike guide and assistance
• Technical bike shirt
• Transfer from/to stations

Not included

• Drinks at dinner
• Medical insurance
• Anything not mentioned as included

Optional Extras

• Additional nights before or after the tour
• Single occupancy upgrades
• E-road bike

Dates & Prices

Dates and prices for italian alps road bike tour.

This guided tour is always run as a group tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for groups of 4 and more. Please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you.

Prices below are per person:

Accommodation

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Tour Booking Process

Booking process for italian alps road bike tour.

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Frequently asked questions for Italian Alps Road Bike Tour

How hard is the Italian Alps Road Bike Tour?

We rate this tour as a 5/5. There will be 100-110km of riding each day and you will be climbing some of the highest mountain passes in Italy. This tour is best suited to fit, experienced cyclists.

Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website , though you should verify with your government.

Are meals included on the Italian Alps Road Bike Tour?

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover cycling. Get your Travel Insurance .

How do I get to Bormio to start this tour?

The closest airport to Bormio is Milan Malpensa (MXP). You can reach Bormio from Milan by train.

Is the Italian Alps Road Bike Tour in English?

Yes, the tour guides are English-speaking.

Where does the Italian Alps Road Bike Tour end?

The tour will end in Bormio. You can take the train back to Milan.

Can I rent a bike?

Yes, you can rent a bike during the booking process. Bikes available are the Giant TCR Advanced 2 model in all sizes. In addition, you can choose between road bikes, trek bikes, and E-road bikes.

Can I bring my own bike?

Yes. If you bring your own bike, it should be a road bike suitable for the demands of the tour

Can I change the departure date?

Yes, if you are a group of at least 4 people we can adapt our departures to your needs.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes, we can. All of the included restaurants can provide a personalized menu.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Italy?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Italy?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

Tour Difficulty

Difficulty for italian alps road bike tour.

Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.

This tour was made for you!

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Italy Office

• [email protected]
• (+39) 347.996.7805
• [email protected]
• (+1) 714.614.0298

Northern Italy

Price €2.760, available dates:.

• June 16th 2024
• July 7th 2024
• August 25th 2024
• September 8th 2024
• Tour details

Dolomites – Bike Tour

• 80/90 KM daily
• 420 KM total

hard difficulty

bike & e-roadbike rent

Dolomites Bike Tour

The dolomites bike tour, a jewel among the italian alps. passo pordoi, passo gardena, passo sella and many more..

The Dolomites, a jewel among the Italian Alps : here, Road Bike Tours Italy organizes an epic cycling vacation. We will deal with very famous Passes: Passo Pordoi, Passo Gardena, Passo Sella, Passo di Campolongo, Passo San Pellegrino, Passo Fedaia , and many more. We will ride in unforgettable, unique mountain scenery . We will stay in enchanting accommodations and delicious dinners will allow us to get in touch with the local culture .

During the Dolomites Bike Tour, we can, therefore, expect a week that is demanding, but extremely rewarding: a week of high mountains and their great Alpine passes where Giro d’Italia legends were born ! Thanks to the constant presence of the minibus and technical guidance throughout , Road Bike Tours Italy will make this trip accessible to all participants who would like to discover these amazing mountains!

Destination:

Start point:, finish point:.

• 6 nights accommodation
• 6 breakfasts
• Luggage transfer
• Minibus assistance
• Technical bike guide
• Technical assistance
• Technical Bike Shirt
• Transfer station – hotel
• Medical Assistance Insurance

Not included:

• laundry service
• drinks at dinner
• everything not explicitly written on this page

Why tour with us?

• We love Bike... and Italy ♥
• Hand-picked Tours & Activities
• Professional Tour Guides
• Minibus for any type of assistance
• Bike & E-roadbike rent
• Bike Fitting service
• Only exclusive 3/4 Star Hotels

Got a Question?

• (+39) 347.996.7805 (Luca)

Customer testimonials

Trip at a glance.

Do you want to customize your tour?

Day 1: welcome day.

Transfer from Trento station to Borgo Valsugana. Welcome from the staff and bike tour presentation. Dinner based on local produce and excellent wine from Trentino

Day 2: Passo Manghen

• Distance : 84 km 52 mi
• Elevation : 2400 m 7874 ft

From Borgo Valsugana start the famous road that leads us to the top of Passo Manghen , one of the most important Dolomites Pass of Giro d’Italia .

This ascent is 23.5 km long with a difference in altitude of 1629 m.with an average gradient of 7% and a maximum of 15%. A breathtaking view makes this demanding stage less difficult, and our minibus provides assistance and helps if we need it. A funny descent takes us to Val di Fiemme. A tasting “aperitivo” in a spectacular environment is waiting for us.

Overnight in Canazei.

Day 3: Sella Ronda

• Distance : 66 km 41 mi
• Elevation : 2070 m 6791 ft

Today we need an energetic breakfast, this is “ Sella Ronda Day”. Famous all over the world, this loop is an icon for all cyclists.

Passo Gardena ,Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella. This four passes tour has a difference in altitude of 1950m and is 66 km long. Impressive mountains surround us while we deal with this epic Giro d’ Italia ascent, a historic cycle experience. Finishing this important ride will be a great emotion.

Day 4: Passo San Pellegrino - Alleghe - Passo Fedaia - Canazei

• Distance : 88 km 54 mi
• Elevation : 2330 m 7644 ft

Another unforgettable; another day full of emotions. We leave Val di Fassa and going south we meet a new valley: Valle San Pellegrino with its Pass. With this stage, we change the region, from Trentino to Veneto.

This ascent is 12 km long with a difference in altitude of 778 m. and a gradient average of 6.8%. Alleghe with its enchanting lake is the perfect sport where recover a bit of energy. A new pass is now waiting for us: Passo Fedaia and the enchanting view of the Marmolada Glacier. A long descent takes us to our hotel in Canazei.

Day 5: Passo di Lavazè, Lake Carezza Canazei

• Distance : 94 km 58 mi
• Elevation : 2060 m 6758 ft

Another epic day. Today we deal with Passo Lavazè and we can visit the enchanting Lake Carezza . After an easy descent to Cavalese, we start to climb the Passo di Lavazè. This ascent is 10,7 km long with 802 m difference in altitude, and an average gradient of 7,5%.

After this Pass a long descent takes us to the famous Lake Carezza; this lake is a breathtaking mountain lake. The following descent brings us back to Val di Fassa and then in Canazei.

Day 6: Passo Pordi - Passo delle Erbe – Bressanone

• Distance : 95 km 59 mi
• Elevation : 2440 m 8005 ft

The last stage of this unforgettable Tour in this fantastic, unique mountain area. At first, we deal with the epic Passo Pordoi , already climbed during the Sella Ronda day. The Pass will be followed of a long descent to Arabba, Corvara and San Martino in Badia.

Here are the last pass, Passo delle Erbe, starts. Passo delle Erbe is a different pass, it is divided into three parts. The first: 6 km really demanding with an average gradient of 8% , a maximum 15%. The second: 3 km descent where we can recover energy. The third: 6 km less demanding that take us to the top.

Here start an amusing descent, Bressanone is our last goal . Time to visit the city.

Overnight in Bressanone.

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast and transfer to Trento.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we provide your transfer from the airport/station on the arrival day and to the airport/station on the departure day.

You don’t need to be an athlete to take part in one of our tours. We offer different levels of difficulty , from the easy/medium tours in Tuscany, the Northern lakes Area, and Piedmont to the more demanding on the mountains. In any case, our van is constantly with the group to provide any kind of assistance.

In order to provide the best service and guarantee the best cycling vacation to our guests, we have chosen to organize tours only for small groups , a maximum of 7 people . So, in case of tiredness, bad weather, or others reason, a spot in the van is always guaranteed . Our team is made up of a bike guide and a driver, these guides are focused on the group, taking pictures, and providing assistance during the stage.

Our van is constantly with the group , providing any kind of assistance. Two guides will take care of the group and being in a small group, everyone will be assisted.

Yes, being a boutique Tour Operator, we are specialized in private and tailor-made tours . If you are a group of friends, a family, or a cycling club, write us your preferences and we’ll come up with the perfect tour for you.

We can provide different types of bikes , speaking about road bike tours we can rent:

• entry-level carbon frame road bike;
• high-end road bike;
• E-road bike.

For tailor-made and private tours, we can rent the bike most suitable for you.

“Medical Assistance Insurance” is included in all of our tours . We can’t provide Cancellation Insurance to extra Schengen clients, so we strongly suggest to our guests purchase Cancellation coverage.

Feel like Home

Night accommodation in the best hotels

Holidays with friends

Photo book & welcome kit

We take care of you!

Bike guide & technical assistance

Request information about this tour

Fill out the form with your details, pick the date you prefer and send us your request! We will reply you as soon as possible !

Would you like a more direct contact with our team? Feel free to reach out!

Discover more bike tours, tuscany, umbria & marche – italy coast to coast, strade bianche gravel tour, northern italy – 3 lakes and more.

Luxury Cycling Tours & Bike Trips in Italian Alps

Searching for a five star bicycle touring experience? Look no further, as our luxury tours of Italian Alps will allow you to discover exceptional destinations such as Como and Garda. Taste the adventure and discover new cultures while enjoying premium services and facilities.

6 Luxury bicycle tours Italian Alps with 7 reviews

Great Alps- Luxury/Small Group Bike Tour

I know LUCA ever , we not only biked together but had shared many other experiences (trekking-climbing-camping and so on)...he has a natural problem solving attitude as well as some great logistic skills . no hassle with him and lot's of fun and adventures are assured . Btw, great communicator and motivator , just optimal for accompanying people around by bike and make them live an unforgettable experience based on their biking level and expectations .

Cycling Italy's Alpine Valleys

Our guides! Silvia Cafora Gabriele Monaco Amazing people with big hearts, great sense of humor and ability to make life care-free. We consider them close friends now and will travel with them again if possible! The Hotels- All beautiful. We felt like we always got the best room! Clean, spacious, incredible views, great service. Delicious breakfasts at all (especially Hotel Greif) The bikes- We thought we owned nice bikes and then we rode theirs! They made us feel like super stars and we exceeded our own distance record with ease. Everyday we looked forward to the biking! The Bike Paths- Unbelievable!! The views, the ease of travel, the Bicigrills! We were transported into a fantasy land. Pinch me! The Tours- SellaArte was a big hit with everyone! Trento had an amazing guide named Sabrina. Who knew there was a Roman town under Trento??? I’ve seen it! Glorenza was fascinating. Coira Castle was a delight and our tour guide was great fun! Lasa took our breath away! We visited Otzi with Gabriele. We were very excited to meet the IceMan!! We also squeezed in the Botanical Garden in Moreno. Wow! wow! wow! Comparing the Grappa in Bassano del Grappa was great fun too! The Meals!!! Delicious! Every one of the meals introduced us to Italian/German Culture. Silvia and Gabrielle enhanced each meal by educating us about the local foods. Each restaurant was special in its own way but the one in Bolzano??? Amazing!!! We had the top of the world all to ourselves! I think you have an award winning tour set up in the Italian Alps. We were happy to be your first to try it. I would not change a thing! We are already dreaming about our next trip with you! Thank you for this extra special week!

Cycling Italy's Lakes District

• Hiking & Trekking

Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak

I just completed Intrepid's Active Tour of Italian Lakes ZGXI170924 departure date 24SEP17 finish date 01OTT17. The tour was fantastic. The guide, Annalisa (Lisa) was superb. She was enthusiastic, professional in her organisation and interactions and made a great itinerary great fun whilst catering for the individual members of the group.

Cycling Italy's Lakes District Plus!

Cycling Italy's Dolomites

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Road Cycling tours Bormio Stelvio

The mighty italian alps in italy are perfectly located in the northeast corner of italy near switzerland and austria., challenging.

Accommodation

5* Bagni Nuovi

Price 5* Hotel

From € 1295

Carbon road bike

From: € 1,295

Description

• Cost & Book

Cycling tours Bormio Stevio. From May until October Start every Sunday – 5-Star Hotel Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi – half board.

For the Gran Fondo Stelvio Santini , we offer a special package!

Only need a bike in Bormio? BOOK HERE

Road cycling tours Italian Alps Bormio Stelvio

The mighty Italian Alps in Italy are perfectly located in the northeast corner of Italy near Switzerland and Austria. This stunning area has one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the European Alps. Right in the middle of the Italian Alps, you can find the beautiful ski resort, Bormio. The 5-star hotel is situated at the foot of Passo Dello Stelvio. The Italian Alps are a real cycling paradise for every keen cyclist. Here you will experience one of the most challenging cycling tracks and mythical climbs.

The 5-star Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi in Bormio will be your home base for the upcoming week. From here you conquer all great & tough climbs with breathtaking views! The cycling days are guided climbs with an experienced cycling guide. Climb and discover many incredible mountain summits of the Giro d’Italia. The climbs to Passo Mortirollo, Gavia, and of course one of the most famous climbs in the world the climb to the summit of Passo Dello Stelvio are first-class challenges! The Passo dello Stelvio is also known as the Giro d’Italia mountain. This trip is recommendable for fit cyclists.

 Experience North Italy and tackle Passo Dello Stelvio – Gavia & Mortirolo

• Cycling The Italian Alps is great because of the fantastic scenery, perfect roads, and great climbs making the Italian Alps a cycling paradise
• Attack Passo Dello Stelvio with 2757m (9045ft) so that makes it the highest summit in the Eastern Alps
• The five-star hotel: Grand Hotel Nuovi Bagni in the middle of the Italian Alps on the foot of Passo Dello Stelvio
• Follow the footsteps of all the greatest riders in Giro d’Italia….challenge yourself. Are you on for it?
• Cycle up to the legendary Passo di Gavia
• You stay in the beautiful Alpine village of Bormio
• The climb to the Mortirolo due to the 18% increase is one of the hardest climbs in the world.

• Milan has three important airports; the most important airport is Milan Malpensa, and from here many flights leave /arrive worldwide. There are many regular flights to/ from Europe
• The second airport is Milan Linate which has a lot of domestic and European flights to all important cities in Europe. There is a shuttle bus connecting Malpensa with Linate Airport. The ride between the two airports takes more than an hour.
• The third airport is Bergamo Airport (officially Orio al Serio International Airport) which is northeast of Milan, close to the city of Bergamo. This airport is especially used by budget companies like Ryanair.
• From Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan Central station are Malpensa Shuttle busses departing: every 30 to 60 minutes Length: 1 hour.
• From Milan Linate International Airport to Milan Central station busses depart every 30 minutes Length: 20 minutes.
• The train ride from Milan to Tirano takes roughly two hours. The ride is very scenic …you will certainly enjoy it!

Cost & Book

Booking information.

• You can also book 5 days - 4 nights packages or 6 days - 5 nights packages.
• All prices are based on double rooms.
• For bookings & inquiries [email protected]

Extra Information

• Fill out and submit the online booking request or send an email to [email protected]
• We tend and try to send all over within 48 hours.
• Please do not make travel plans until you receive our confirmation.
• Please be advised that we make every effort to ensure that all the information given on this site is accurate. All statements and information have been researched and supplied by third parties.
• The information given is accurate and reliable, to the best of our knowledge. Should errors be found, we will rectify them as quickly as possible. However, we accept no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies.
• Prices start from €1295
• 6 nights stay, accommodation double standard room in 5 star hotel: Grand Hotel Bagni di Nuovi in Bormio
• 5 guided rides (check itinerary)
• Rich buffet breakfast
• 6 dinners in the restaurants, “Salone dei Balli” or Antica Osteria Belvedere
• Unlimited access to our SPA & Benessere Bagni Nuovi and Bagni Vecchi
• Wellness events: Aufguss and relaxing
• Laundry service for your sportswear
• Bike room with video surveillance
• Techno Gym available
• GPS itineraries

Not Included

• Single occupancy: €350
• Quality carbon road bike €225

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THE ALPS – CLIMBING FOUR COUNTRIES

Austria, italy, switzerland, liechtenstein.

• Private Tours and Custom Tours Solos, Couples & Friends
• Departure: Milan, Italy
• Departs On: Saturday
• Duration: 10 Days
• Lodging: Casual Inns
• Fitness Level: 3-5

While every Escape Adventure trip is designed to appeal to active adventure seekers, and in many cases, particular skill levels, there is always a different idea of what that exactly means. That is why we have designed the chart below to help make sure you join the proper tour. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companions’ may differ as well. We present a range of mileage options on each tour as well as provide support vehicles as much as possible. That way you can take a break and do as little or as much as you would like each day.

Find out more about Choosing a Tour .

All-Inclusive Prices

All internal land expenses and services are covered in the cost of your tour. This means from the time we pick you up at our meeting point, until we drop you back off to head home, all transportation, food preparation, meals (except where noted on itineraries), snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, group supplies and community gear (portable chairs, large awnings, coolers, utensils, etc.) are included. Backcountry permits, licenses, park fees, reservations, and accommodations (lodging) are also included, along with at least two professionally trained trip leaders, a mobile first aid and mechanic station, spare bikes, and a support vehicle(s). Trip price does not include airfare, lodging prior to trip start or bicycle rental and/or camping gear (if on a camping tour) unless otherwise noted on itinerary or website.

Renting Bicycles

Not only do we run an international bike tour business, but we also own and operate two premiere bicycle stores –  www.LasVegasCyclery.com  and  www.MoabCyclery.com . We have learned over the years that every cyclist is different and prefers different types of bikes for different types of terrain. That is why we offer the best bicycles for rent in the business. If for some reason you are not happy with the quality of your rental, we will refund the cost of your entire bike rental. If you are bringing your bike with you, check with your airline’s baggage policy in advance and be sure to pack your bike accordingly. If you are shipping your bike to your destination, confirm the address with our office and allow enough time for your bike to arrive. We’re happy to help you ship your bike. Whatever you need to get the most out of your tour, we are here to make it happen.

Free With Every Tour

When you join an Escape Adventures tour in 2024, you will receive a FREE custom sublimated Limited Edition Jersey!

Why travel with Escape Adventures?

Our commitment to you.

For over 25 years, the hallmark of an Escape Adventures tour is personalized, hands-on service. Before, during, and after each trip. We are a company of honesty and integrity and we stand behind our product 100%. From the moment you learn of our trips, to the time you return home and start planning your next trip, we are here to bring you the best possible experience. From our Guaranteed Trip Departure Confirmation Policy, making sure your trip is never cancelled*, to our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Policy, backing the unrivaled consistent quality of all our tours, our commitment to you is never compromised.  * Scheduled Domestic trips only.

Our Commitment to the Environment

Our environmental commitment is second to none. We run our tours the same way we run our company, with an eye on the triple bottom line: People, Profit & Planet. At Escape Adventures, we elected to pursue a more comprehensive approach to actually reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just offset it. We overhauled our entire operation — from our vehicles, to our buildings, to our procedures — to become an outdoor industry leader in the charge to help our people and our planet.

Exceptional Service and Exceptional Guides

Leading tours naturally followed from our passion of exploring our favorite places with our friends. Our support staff includes our reservation team who is there to answer your questions about the tours, our service team who prepares your bike and gear for the tour, and our guide team – the ones who take you into the great outdoors. The highest level of responsibility, good nature, integrity, and dedication are standard traits of all those who work at Escape Adventures. We our proud of it and we think you should know it.

The Best Support Vehicles

Having custom-made vehicles allows us to take you to places few other outfitters can, or will go. Every Escape Adventures tour is accompanied by at least one support vehicle, trailer, and in some cases a second and third transfer van. After purchase, we custom engineer our trucks, vans, and trailers by our on-staff mechanic to meet the unique needs of different tours. For example, certain vehicles are specifically designed for the Canyonlands region of Utah, while others are designed for The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Each of our Trip Leaders is required to be trained in safe vehicle operation, 4X4 driving, and basic maintenance. Our experienced Trip Leaders make it look easy, transporting you and up to 12 guests, along with their bikes, fresh food, gear and plenty of drinking water to any location.

The Best Bicycles and Gear

Make your trip as comfortable as possible on the body, as simple as possible for traveling, and hassle-free on tour. By choosing to rent a bike from us, we will fit you with the newest, highest quality gear in the industry. Escape Adventures provides only high-end bicycles from Specialized. We replace our rental fleet each season to ensure all our rentals meet our high standards. All of our bikes are equipped carbon fiber frames and disc brakes designed for a smooth, comfortable ride. For those who are touring with a companion who may not be as fit or need a little help up the hills, we now have ebikes (electric pedal assist) available on select tours.

The Best Food

Our food isn’t just good, it’s good for you.

Food represents a big part of the Escape Adventures experience. On our inn tours most dinners and breakfasts unfold at local favorite restaurants. We also have energy snacks aboard our support vehicles. Don’t be surprised if your guides purchase fresh fruits and healthy snacks throughout the day while you’re enjoying a ride. They may just show up on the trail with a local treat!  An increasing number of our guests are vegans or vegetarians, whom we not only accommodate but also pleasantly surprise. Should you possess special diet requirements and/or limitations, just let us know at sign-up. We’ll work with you to meet those critical needs.

Scheduled Departure Dates

Private & custom tours.

The idea of taking your friends or family somewhere cool and amazing is actually pretty easy. Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll make it happen.

Any trip in this catalog, any specific time frame, any group size, we can custom-fit if not comfortably accommodate. A Custom and Private Escape Adventures trip affords the ultimate bonding, or team-building experience for:

• Clubs and co-workers
• Family reunions
• Corporate retreats

To shape a Custom or Private Trip, we begin a dialogue: first, to develop a group specific itinerary, tailored to respective abilities and preferred tempo. Next we schedule, bookmarking and working in your optimum or ideal getaway dates. Size-wise, we can build a multi-day trip for as few as two people, scaled up to as many as 30 plus. Contact us today to start the custom trip building process.

Rates on Private and Custom Departures:

All Private Escape Adventures Trips are priced in the structured method below. Some Custom tours are priced differently if they vary  from the Classic Escape Adventures itinerary and price.  In this situation we will provide your group with a custom itinerary and price.

• 10+ GUESTS  Price as advertised*
• 8-9 GUESTS  +$400 per person to trip price*
• 6-7 GUESTS  +$900 per person to trip price*
• 4-5 GUESTS  +$1,900 per person to trip price*
• 2-3 GUESTS  +$2,500 per person to trip price*

* Pricing, availability and guest minimums are all subject to change at any time. Certain dates have a minimum number of guests required, please contact us for details. All private tours on The White Rim must meet a 13 person paid minimum. All private tours on The Maze must meet a 7 person paid minimum.

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GIRO D’ITALIA EXPERIENCE

TOUR DE FRANCE EXPERIENCE

VUELTA A ESPANA EXPERIENCE

A word from our founders.

For those who have yet to tour with us, we appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our family-run company and guiding principles of sustainability and adventure. Our portfolio specializes in Western North America and is rapidly growing internationally. Building on over 100 destinations, we cater to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, on behalf of our Escape Adventures family, we look forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.

With much gratitude, and happy trails,

Jared and Heather Fisher

Founders and Owner-Operators Escape Adventures

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Giro d'Italia 2024 – The comprehensive team guide

Get the lowdown on all 22 teams at La Corsa Rosa, from leaders and riders to watch to their main objectives

Alpecin-Deceuninck

Arkéa-b&b hotels, astana qazaqstan, bahrain victorious, bora-hansgrohe, decathlon ag2r la mondiale, dsm-firmenich postnl, ef education-easypost, groupama-fdj, ineos grenadiers, intermarché-wanty, israel-premier tech, jayco-alula, polti-kometa, soudal-quickstep, tudor pro cycling, uae team emirates, vf group-bardiani csf-faizanè, visma-lease a bike.

The first Grand Tour of 2024 gets underway on May 4th when the Giro d'Italia begins in Turin. Tadej Pogačar is the main attraction as he makes his Giro debut as part of an attempt to win both the Tour of Italy and Tour de France.

UAE Team Emirates aren't the only outfit to watch, with prime contenders coming from Ineos Grenadiers who will be backing last year's runner-up Geraint Thomas, and Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale behind leader Ben O'Connor.

Visma-Lease a Bike come into the race missing Wout van Aert and hoping that Cian Uijtdebroeks can challenge for the GC, and Movistar's newest hire, Nairo Quintana, is chasing stages after separating his collarbone in a crash at the Volta a Catalunya and lacking the form to race for the overall classification.

Other teams will be fully focussed on stage wins or minor classifications like the points, mountains or new Intergiro competition.

Cyclingnews will provide comprehensive coverage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with live minute-by-minute coverage every day, full stage reports, as well as interviews, breaking news, race analysis, and the latest news and tech from our team around the world and on the ground in Italy.

Get unlimited access to all of our coverage of the Giro d'Italia from every stage of the race as it happens and more.  Find out more.

• Team leader: Kaden Groves
• Objective: Stage wins, points classification
• Riders to watch: Quinten Hermans
• Riders: Kaden Groves, Tobias Bayer, Nicola Conci, Quinten Hermans, Jimmy Janssens, Timo Kielich, Edward Planckaert, Fabio van den Bossche

Kaden Groves leads Alpecin-Deceuninck into the fourth Grand Tour of his career following successes at both the Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia over the previous two seasons.

Last year, the Australian enjoyed the best season of his career with seven wins, including two stages at the Volta a Catalunya and a victory in Salerno at this race. He'd round off his year with three wins and the points jersey at the Vuelta, confirming his arrival as one of the peloton's top sprinters.

This May, he heads back to Italy facing a sterner test with a far stronger field of sprinters than he faced in Spain, where Filippo Gann was often his closest competitor. He's also endured a slow start to the season, with no victories to date and ninth on stage 5 of the UAE Tour his sole top-10 placing.

Still, he's the main man for the Belgian team in Italy, and there's room to grow into the race with stage 5 looking like the first of five nailed-on sprint days (stages 3 and 4 look a tough ask for all but the hardiest fast men).

With the team's biggest stars Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen focussed on July's Tour de France, Welsford and the rest of his team will enjoy the freedom to get out and fight for stage wins across the three weeks, even if there are no real mountain goats in the squad.

Look out for Quinten Hermans in the hunt for stages. The Belgian hasn't since hit the heights of a 2022 season which saw him podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but he took his first win in two years at Itzulia Basque Country and he's strong in the hills.

Expect riders such as Edward Planckaert , Jimmy Janssens , and Tobias Bayer to figure in the lead-out train for Groves as well as heading out into the breakaway to seek their own chances. (DO)

• Team leader:  David Dekker
• Objective:  Stage wins
• Riders to watch:  Jenthe Biermans, Ewen Costiou
• Riders:  Jenthe Biermans, Louis Barre, Ewen Costiou, David Dekker, Donavan Grondin, Michel Ries, Alan Riou, Alessandro Verre

The French squad aren't one of the strongest squads in the WorldTour and that – plus their understandable focus on the Tour de France – shows in their Giro d'Italia selection.

The team are without their main stars in Classics man Luca Mozzato, sprinter Arnaud Démare, and hill climber Kévin Vauquelin. Instead, the eight-man squad is a definite 'B team', with Dutchman David Dekker likely their best chance at success.

Dekker has yet to win a race at professional level, though he did come close at the Giro last year, missing out in the stage 2 sprint as Jonathan Milan sped to victory. This year, his best results have been podium spots at the GP Monseré and a stage at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.

Elsewhere, riders such as Jenthe Biermans and Ewen Costiou have both tasted success this year – at Pays de la Loire and the Route Adélie de Vitré – though neither will be among the first names anybody reaches for when tipping stage winners.

Look out for the team in breakaways, which figure to be their best chance at victory without a top-tier sprinter or climber on board. (DO)

• Team leaders:  Lorenzo Fortunato, Alexey Lutsenko
• Objective:  GC top 15, stage wins
• Riders to watch:  Max Kanter
• Riders:  Simone Velasco, Davide Ballerini, Alexey Lutsenko, Lorenzo Fortunato, Max Kanter, Henok Mulubrhan, Vadim Pronskiy, Christian Scaroni

Climber Lorenzo Fortunato , he of the breakaway Monte Zoncolan victory three years ago, leads a struggling Astana Qazaqstan into the first Grand Tour of the season. The Kazakhstani squad is well down in the UCI rankings and will be desperate to pick up points in order to hang on to their WorldTour status in future.

The Italian represents their best chance at success on the GC and in the mountains here, having twice finished inside the top 16 during his time at Eolo-Kometa. He hasn't had much to shout about this season, barring a top 10 at Tirreno-Adriatico, though he does have GC success at the Vuelta Asturias and Adriatica Ionica Race on his palmarès. One to watch when the road angles upwards.

Kazakh national champion Alexey Lutsenko will be one to watch in the hunt for stages and a high overall placing, too. The 31-year-old has two Tour de France top 10s to his name and won the Giro d'Abruzzo with a stage victory at Prati di Tivo to boot.

Fellow new signings for 2024, Davide Ballerini and Max Kanter , will be hoping for glory on flatter ground. The two fastmen won't have Mark Cavendish or Cees Bol to lead out here, but they'll instead hope to replicate recent success at the Tour of Turkey.

On stage 2, albeit among a far weaker sprint field than the Giro's, Ballerini led out Kanter for the German's first win in his new colours and indeed the first win of his career. Could the confidence boost bring him another victory in Italy?

Elsewhere, Italian champion Simone Velasco and fellow former Gazprom-RusVelo man Cristian Scaroni will be leading the team's charge in the breakaways and on hilly ground, though likely not so much in the higher mountains. (DO)

• Team leader:  Damiano Caruso
• Objective:  GC top 5
• Riders to watch:  Antonio Tiberi, Phil Bauhaus
• Riders:  Antonio Tiberi, Rainer Kepplinger, Phil Bauhaus, Damiano Caruso, Andrea Pasqualon, Jasha Dimitri Sütterlin, Torstein Træen, Eduardo Zambanini

As one of the more GC-focussed teams at the race, Bahrain Victorious look to head to Italy with at least a top 5 placing in Rome in their minds. 36-year-old Damiano Caruso , a veteran of 18 Grand Tours will lead the charge once again.

The Sicilian was a career-best second here three years ago and was fourth last time out, though over three minutes away from the last step on the podium. He figures to be the team's best bet for success this May, even if he's getting on in years and has shown very little in the way of form this spring, including at the Tour de Romandie.

Instead, plenty of eyes will be on Antonio Tiberi , the 22-year-old racer still known more for killing the San Marino Minister of Tourism's cat two years ago than anything he's yet achieved on the bike.

That could be slowly changing, however, given Tiberi's increasingly promising performances over the last two seasons. He was 18th at the Vuelta a España last year and took a top 10 in Catalunya in March before finishing third overall at the Tour of the Alps.

Given the swift progress he's been making, a top 15 or even top 10 might not be out of the question for Tiberi, though Caruso is still definitely the man most likely to bring home a major GC result. Meanwhile, Wout Poels misses selection having been on the provisional start list following his sixth place at the Tour of the Alps.

Watch out for Phil Bauhaus in the sprints. The German won a tough uphill sprint at Tirreno-Adriatico and has podiums to his name at the Tour Down Under and UAE Tour, too, so he should be in the mix on several flatter stages. (DO)

• Team leader:  Dani Martínez
• Objective:  Stage wins, GC top 5
• Riders to watch:  Florian Lipowitz, Danny van Poppel
• Riders:  Daniel Martinez, Giovanni Aleotti, Patrick Gamper, Jonas Koch, Florian Lipowitz, Ryan Mullen, Maximilian Schachmann, Danny van Poppel

With Bora-Hansgrohe's big focus of the season being the Tour de France with new signing Primož Roglič and GC super-domestiques Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov, it's no surprise that the team's Giro squad has a distinctly 'B Team' feel.

Still, Dani Martínez is a capable GC rider who can count a Giro d'Italia top-five finish on his palmarès, and the team can have hopes of a similar result here.

Martínez endured a down year in 2023, even with a Volta ao Algarve overall win coming early in the spring. A second place and two stage wins at the same race this spring has been his finest display in 2024, though his form is a question mark given he hasn't raced since Tirreno-Adriatico six weeks ago.

Florian Lipowitz isn't a rider many would've felt the need to take note of even as recently as a week ago, but the German climber has made a breakthrough at just the right time, racing to fourth and then a very narrow second on the summit finishes at the Tour de Romandie. The 23-year-old is likely to end his third career WorldTour stage race with a podium and is now certainly one to watch on his Grand Tour debut

Emanuel Buchmann surprisingly misses out on selection after having previously been listed on the provisional lineup. The German, who has top 10s at both Giro and Tour de France to his name, has hit out at the decision on Instagram.

Giovanni Aleotti and Max Schachmann will all be on hand for GC support while also being capable of striking out on their own when they get the chance.

Away from the GC battle, Dutch sprinter Danny van Poppel is the man for the flat finishes as Sam Welsford misses the selection, with Ryan Mullen on hand as pilot fish. The Dutchman has yet to win in 2024, but raised his arms on the penultimate stage of the Tour of Turkey before he was relegated for deviating from his line. (DO)

• Team leader:  Stefano Oldani
• Riders to watch:  Stanisław Aniołkowski
• Riders:  Stefano Oldani, Stanisław Aniołkowski, Nicolas Debeaumarché, Thomas Champion, Rubén Fernández, Simon Geschke, Benjamin Thomas, Harrison Wood

As is the case with Arkéa-B&B Hotels, it's a stretch to say that Cofidis are among the strongest squads at the Giro. Another French team, their Grand Tour priorities lie elsewhere, as shown in their squad selection.

There are no GC names or top-tier sprinters here. Instead, former stage winner and sole Italian in the lineup, Stefano Oldani , heads up the eight-man team. His only career win to date came at the Giro two years ago, triumphing from a large breakaway in Genoa for Alpecin-Fenix.

He's good in the hills and likes to take his chances in the sprints – at last year's Giro, he was in the break three times and scored five top-10 placings. So Oldani looks to be Cofidis' best bet for success here.

Outside of him, the team will be looking for breakaway chances, with a handful of veteran racers likely to lead the charge. Simon Geschke and Rubén Fernández are the men in question, though neither has taken a top-10 result in 2024.

Polish rider Stanisław Aniołkowski , newly signed from the defunct Human Powered Health team, is another name to watch. He's a fast finisher and has taken top-five results at the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico so far this season. (DO)

• Team leader:  Ben O'Connor
• Objective:  GC podium
• Riders to watch:  Aurélien & Valentin Paret-Peintre
• Riders: Ben O'Connor, Alex Baudin, Aurélien Paret Peintre, Valentin Paret Peintre, Damien Touzé, Bastien Tronchon, Andrea Vendrame, Lawrence Warbasse

Ben O'Connor can head into his first Giro d'Italia start since 2020 in high spirits, coming off the back of the best spring campaign of his career and with a first career Grand Tour podium spot well within his sights.

The Australian has a fourth place at the Tour de France on his palmarès but will be hoping to go at least one better this May, and he'll start the Giro full of confidence following a series of impressive results over the past two months.

After starting his season with a big solo win at the Vuelta a Murcia, he took second at the UAE Tour with a Jebel Jais stage win to boot. Recent outings in Italy have seen him finish fifth at Tirreno-Adriatico and second at the Tour of the Alps, and he now heads to Piemonte as the bookies' third favourite.

The 28-year-old will enjoy support from the Paret-Peintre brothers, Aurélien and Valentin , on a team which has already racked up more wins than they did in the entirety of the 2023 season.

Aurélien is responsible for the latest of these, winning the final stage at the Tour of Alps as Valentin finished fourth overall. His fifth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège was another indicator of his strong form, and, aside from O'Connor the brothers will be ones to watch for the French team this May. 

Andrea Vendrame is the team's Italian representative with the 29-year-old always good for one top result per outing. Three years ago he scored a breakaway win in Bagno di Romagna and comes into the Giro with two second places at the Tour de Romandie under his belt – one in a hilly sprint, and another from a summit finish breakaway. (DO)

• Team leaders:  Fabio Jakobsen, Romain Bardet
• Objective: Stage wins, points classification, GC top 5
• Riders to watch:  Chris Hamilton, Tobias Lund Andresen
• Riders: Romain Bardet, Tobias Lund Andresen, Christopher Hamilton, Fabio Jakobsen, Gijs Leemreize, Julius van den Berg, Kevin Vermaerke, Bram Welten

Dutch squad DSM-Firmenich PostNL will be among a number of teams heading to the Giro looking to strike a balance between racing for their GC man and racking up sprint stage victories.

For the latter, they'll look to new signing Fabio Jakobsen , the rider they revamped their sprint squad for over the winter as he joined from QuickStep. He'll make his Giro debut with six Grand Tour stage wins plus a Vuelta points jersey to his name, and he'll touch down in Piemonte as one of the top-tier sprint favourites.

Jakobsen has only tasted victory once so far in 2024 as he gets used to his new surroundings. He and his team will be hoping for more in Italy as his rivals there will pose a sterner test than the sprint field at the Tour of Turkey.

On the GC side, Romain Bardet can start his third Giro with renewed confidence after finishing his run-in to the race with a fifth place at the Tour of the Alps and having finished best of the rest behind Pogačar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The 33-year-old is far from a spent force at Grand Tour level, having finished sixth at the Tour de France just two years ago. Among this GC field, a top 10 or even a top 5 should be a realistic goal.

Elsewhere, look out for Chris Hamilton in the breakaways on hilly and mountainous terrain. The Australian likes to get out in long-range moves, picking his days at every Grand Tour he starts and will be aiming for an upgrade on his second place in Bagno di Romagna three years ago.

Second-year pro sprinter Tobias Lund Andresen is another to look out for. The Dane went to the Tour of Turkey as a lead-out man for Jakobsen but instead came away with three stage wins heading into his Grand Tour debut. (DO)

• Team leader:  Hugh Carthy
• Objective:  Stage wins, GC top 10
• Riders to watch:  Simon Carr
• Riders:  Hugh Carthy, Alexander Cepeda, Stefan De Bod, Andrey Amador, Simon Carr, Esteban Chaves, Mikkel Honoré, Georg Steinhauser

Hugh Carthy leads the US squad into his seventh Giro as a man looking to recapture the form which saw him finish on the podium at the Vuelta a España four years ago.

The climber had looked on course for a similar result at the Giro in 2021 before fading during the final week and he has an eighth, a ninth, and a DNF to show for his past three outings in Italy.

It's a mountainous Giro, which suits Carthy, though the two time trials will likely see him shed minutes to other contenders. Another top 10 and a stage win – it'd be his first victory in three seasons – would be a great outcome.

Fellow Briton Simon Carr is the member of the squad who has the most to show for his season so far, having opened his season with a long breakaway win at the Trofeo Calvià and having pulled off a similar long-range break triumph in the mountains of the Tour of the Alps.

He'll certainly be off up the road during this, his third Giro, and it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him add to his breakaway win tally.

South American racers Esteban Chaves and Alexander Cepeda are more than capable of pulling off a result in the hills and mountains, though neither have shown much sign of top form so far in 2024. Chaves' third place on the opening day of the Tour of the Alps is the strongest sign of form from either. (DO)

• Team leader:  Laurence Pithie
• Riders to watch:  Lewis Askey
• Riders:  Laurence Pithie, Lewis Askey, Cyril Barthe, Clément Davy, Lorenzo Germani, Olivier Le Gac, Fabian Lienhard, Enzo Paleni

Yep, it's another French team shorn of their top leaders and a Groupama-FDJ squad missing David Gaudu, Stefan Küng, Valentin Madouas, and Lenny Martinez.

The team have opted for a young squad for the Italian Grand Tour, with 21-year-old second-year pro Laurence Pithie heading the lineup after a very impressive spring campaign. The New Zealander has scored 13 top-10 placings this season, including a win at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and a seventh place at his Paris-Roubaix debut.

As such, he's easily Groupama-FDJ's best chance at success at the Giro, even if he hasn't raced since Roubaix. Look out for him in breakaways and also in the sprint finishes, with the hillier finals slightly more to his taste than the pan-flat days.

Elsewhere, Lewis Askey looks the man most likely to challenge for a result. The 22-year-old has been quiet so far in 2024, but took a clutch of top 10s at the Vuelta a España last year and also finished second at Paris-Tours.

Other promising youngsters on the team, including 21-year-old Enzo Paleni and 22-year-old Lorenzo Germani, will likely be given free rein to learn and make breaks where they can. (DO)

• Team leader:  Geraint Thomas
• Riders to watch:  Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman
• Riders:  Geraint Thomas, Thymen Arensman, Tobias Foss, Filippo Ganna, Jhonatan Narváez, Magnus Sheffield, Ben Swift, Connor Swift

A year on from a devastating late loss of the maglia rosa in that Monte Lussari time trial, Geraint Thomas returns to the Giro d'Italia as the solid second favourite, behind the flying Tadej Pogačar but clear of the 'best of the rest' including Ben O'Connor, Damiano Caruso, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Romain Bardet, and more.

Once again, Thomas comes to the Giro having shown little in the way of Grand Tour-winning form, though slow – almost anonymous – starts to the season have been his modus operandi for some time now. Last year, he rounded out his Giro preparation with a spring-best 15th overall at the Tour of the Alps before finishing second to Primož Roglič. This time around he finished 13th.

Thomas is on track to challenge for the top placings, then. But how the team can take the fight to Pogačar remains unclear. The Slovenian's long-range solos and aggressive attacking style aren't a particularly good match for Thomas' steadier riding.

Thymen Arensman , sixth here last year, is a capable 'option 1b', though even in a two vs one fight, Pogačar should still be favourite. The Dutchman has looked good this spring, taking fifth at the Volta ao Algarve and sixth at Tirreno-Adriatico, and could be on for another high placing, depending on how much he'll be sacrificing himself for Thomas.

Elsewhere, six-time stage winner Filippo Ganna is impossible to ignore in a Giro with two time trials, even if the first of them concludes with 7km of climbing. Tour of the Alps stage winner Tobias Foss and Classics talents Magnus Sheffield and Jhonatan Narváez are all capable of adding stage wins to the team tally, depending on the freedom they're allowed. (DO)

• Team leader:  Biniam Girmay
• Riders to watch:  Madis Mihkels
• Riders:  Biniam Girmay, Lilian Calmejane, Kevin Colleoni, Dries De Pooter, Madis Mihkels, Adrien Petit, Dion Smith, Roel van Sintmaartensdijk

It has been two years since Biniam Girmay made history as the first Black African winner of a stage in the Giro d'Italia, and he's coming into this year's race as much less of an unknown.

A winner of a stage of the Tour de Suisse last year and the Surf Coast Classic after the Tour Down Under, Girmay missed out on any victories in his Tour de France debut. The Eritrean returns to the Giro d'Italia with high hopes and a team dedicated to delivering him to a win.

Should Girmay falter, then the team can look to Madis Mihkels . The Estonian has shown signs of form this year with a series of top-10 finishes from the Surf Coast Classic and Paris-Nice to Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix.

Beyond those two riders, there's little else among Intermarché-Wanty's Giro squad to suggest a big result is on the way. The likes of Lilian Calmejane , Kevin Colleoni , and Dion Smith should be visible in the breakaways, though. (LW)

• Team leader:  Michael Woods
• Riders to watch:  Simon Clarke, Nick Schultz
• Riders:  Michael Woods, Simon Clarke, Marco Frigo, Hugo Hofstetter, Riley Pickrell, Nadav Raisberg, Nick Schultz, Ethan Vernon

Israel-Premier Tech enjoyed a thrilling Giro d'Italia last year with Derek Gee lighting up the race by going on the attack in seven different stages and finishing second on four of them. Gee might not have won a stage but he was awarded the most combative rider award and earned valuable points toward the team's return to the WorldTour level in 2026.

Their GC hope will be Michael Woods , who last year staged a coup in the Tour de France to win the stage to Puy de Dôme from the breakaway. The Canadian would do well to target the second stage to the Santuario di Oropa and a shot at taking the maglia rosa .

The team will bring back Simon Clarke , a stage winner at both Tour de France and Vuelta a España who also went in several breakaways last year, coming closest on stage 6 when he and Alessandro De Marchi were caught in the final 300 metres. He'll be hoping once again to try and complete the Grand Tour stage win triple.

Nick Schultz , winner of the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya, holding off Tadej Pogačar with a late burst to the line, is another rider capable of grabbing a stage win. In Ethan Vernon , winner of a stage in last year's Tour de Romandie, and Hugo Hofstetter , the team also has two men capable of challenging in the sprints. (LW)

• Team leaders:  Caleb Ewan, Luke Plapp
• Objective:  Stage wins, points classification, GC top 10
• Riders to watch:  Eddie Dunbar
• Riders:  Alessandro De Marchi, Edward Dunbar, Caleb Ewan, Michael Hepburn, Luka Mezgec, Lucas Plapp, Max Walscheid, Filippo Zana

Jayco-AlUla head into the Giro d'Italia with Australian champion Luke Plapp as their overall contender. The Australian champion has only one Grand Tour under his belt, a 95th-place finish at the 2022 Vuelta a España, so he's relatively untested.

He's had a strong spring, though, finishing sixth at Paris-Nice with a second place atop Mont Brouilly to boot, and also took third at the first summit finish at the Tour de Romandie last week. It may be a long shot for Plapp to challenge for the very top GC placings, though his team also enjoy several options for stage wins.

With the return of Caleb Ewan , the team have a formidable sprint presence and the team to back him up with Max Walscheid and Luka Mezgec among those providing the motors. Ewan has never finished a Giro despite five starts and five stage wins, though maybe this year will be his first as the team are sending Dylan Groenewegen and Michael Matthews to the Tour de France.

Expect Alessandro De Marchi to be on the attack, as is his style, after his successful solo breakaway in the Tour of the Alps. Eddie Dunbar , who finished seventh overall in the Giro last year, is the team's second go-to for the GC. However, the Irishman's run-up to the Grand Tour this spring has been somewhat disrupted by injury. (LW)

• Team leader:  Jonathan Milan
• Objective:  Stage wins, points classification, GC top 10
• Riders to watch:  Juan Pedro López
• Riders:  Jonathan Milan, Andrea Bagioli, Simone Consonni, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, Daan Hoole, Juan Pedro López, Jasper Stuyven, Edward Theuns

With the reigning maglia ciclamino added to their squad over the winter and a former maglia rosa holder heading to Piemonte in top form, Lidl-Trek can be confident as they get the first Grand Tour of the season underway.

Sprinter Jonathan Milan will lead the way for the US team this May having burst onto the scene last year with a stage win and four second places en route to the points classification win.

But for his relative lack of positioning experience, the Olympic/world/European track champion would have won even more last May, though this time around he'll have more help in the finals in the form of Simone Consonni , Jasper Stuyven , and Edward Theuns .

A couple of wins and points jerseys across the Volta a Valenciana and Tirreno-Adriatico suggest Milan hasn't lost a step since moving from Bahrain Victorious, and he'll begin the race as a top-tier sprint favourite.

Juan Pedro López enjoyed 10 days in the Giro lead two years ago on the way to a youth classification win and, if he didn't really kick on from that in 2023, he's heading back to Italy with both his first-ever race win and first-ever stage race win in his pocket.

The Spaniard beat the likes of Ben O'Connor, Antonio Tiberi, and Romain Bardet to comfortably conquer the Tour of the Alps to round out his Giro preparation, and he can look to the Giro now with more wins in his sights, and perhaps even a return to the overall top 10 in Rome. (DO)

• Team leader:  Nairo Quintana
• Objective:  Stage wins, GC top 15
• Riders to watch:  Fernando Gaviria, Einer Rubio
• Riders:  Nairo Quintana, William Barta, Davide Cimolai, Fernando Gaviria, Lorenzo Milesi, Einer Rubio, Pelayo Sánchez, Albert Torres

Movistar have brought back Nairo Quintana this season after the Colombian's disqualification from the Tour de France in 2022 left him teamless last year. They have been hoping that the 34-year-old can fill a gap as GC contender.

However, after his crash in the Volta a Catalunya, Quintana is in no shape to replicate years gone by – including his triumphant May in 2014 – and challenge for the highest GC placings.

Instead, the team will likely have to be content with targeting stage wins. Depending on his shape, Quintana might ride into form to be up there during the strenuous final week, while Fernando Gaviria will battle on the sprint stages. He's another rider battling to recapture his form of the past, having not won a Grand Tour stage in five years.

Einer Rubio is the team's GC dark horse. The last of three Colombians on the team, the climber was the winner of the severely shortened stage 13 to Crans-Montana at last year's Giro on the way to an 11th-place overall finish. He's been relatively quiet this spring, though, barring a couple of summit finish top 10s at the UAE Tour.

Elsewhere, Will Barta , who won the final stage of the Volta a la Valenciana with a long solo breakaway, is another one to watch. (LW)

• Team leader:  Matteo Fabbro
• Objective:  Stage wins, minor classifications
• Riders to watch:  Mattia Bais, Davide Bais
• Riders:  Matteo Fabbro, Davide Bais, Mattia Bais, Giovanni Lonardi, Mirco Maestri, Francisco Muñoz, Andrea Pietrobon, Davide Piganzoli

Wildcard squad Polti-Kometa are definitely underdogs in the Giro d'Italia and, like all good ProTeams, they'll surely be present in every breakaway attempt to put on a good show for the tifosi .

The team scored a rare wildcard stage win on their first Giro appearance three years ago, with Lorenzo Fortunato delivering the goods from the breakaway on Monte Zoncolan. He's moved on to the ailing Astana Qazastan this season, though, so the team will have to seek success elsewhere.

Matteo Fabbro is his prospective replacement, coming on board from Bora-Hansgrohe. The 29-year-old is a solid climber, though perhaps less talented than Fortunato. Fifth place at the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico is a career highlight, while this year his top results are 10th at O Gran Camiño and 11th at the Tour of the Alps.

Davide Bais scored another stage win for the team at last year's Giro, triumphing from a three-man break on stage 7 at Gran Sasso d'Italia. His older brother Mattia is another man who loves a breakaway and he showed some good form recently with third place at the Giro della Romagna. Mirco Maestri is another option for the breaks.

The team have to get lucky again to get into a breakaway that sticks to have a chance at another success like that, and aside from a stage win, they'll undoubtedly be on the hunt for another stint in the mountains jersey like Bais enjoyed last year. (LW)

• Team leaders:  Julian Alaphilippe, Tim Merlier
• Objective:  Stage wins, points classification
• Riders to watch:  Mauri Vansevenant
• Riders:  Julian Alaphilippe, Josef Černý, Jan Hirt, Luke Lamperti, Tim Merlier, Pieter Serry, Bert Van Lerberghe, Mauri Vansevenant

With Remco Evenepoel fully focussed on the Tour de France (and recovering from a broken collarbone from a crash in Itzulia Basque Country), Soudal-Quickstep start the Giro d'Italia with their eyes on sprints and stage wins.

Tim Merlier has been a huge asset to the team since joining from Alpecin-Deceuninck last year, racking up 18 wins since then. He provided their only spring Classics triumphs this year at Nokere Koerse and Scheldeprijs, and, having not raced a Grand Tour last year, will make his bow for the squad this May.

He's undoubtedly their focus for the sprints and a bid for another maglia ciclamino to go with those won by Paolo Bettini (twice), Mark Cavendish, Fernando Gaviria, and  Elia Viviani. Talented youngster Luke Lamperti will be a key part of Merlier's train.

Julian Alaphilippe has shown glimmers of good form in recent weeks and will lead the charge for stage wins on the hilly stages and in mountain-stage breakaways.

Jan Hirt , sixth here in 2022, is another prospect for the latter and, along with young talent Mauri Vansevenant – who comes off two top-10 finishes at the Ardennes Classics – is the team's best chance at a high GC placing in Rome. (LW)

• Team leaders:  Alberto Dainese, Michael Storer
• Objective:  Stage wins
• Riders to watch: Matteo Trentin, Marius Mayrhofer
• Riders:  Matteo Trentin, Alberto Dainese, Robin Froidevaux, Alexander Kamp, Alexander Krieger, Marius Mayrhofer, Michael Storer, Florian Stork

Tudor Pro Cycling have earned their entry into the Giro d'Italia with a truly competitive team in 2024. Veteran competitor Matteo Trentin is the most experienced in the team and, along with Alberto Dainese and Michael Storer , will be leading the charge for stage victories.

Dainese is a two-time Giro stage winner and also has a Vuelta a España stage on his palmarès. He made the move from DSM over the winter to have more freedom and will be well-supported for the bunch sprints this year. So far in 2024, he has one sprint win, coming at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.

Another newcomer is Storer, who won two stages and the mountains classification at the 2021 Vuelta. The Australian has racked up top-10 finishes at the UAE Tour and Tour of the Alps and finished second on the hard mountain stage to Borgo Valsugana at the latter race.

Marius Mayrhofer , winner of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race last year, has several top 10s across races including Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and several stages of Tirreno-Adriatico. He'll have underlined a few of the stages with climbs before a flat finish in his road book, and of course, the always-aggressive Trentin will surely be on the attack on several days. (LW)

• Team leader:  Tadej Pogačar
• Objective:  Overall victory
• Riders to watch:  Juan Molano
• Riders:  Tadej Pogačar, Rui Oliveira, Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Vegard Stake Laengen, Rafał Majka, Juan Sebastian Molano, Domen Novak

If there's one team at the Giro d'Italia with a single obvious goal lying ahead of them, it's UAE Team Emirates, and Tadej Pogačar , who head into the race with the maglia rosa in mind. Given the season Pogačar has enjoyed so far, anything less than overall victory would be a disaster, especially with no Jonas Vingegaard or Primož Roglič around to challenge him. 

Despite the presence of another Tour de France winner on the start line, and with the entire Giro ahead of us, the main questions hanging over Pogačar's head seem to be 'How much can he win by?' and 'Can he conserve his energy to complete the Giro-Tour double in July?'

He's raced a limited schedule of just 10 race days heading to the Grande Partenza in Piemonte, but he's already won seven times, including dominant displays at Strade Bianche (an 81km solo), the Volta a Catalunya (by almost four minutes), and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (a 35km solo).

Nothing is set in stone in cycling and anything can happen over the course of three weeks of racing, but UAE Team Emirates have put all their eggs in the Pogačar basket this Giro for a reason. Rafał Majka and Mikkel Bjerg figure to be among his top domestiques.

Elsewhere, there's no sign of a Plan B with the team's squadron of talented GC riders absent from the start list. Juan Sebastian Molano and Rui Oliveira will be the go-to riders for the sprinter-friendly stages, though neither will be top favourites for victories in what is a very strong sprint field. (DO)

• Team leader:  Domenico Pozzovivo
• Objective:  Stage wins, GC top 10, minor classifications
• Riders to watch:  Giulio Pellizzarri
• Riders:  Domenico Pozzovivo, Luca Covili, Filippo Fiorelli, Martin Marcellusi, Giulio Pellizzari, Manuele Tarozzi, Alessandro Tonelli, Enrico Zanoncello

At the grand old age of 41, Domenico Pozzovivo found another lifeline for his career in VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, joining the team in late February after parting ways with Israel-Premier Tech over the winter.

It's been more than a decade since the Italian won a Grand Tour stage (at the 2012 Giro), but he has 24 Grand Tours in his legs and has been a consistent top-10 finisher, including eighth at the Giro two years ago.

A top-10 finish at the Giro would be a huge result for the team which has raced every Giro but one since the 1990s. If Pozzovivo can stay healthy and avoid crashes, he's certainly capable of such a result, having done so in the recent Giro d'Abruzzo and Settimana Coppi e Bartali.

Other riders capable of winning include Alessandro Tonelli , the only other rider over 30 in the young team, the winner of a stage in the Volta a la Valenciana this year. Enrico Zanoncello is a quick finisher who won the opening stage in Abruzzo.

The team won't be putting pressure on Giulio Pellizzari , but the 20-year-old is a talent on the rise and his eighth place in the Tour of the Alps is a very promising sign for a solid overall finish. (LW)

• Team leaders:  Olav Kooij, Cian Uijtdebroeks
• Objective:  Stage wins, GC top 5
• Riders to watch:  Christophe Laporte, Attila Valter
• Riders:  Christophe Laporte, Edoardo Affini, Robert Gesink, Olav Kooij, Jan Tratnik, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Attila Valter, Tim van Dijke

Visma-Lease a Bike's historic Grand Tour triple in 2023 will be exceedingly difficult to duplicate this time around with no Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard recovering from his Itzulia Basque Country crash.

However, the 'killer bees' will be hoping that Cian Uijtdebroeks can live up to his promise as a GC hopeful that was so heavily touted in Belgium after his Tour de l'Avenir victory in 2022.

The 21-year-old finished eighth overall at last year's Vuelta a España, and so is making his Grand Tour debut following his contentious mid-contract transfer from Bora-Hansgrohe. He hasn't yet shown himself to be competitive against the likes of Tadej Pogačar this spring, his best results being fifth at O Gran Camiño and seventh at Tirreno-Adriatico, so he may have a mental disadvantage in that regard.

Sprinter Olav Kooij will make his Grand Tour debut after racking up 13 wins last year. He won't have Wout van Aert on lead-out duties but will be among the top favourites on the flat stages.

Elsewhere, Jan Tratnik and Attila Valter will be first on hand to provide support to Uijtdebroeks in the mountains, while European champion Christophe Laporte will be on lead-out duties as well as seeking stage wins of his own. (LW)

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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.

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Giro d'Italia 2024 route: Stelvio, gravel sectors and a new climb all on the menu

The Italian Grand Tour takes place 4-26 May, building up to tough Dolomites crescendo

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The iconic Passo dello Stelvio , gravel sectors and a tough new climb all feature in the route of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, which begins next Saturday.

The 107th edition of the Italian Grand Tour will begin in Piemonte on 4 May and finish in Rome three weeks later. 

The Giro d'Italia will open with a Grande Partenza in Turin, before a category-one summit finish on day two in Biella. 

It is a challenging parcours which includes two individual time trials, six mountain finishes and a final-week crescendo in the Dolomites. 

After the Grande Partenza, stage three will be the first of a trio favouring the fastmen. On day six, the flat tarmac will then give way to gravel tracks, when sectors of Strade Bianche 's famous sterrato will take over the race route. 

Stage seven will offer the first of two individual time trials. Finishing on an ascent in Perugia, this initial race against the clock stretches out 37.2km from Foligno and promises to force gaps between the GC favourites. 

The first week will then close with two challenging stages: a mountains test on day eight, finishing atop the Prati di Tivo, followed by a winding course into Napoli on stage nine. 

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After a rest day, the second week will leave the famous archeological site of Pompeii and head towards the country's Adriatic coast. Stages 11, 12 and 13 come with their own complications, but are all expected to finish in sprints. 

A second individual time trial comes on day 14, 31km in length, and held on a flat course, finishing on the shores of Lake Garda. 

Stage 15, the race's longest at 220km, is also one of its most difficult. Leaving Lake Garda, the peloton will head into the Alps, via Switzerland, and finish at altitude on a new climb in Livigno - the Mottolino - whose summit is yet to be laid with asphalt.  

Another rest day then follows, before the iconic Stelvio stars on stage 16, after a four-year absence. The mountain pass will come midway through the day, which again stretches out over 200km through the mountains. 

Stage 17 will be considerably shorter, at 154km, but just as tough, finishing with a double ascent of the Brocon Pass in the Dolomites. 

After two easier days, the penultimate stage also features a double ascent, this time in the form of the Monte Grappa, before a descent to the line in the foothills. 

On 26 May, the winner of the 2024 Giro d'Italia will be crowned on the streets of Rome, with a city circuit closing out the 107th edition. 

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) won the 2023 edition of the race , taking the pink jersey off Geraint Thomas's shoulders in a penultimate day individual time trial. 

This year, Thomas will return to challenge for the crown once again, but will have to do battle with another Slovenian, this time coming up against Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) .

Giro d'Italia 2024 Stage Table

Full route map.

Stage by stage guide

Stage one:  Saturday 4 May Venaria Reala > Torino I Hilly I 143 kilometres

Torino will host what will be a sombre start to the 2024 Giro d’Italia, marking the 75th anniversary of the tragic Superga air disaster in which the majority of Torino FC’s all-conquering team of its era died. 

They will be commemorated on the Superga climb featured halfway into the stage, while the racing will likely kick off 40km later on the steep 7.4% slopes of the 6km Colle Maddalena. 

Even without the late addition of an uncategorised 1.5km that rises at 10%, the Maddalena alone is hard enough to ensure a puncheur or climber rather than a sprinter will don the edition’s first pink jersey.

Stage two: Sunday 5 May  San Francesco al Campo > Santuario di Oropa (Biella) I Hilly I 161 kilometres

Any wannabee pink jersey winner hoping to gently ease themselves into the race is in for a rude awakening today, for what is the earliest summit finish of any edition for 35 years. 

That summit is Oropa, a mountain made famous when in 1999 Marco Pantani won atop it despite dropping his chain at the bottom. 

With an average gradient of 6.2%, it’s not necessarily one for the pure climbers, as Tom Dumoulin proved by winning here in 2017. Only 10 riders finished within a minute of Dumoulin that day, suggesting that an early but clear GC hierarchy will be formed. 

Stage three: Monday 6 May Novarra > Fossano I Flat I 166 kilometres

Sprinters tend to be an emotional lot, so we can only imagine how they feel about having to drag themselves up a mountaintop finish before they’ve had a chance to compete for a stage win. 

They’ll try to channel that indignance into adrenaline for today’s nailed-on bunch finish, although even this parcours isn’t without complications with a slight uphill in the final kilometres. 

The rest of the stage is really as straightforward as a Giro d’Italia gets, though, and the riders can afford to daydream about risotto for dinner as they pass through the fields where Arborio rice is grown. 

Stage four: Tuesday 7 May Aqui Terme > Andora I Flat I 190 kilometres

The roads covered today will be familiar to many cycling fans, as the second half of the stage hugs the same Ligurian coastline that features every spring at the Milan-Sanremo monument. 

Whereas that race continues for another 50km or so, towards the Cipressa and Poggio hills that tend to dash the hopes of pure sprinters, this will end abruptly just after the uncategorised Capo Mele climb. 

Considering this small hill doesn’t even have an effect as part of that much longer, more energy-sapping race, the sprinters shouldn’t have any problems getting up it today and contesting in a bunch sprint. 

Stage five: Wednesday 8 May Genova > Lucca I Hilly I 178 kilometres

Any sprinter unhappy with missing out on the last two days should get another chance today – but they’ll have to make the most of it, as this will be the last until stage nine. 

They will have to negotiate the lengthy but gentle Passo del Bracco early on, but nobody was distanced when it appeared during a stage of last year’s race, when it featured similarly far from the finish. 

The 113km that follow contain no obstacles or traps aside from a 4.7km category-four climb with manageable gradients averaging just 3.6%, meaning a sprint inside the old city walls of Lucca is likely. 

Stage six: Thursday 9 May Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio) > Rapolano Terme I Hilly I 180 kilometres 

Following Tuesday’s Milan-Sanremo-style stage, today uses the other great Italian spring Classic as its blueprint – Strade Bianche, and the dirt roads and Chianti Hills of Tuscany that make it such a unique challenge. 

These roads wreaked havoc the last time they featured at the Giro, in 2021, when Egan Bernal took control of the race while main GC rival Remco Evenepoel floundered and conceded over two minutes. 

This stage isn’t quite so hard, containing three dirt road sectors rather than four, but it’s still enough to throw a spanner in the works of the GC race and be costly for contenders uncomfortable on the gravel. 

Stage 7: Thursday 9 May Individual time trial Foligno > Perugia 38.5 kilometres

The Giro's longest time trial since 2017 packs a punch that is very likely to shake the general classification tree, with its 6.5 kilometre climb to the finish in the Umbrian capital of Perugia. 

With the race featuring the summit finish on the category-one climb as early as stage two, when the riders tackle the category-one ascent to Santuario di Oropa, the GC is likely to already have taken the first hint of a shape. 

What's in a time trial?

While any Grand Tour time trial can offer up some handy GC pointers, a mid-race time trial is a limited barometer. Last year, for example, Remco Evenepoel won the stage nine test, and promptly retired with Covid. 

The next most recent mid-race ITT was won by Filippo Ganna in 2020 and then Primoz Roglič in 2019 – neither of whom went on to take victory. 

The final TT – often hilly or even mountainous – is often a better indicator. This year's stage 14 test is flat however, and could well baulk that rule.

Today's time trial is the next likely skirmish in the race-long battle for the maglia rosa and will give the bigger boned, bigger-engined GC men something to sink their teeth into. That finishing climb means they won't have it all their own way though, and is likely to play a major role in deciding the day's winner. Its 4.2% gradient means it's hardly mountain goat territory, but it could keep the biggest TT guys off the top podium step.

Starting in Foligno, the riders head north-west on 32km of flat and pretty much straight road, passing a time check in the town of Santa Maria Degli Angelo at 16.6km. At 32km they begin climbing towards the finish in the centre of the beautiful mediaeval city of Perugia. 

They will have to kick hard to begin with, with the first 1,500m averaging 10%, before settling into a far more welcome 2.5% for the final five kilometres.

Stage 8: Saturday 11 May Spoleto > Prati di Tivo I Mountains I 153 kilometres

Whereas most of the opening week is spent travelling southwards along the western side of the country, and the second week back up north via the east, today is a rare exception that ventures into the Apennine mountains running through the middle of the peninsular. 

Prati di Tivo hosts the finish, a steady, unforgiving grind that rises at a demanding 7% for over 14km. It hasn’t featured at the Giro since 1975, but the fact that riders of the calibre of Chris Froome and Tadej Pogačar have won here at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race suggests whoever is the strongest climber can today seize control. 

Stage 9: Sunday 12 May Avezzano > Napoli I Hilly I 214 kilometres

The last two Giro visits to Napoli were finely balanced contests between escapees and sprinters, with the unfortunate Alessandro De Marchi and Simon Clarke denied a mere few hundred metres from the line by a fast-finishing bunch led home by Mads Pedersen last year, and Thomas De Gendt defeating the peloton with a successful break in 2022. 

This year the advantage has shifted a little towards the sprinters, with less climbing in total, but there’s plenty still to make life difficult for them – the stage’s punishing length, the potential for hot, stuffy weather, technical urban roads, and a series of small hills in the final 40km. 

Stage 10: Tuesday 14 May Pompei > Cusano Mutri I Hilly I 142 kilometres

Following yesterday’s rest day, the riders are eased back into racing for what is the second shortest road stage of the race, but with the caveat that the last 18 of those 142 kilometres are spent climbing to the summit finish at Bocca della Selva. 

Like many climbs of its excessive length, it’s a mountain of many phases, made up of a gentle first two-thirds preceding a final 6.5km rising at 7.2%, which the favourites would be wise to wait for before attacking. 

With heat a potential factor for what is this Giro’s southernmost stage, this will be a sapping day.  

Stage 11: Wednesday 15 May Foiano di Val Fortore > Francavilla I Flat I 207 kilometres

There has been a clear effort this year by the organisers to reduce the length of stages, so much so that today’s lengthy trek northwards through Molise and along the Adriatic coast is one of only four to exceed 200km. 

It’s also, save for the shallow 7km San Bartolomeo climb tackled towards the start of the day, completely flat, making it the kind of day TV commentators have nightmares about, as they strain to fill the airwaves against the backdrop of no action. 

They’ll be praying the wind blows, which could potentially burst the race into life during the final 100km of exposed coastal roads.

Stage 12: Thursday 16 May Martinsicuro > Fano I Hilly I 190 kilometres

Italians use the phrase ‘tappa dei muri’ to describe a parcours like today’s: a ‘stage of walls’, a kind of death by thousand cuts in which rather than being exposed to one, big climb, the riders must take on multiple small hills. 

There are four climbs officially, and many more uncategorised rises, meaning this will be a day for the puncheurs or the sprinters, either via an early breakaway or out of the peloton with a late attack. And who knows, maybe even a brave GC contender will use the steep ramps of one of the late rises to try and gain some time?

Stage 13: Friday 17 May Riccione > Cento I Flat I 179 kilometres

The second week’s long journey north continues with a stage through the plains of Emilia-Romagna that is one the flattest days of the whole Giro. It’s therefore surely one for the sprinters, as was the case the last time Cento hosted a stage finish 29 years ago when Ján Svorada was awarded victory after Mario Cipollini was relegated for dangerous riding. 

It’s the last chance for a bunch sprint for almost a week, and for some the last of the race – there will be those who give into the temptation to navigate the closely-looming Alps via an aeroplane home rather than by bike. 

Stage 14: Saturday 18 May Castiglione Delle Stiviere > Desenzano del Garda I Individual time trial I 31.2 kilometres

“Of the two [time trials]”, said former world champion and home favourite Filippo Ganna at the route presentation, “the one in Desenzano is the most suitable for me”, and it’s easy to see why. 

This is flatter than stage seven’s time trial in Perugia, without a single climb to break the riders’ rhythm, and contains multiple twists and turns to further aid specialists with more refined techniques.  

If the GC favourites are evenly matched in the mountains, this could be the decisive stage of the race – although a similarly long and flat time trial last year saw them separated by mere seconds. 

Stage 15: Sunday 19 May Maberba del Garda > Livigno (Mottolino) I mountains I 220 kilometres

Generally speaking, this is a relatively modest Giro, with race director Mauro Vegni estimating that there is “about 20%” less climbing than last year. No such restraint has been shown today, however, a stage that is the longest and quite possibly hardest of the race. 

There are five climbs, the highlights being the mighty Mortirolo (albeit via its ‘easier’ side) and similarly massive Passo di Foscagno. 

Both are more than hard enough to ensure we won’t have to wait for the shorter but viciously steep final climb to the high-altitude finish at Livigno for the GC action to kick off. 

Stage 16: Tuesday 21 May Livigno > Santa Cristina Valgardena I Mountains I 202 kilometres

This mountain stage would be hard enough without the additional boast of being one of just four stages coming in over the 200km mark. Crucially, it also falls immediately after a rest day, which itself falls immediately after another summit finish. All of these factors combined are going to make for a very difficult day out that could leave GC hopefuls even more vulnerable to losing chunks of time than the profile suggests.

The rest day blues

This year's Giro d'Italia features the Grand Tour standard two rest days, coming on the Mondays of the second and third weeks. 

You might imagine the riders kicking back in a pavement cafe or sleeping the day away. No chance. That could trick the body into entering recovery mode – not what a GrandTour rider wants when there's a mountain stage the next day. 

Solution? Go for a ride – a proper one. On last season's Giro d'Italia for example, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) rode 60km (37.5 miles) on the first rest day. 

Those vulnerable riders will be put to the sword in the most severe fashion early on in the stage as the peloton meets the infamous Stelvio climb, which they begin climbing with 33km done and do not finish until a shade over 20km later, having averaged 7.2% along the way, and overcome gradients of up to 15% halfway up. Coming so early in the stage, GC attacks are unlikely, though anyone with bad legs after the rest day could easily find themselves distanced. Equally the climb could act as the springboard for the day's break, but they will need a major gap when they reach the final 35km if they want to stay away.

This is where they'll meet the cat-one Passo Pinei (23.4km / 4.9%) and the cat-two finish climb of Santa Cristina (7.6km / 6.1%), both featuring 15% slopes. The maglia rosa is unlikely to be won today, but there will be nervous riders on the start line in Livigno and by the end of the stage the GC hopes of more than one rider are likely to have been tempered.

Stage 17: Wednesday 22 May Selva di Valgardena > Passo del Brocon I Mountains I 159 kilometres 

It's time to go big. With five climbs in the high mountains, this stage looks set to form a key battleground in the general classification. With only one more mountain stage after this one – and that is three days away – the GC riders have carte blanche to go for broke on what is the last summit finish of the race. 

The finishing climb itself doesn't present the most intimidating stats, topping out well under 2,000m at 1,603m, with a moderate average gradient of 6.5%. It is, however, just shy of 12km long and features a nasty looking three-kilometre section around two-thirds of the way up at 10.5% average – with ramps of 13%. That is sure to unsettle anyone going into the final part of the day already reeling from the trio of cat-one climbs that have already been dispatched.

One of the numerous climbs familiar to anyone who has ridden the famous Maratona dles Dolomites challenge ride, the Passo Sella is 9km long at 7.3% and crucially tops out at 2,244m. 

It will be taken at anything but leisurely pace on today's stage, and riders will be warming up thoroughly around the team buses beforehand, ready for a potential out-of-the-blocks onslaught as those GC leaders who are feeling good seek to catch out those who don't. 

In their own special way, these three are all pretty much as hard as the other. Starting at Val Gardena, not far from the Austrian border, the race plunges south, taking on the Passo Sella straight out of the blocks (see boxout). Having reached the summit the riders enjoy a near-40km descent to the foot of the Passo Rolle. This is long, at 19.8km, with a low average gradient of 4.6%, in part due to a few kilometres of respite halfway up. 

The cat-three Passo Gobbera will be tackled as a matter of course before the riders take on the Passo Brocon for the first time – from the north-west – before looping south and coming at it again from its harder approach, this time for the stage finish.

Stage 18: Thursday 23 May Fiera di Primiero > Padova I Flat I 171 kilometres

There’s nothing to encourage breakaways in today’s parcours, which brings the riders out of the Alps while studiously avoiding the hills of the local Prosecco vineyards, but that doesn’t make it a guaranteed day for the sprinters. Bunch sprints are hard to force this late into a Grand Tour. 

In fact, before Alberto Dainese’s triumph at stage 17 last year, there hadn’t been one during the final week of a Giro since 2018. 

The sprinters’ teams will therefore need to diligently prevent too big or too strong a breakaway forming, then still have the numbers, and the resolve, to commit to bringing them back.  

Stage 19: Friday 24 May Mortegliano > Sappada I Hilly I 157 kilometres

The riders head back into the Alps today, but are the climbs hard enough to reignite the GC race? The Passo Duron is too short and Cima Sappada too shallow to be rated higher than a category two, and the steepest 3km stretch of over 8% on the latter comes perhaps too far from the finish (7km) to incentivise attacks. 

That said, history proves these roads can transform a race: in 1987, during a similarly benign-looking mountain stage, Stephen Roche sneakily slipped out of the peloton on a descent, and pushed on to take several minutes and the pink jersey from his apoplectic teammate Roberto Visentini.  

Stage 20: Saturday 25 May Alpago > Bassano del Grappa I Mountains I 181 kilometres

It may not be a summit finish but there is little doubt that whoever wins this outlandish stage will be a super climber – and utterly spent by the end of it. Not unlike the archetypal football match, this is a stage of two halves. The first is a story of comparatively flat terrain, with a few lumps near the beginning – including the category-four climb of Muro di Ca'del Poggio (no relation) after 30km.

The 'fun' begins at 85km, very close to the halfway mark, as the riders embark on the first ascent of the mammoth cat-one Monte Grappe climb. Its 18.5km slopes begin all the way down at 187m above sea level, averaging a relentless 8% right up to the top at 1,675m. In particular, fans will delight and riders will despair at the final four kilometres, which average a brutal 9.5% and feature slopes of up to 17%.

Monte Grappa - the power of 10

Tough as the Giro's riders will find Monte Grappa today, they should perhaps be grateful that organisers did not present them with a tougher route up it. 

There are 10 different approaches to the climb, three of which average 10% – and they're all longer too. 

Amateur riders can earn a gold Brevetto del Monte Grappa by completing all of these ascents, with silver and bronze also available for those taking on six or three respectively. 

What's more, when this beast has been dispatched, the riders will find themselves looping around the base of it to begin the undertaking all over again. Once it has been tackled twice they will find a 25km descent with a handful of flat kilometres to the finish awaiting them, during which time a lot can happen. 

The GC riders will need to be ready to battle hard on that last downhill, and there could be a number of heart-in-mouth moments before the winner of the stage – and indeed the final maglia rosa (for tomorrow is a flat, processional stage in Rome) – is decided.

Stage 21: Sunday May 26 Rome > Rome I Flat I 122 kilometres

Rome again hosts the finale of the Giro, where last year Mark Cavendish, ever the man to rise to the occasion, triumphed on his last ever day at the Giro. The circuit this year is a little different, but fundamentally the same, in that it’s flat and sure to end in a sprint. 

The twisty urban roads mean the sprinters will need a teammate (or, as Cavendish found in Geraint Thomas last year, an old friend) to help guide and protect them, before being unleashed on the Champs Elysees-esque finishing straight along the lightly cobble Via di San Gregorio against the picturesque backdrop of the Colosseum. 

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Stephen Puddicombe is a freelance journalist for Cycling Weekly , who regularly contributes to our World Tour racing coverage with race reports, news stories, interviews and features. Outside of cycling, he also enjoys writing about film and TV - but you won't find much of that content embedded into his CW articles. 

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A trip to Italy is too special to get wrong. Here's how to do it right. (San Gimignano, Tuscany)

I absolutely love Italy, for many different reasons. But I hate the way in which many Americans go about planning trips there. Survey after survey shows it is the number one dream destination for U.S. leisure travelers, but the way those travelers get their information and advice gives me nightmares.

Throughout the years I’ve heard people say over and over that “I was told to do this in Italy,” or “I was told not to do this in Italy.” By who? “A friend.” I have close friends who recently planned their entire 12-day trip on the basis of another couple they knew who gave them advice—after their first visit. I’ve heard of many people who skipped Rome because “we heard it was too busy, just another big city.” Or passed on Venice, one of the world’s most magical destinations, because, “I heard it was touristy.”

There are American tourists who say you should skip Venice. They are wrong.

It goes on and on, but suffice to say, I have been to Italy in the neighborhood of two dozen times, summer and winter, for food, wine, skiing, golf, hiking, cycling and more food, from north to south and east to west and islands too, and I know a lot about Italian cuisine, but I still ask real experts for advice every time I go. I specifically ask for advice on where to eat, what to see, and who to choose as guides. And by experts, I mean people how live in Italy, specialize in particular areas of travel, and know their subject matter.

“We get multiple guests a year who want to wing it,” says Cherrye Moore, owner of My Bella Vita travel. Moore moved to Calabria two decades ago after falling in love with the region on a visit, and opened a bed and breakfast, learning about what her visitors were looking for. Her company now specializes in planning trips—especially foodie and ancestry trips—to the area in Southern Italy where many Italian Americans trace their heritage. “They say, ‘My neighbor just showed up in their family’s hometown and it went great for them,’ or, ‘Our friends went to Italy last year and said we don't need a driver.’ It’s true that you can rent a car and drive to your family’s hometown, but that experience is vastly different from having a dedicated driver and a heritage specialist who has done research on your family’s history, who has already identified the home your grandfather was born in, and who has arranged meetings with locals upon your arrival.”

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Anyone can tour the Vatican, but only the right guides can get you a private visit.

I just got back from an exploration of Turin followed by a weeklong hiking trip in surrounding Piemonte, Italy’s most prestigious wine region, which included multiple winery visits. For restaurants and guides and sightseeing in Turin I used an Italian-based travel specialist that is the choice of many of the best luxury travel agents/advisors in this country (the best travel agents are savvy enough to know what they do not know and regularly rely on local experts). For the hiking trip, I used an Italy-based active travel specialist that does nothing else, and does it with a food-centric spin. It was another fantastic Italy trip, one amazing day after another, featuring many meals, wineries and experiences I never would have found by myself, especially by asking random friends or watching You Tube influencer videos by people with far less Italy experience than myself.

“We don’t focus on stars or diamonds, we focus on really special one-of-a-kind experiences and lodging that lets you discover our Italy,” said Heather Dowd, who lives in Turin and along with her Italian husband Beppe Salerno. They run Tourissimo , the active travel company we used. We had several friends hiking with us who were on either their very first or second trip to Italy, and when we reviewed our experiences at the end for the trip, one place we stayed, an 18 th century castle turned boutique hotel, was the overwhelming favorite. It did not have whirlpool tubs or Frette linens, it did not have a concierge or room service, but it had excellent food and beautiful gardens in which we had an epic dinner. It had cooking classes, a great location, a fun aperitivo evening cocktail session, and most of all, incredible charm..

Everyone wants the perfect meal in Italy, but not everyone knows where the locals go to find it.

It was exactly what my first timers dreamed Italy would be like, and it was a place we never would have found online. It was perfect, and even in Italy not every place is, but the reality is that Heather and Beppe and their guides spend a lot of time behind the scenes visiting small hotels and vetting them, way more time than the people who rate their stays on booking websites. One of my friends was so impressed he is already planning an extended family hiking trip to Sicily with Tourissimo next year.

If you want to have an insider experience in Italy, and see the places locals go, you need a local insider to help you out.

“Our goal is for guests to experience Calabria like we do, so we’ve built experiences that aren’t available online,” said My Bella Vita’s Moore. “Nowhere else can you find a multi-course lunch hosted at Zia Pina’s or a picnic prepared and delivered by Signora Francesca. Lunch in the home of our friend, Chef Massimo, isn’t available on Google. When creating or reviewing experiences I always think of my sister in Texas. If she were visiting, would I take her here? If that answer is yes, I know we have a winner.” That is exactly the standard by which I’d like my Italy travels to be judged.

A trip to Italy is a beautiful, special, and almost sacred experience, so don’t screw it up by taking bad advice. I do not know every local specialist—and I hope to keep finding more—but I know several experts I would recommend for different kinds of travel. Or use a good travel advisor, something I recommend for all travel (Read my article Why You Need A Travel Agent More Than Ever here at Forbes ), and communicate with them to ensure they are on the same page in terms of sourcing these kinds of local experts. If they are good, they will already be familiar with several of these companies.

Active Travel

All of Tourissimo's cycling and hiking trips in Italy emphasize food and wine, which is how it ... [+] should be.

Italy has long been the dream destination of cyclists, with Tuscany atop the Bucket List for global road riding destinations. But for the past few years the fastest growing sector of cycling has been “gravel grinding,” and with hundreds of miles of its stunning unpaved “white roads,” Tuscany has also emerged as the world’s top travel spot for gravel lovers. There are also plenty of other amazing places to ride in Italy, including Piemonte, Sardinia, Puglia, the Lakes region, and many other areas. World class hiking abounds, especially the stunning Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site of beauty unmatched by most other mountain regions on earth. Beyond this there are the Alps in the east, the Cinque Terre, Sardinia, and many other great options.

Italy is so well known for cycling and hiking that every major active travel company in the world runs trips there. But for my last two active trips, one hiking and one biking, I chose a tour operator that is actually based there, founded by an Italian with a passion for cycling and food. Tourissimo may be Italian, but they cater to the American market, and founder Beppe Salerno worked for am American cycling company as a guide before realizing he could do the real Italy better himself—to me, the perfect startup rationale. Over the years since, Tourissimo has grown its library of offerings, with both with an array of scheduled group trips and private custom options. While they do mostly road riding, they are notably one of the only tour operators scheduling gravel trips, and can also arrange custom mountain biking itineraries, with years of expertise in cycling and hiking.

Superstar Chef Mary Sue Milliken has led about galf a dozen Chef's Cycling Tours in Italy for ... [+] Tourissimo.

In addition, Tourissimo has also been a pioneer in “Active Culinary Travel,” a hot new category I have written about here at Forbes (and for other magazines and newspapers). They offer an annual series of six group rides (and a hike) each hosted by an acclaimed chef like Mary Sue Milliken, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author (five!) and co-host of the popular PBS cooking show Two Hot Tamales . She is also an avid cyclist and has led the Tourissimo Chef Bike Tours for several years, along with other big names. These trips are a unique option for serious foodies who also ride, while the other trips cater to just about anyone. Otherwise they offer several styles of trips, from Bici Basics for new riders to Ambitious Tours for the more hard core.

Tourissimo puts a focus on local, choosing small and often historic hotels that they have curated and vetted (like the castle I just stayed at in Piemonte), places that you would never be able to distinguish from hundreds of other non-chain options online. Same for restaurants, wineries, and all the other ways they take you behind the scenes and into their real Italy. Their Mission Statement? “We don't want to be the biggest adventure travel company. We want to design and run the best tours in Italy. We strive to be the most authentic and the most beneficial to local communities.” Fantastico!

Bellagio on Lake Como is one of the most famous destinations in Italy — and the perfect place for a ... [+] food-centric bike tour!

Bike It! Bellagio offers another insider biking experience on a much different scale, providing a great one-day experience for visitors to Italy’s most famous lake town. This bike shop on Lake Como is run by a former pro racer and his wife. They rent bikes (road, mountain and e-bikes) out, but also offer one-day guided tours with multiple food and drink stops. Given that the owner grew up here and knows everyone, it’s not surprising that the food and drink spots are insider picks. The shop sits near the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, the most famous in the Giro di Lombardia, a race more than a century old, and several days a week the shop offers guided group rides with a climb of the pass, on road or e-bikes—Bianchi bikes of course!

There are scheduled tours Monday through Saturday, as well as wide range of customizable private tours. These are often taken by families with mixed ages, but for more aggressive riders they offer longer road tours, mountain biking and gravel riding, along with a wide range of less demanding e-bike tours, including some even more focused on food and wine. They also offer a handful of multi-day tours and can put these together as custom on demand, usually for groups, including an iconic coast to coast traverse of Italy. If you are a guest of one of the many stunning (and pricey) ultra-luxury hotels around Bellagio, and ask the concierge to arrange a bike tour, they are likely going to call this shop anyway (and mark it up) so just do it yourself.

Luxury Travel in Italy

From planning your entire itinerary with flights, hotels, and transfers to just booking the best tours, guides and VIP access (often to non-public highlights), it pays to use a top local specialist.

Last year I attended the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, which has been called “the Oscars of the travel industry.” Virtuoso is the leading global luxury travel consortium, and many of the best travel advisors on earth belong, So does just about every top hotel, resort, safari lodge, cruise line, and luxury tour operator. Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch was explaining the many advantages of using a travel advisor (I wholeheartedly agree) and something he said really stuck with me. He explained that with all of the new online tour booking companies, it was easier than ever to book a tour or guide in just about any destination on earth, but harder than ever to judge the quality. The caveat was that, “you can book a guide, but you can’t book my guide.”

One of Italy's greatest hidden gems, Turin was the nation's first capital and a Winter Olympic host. ... [+] It's worth getting a good guide if you visit.

The Vatican is the Vatican and the Colosseum is the Colosseum, so when you opt for a guided tour, what really matters and makes it a good, bad or great experience is the guide—and their special access, like a tour of the Vatican when no one else is there.

For my recent trip to Turin, I called Imago Artis Travel , an Italy-based luxury travel specialist. They are what is known in the travel industry as a destination management company or DMC, the same companies luxury travel agents call to arrange local details for their clients. There are great DMCs all over the world, and local knowledge is valuable everywhere, but many of them do not deal directly with travelers, while in Italy the best ones do.

I wanted a private day tour of Turin and its surrounding attractions for my wife and I, most importantly the Reggia di Venaria Reale, aka the “Italian Versailles” (one of two places in Italy with this lofty but accurate nickname). The guide they got for me was a licensed guide, and lifelong resident of Turin, and spoke excellent English, which was all good, but she was also an architect, which was great in a city where so much is driven by architecture. That’s not so easy to find on global tour aggregator website. Imago Artis also gave me a list of their favorite restaurant recommendations, which were spot on, then made my reservations for me. At a minimum this eliminates the language barrier of calling or the technology barrier of booking through often tricky (or non-functional) Italian restaurant reservation websites, but in many cases it also gets you a better table and instant VIP treatment—which definitely does not happen when I book myself.

Italy is rich in world-class crafts, and companies like Imago Artis can take you behind the scenes ... [+] to meet the makers.

Imago Artis Travel is a Virtuoso member, which means when you book through them, if you book your luxury hotel, you get extras like room upgrades, late checkout, spa credits etc., one of the big advantages of working with Virtuoso travel advisors. If you have a bigger budget than I do, they can handle all sorts of luxury transport, private jets, helicopters, boat charters, and also offer VIP Meet and Greet services at just about every airport in Italy. They can even arrange private security details. On a more accessible luxury level, they specialize in exclusive experiences, unlocking historic buildings and art collections not open to the public, and taking you behind the scenes with many artisans of Italy, from custom shoemakers to sculptors to jewelry designers. They know food, they know the guides, and I especially like their mission statement, “Our mission is simple: Getting You to the Heart of Italy.” That’s what it is all about.

Another top luxury DMC that is also a member of Virtuoso that I have used in the past with great success is IC Bellagio . They offer a similar array of luxury services and are very well connected, but they also specialize in Villa rentals as well as 5-Star hotels. Differentiating villas in Italy may be the single biggest challenge, more so than restaurants, with so many options and so few valid reviews. IC Bellagio has also boldly acknowledged the overtourism problems some of the most popular parts of Italy face, and are pushing “Slow Season Travel,” which varies in each of the country’s 20 regions but is something they are expert in. Last winter I went to Venice in the off-season, and it was spectacular, and I just traveled in a slow season to Piemonte. It was much, much better than fighting the crowds.

Skiing in Italy is awesome, and it's the best place in the world to stay in mountain rifugios — but ... [+] you need help for the perfect trip.

Skiing in Italy remains a bit under the radar for Europe, especially compared to France and Switzerland. Well, let the crowds go to other countries, because Italy has two different major ski regions, both of which have hosted the Winter Olympics, and the Games are returning to Milan and Cortina in 2026. The interconnected Dolomiti SuperSki lift and trail network in the Dolomites is arguably the largest “ski resort” in the world, and inarguably one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on the planet. The towns are charming, the food is great, there are spectacular hotels from non-chain independent hidden gems to world-class luxury (Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Relais & Chateaux, etc.) and it’s cheaper than much of the rest of Europe. Did I mention the food?

I first went to the Dolomites to go hiking, and was so wowed I thought, “I have to come back and ski here.” I came back the next winter and skied, and the following year I got a group of friends together and went back. I have skied all over the U.S., and all over the world and never had the same compulsion to return to the same place immediately. That’s how good skiing in Italy is ( read much more in my Italy skiing piece here at Forbes ).

I’ve only used one company for ski travel in Italy and see no reason to switch gears, especially since the local logistics (a great guide/instructor, transfers, the best on-mountain meals and staying a couple of nights in the region’s unique on-mountain rifugios) is very hard to organize on your own. The company is Dolomite Mountains , a specialist in both resort ski vacations and backcountry touring trips (using skins and alpine touring or AT gear). They too are a U.S. facing company with mainly American clientele.

Like many active travel companies, they offer both group trip scheduled departure options and private custom trips to fit whatever you want. The group option is called the Dolomites Ski Safari and is a 7-day trip mixing stays in amazing rifugios with in-town hotels (4 and 5-stars on the Italian system) and includes all breakfasts and dinners, a full-time guide, ski pass, luggage transfers and more. Custom options include the same kind of trip for your own group, or anything you want, and while its name suggests local expertise—quite true—Dolomite Mountains also handles ski trips in the rest of Italy, like Courmayeur, and connected border regions of France, Switzerland and Austria, as many lift systems here know no national boundaries (ski with your passport!). They are also a Virtuoso member.

Calabria & Southern Italy

Many Italian Americans trace their ancestry to Southern Italy's Calabria, and if you want to visit, ... [+] make sure you do it right.

My Bella Vita travel focuses on this area, including both small group trips and custom privates. Their specialties include “Heritage Tours” for those interested in their ancestry, and a food focus for the rest of us. For instance, Taste of the South is a 12-day gastronomic journey through Calabria, Basilicata and Naples—the birthplace of pizza! Food & Wine of Calabria is an 11-daty trip and just what it sounds like.

These are some of the scheduled small group tours offered, but the rest of their business is private trip planning and custom options.

“Italy is deceivingly large, and travelers think two weeks is enough time to see everything. It isn’t,” insists Moore. “You can’t even experience all of Calabria in two weeks. Our team collectively spends about six months a year scouting new hotels, restaurants, and experiences in Calabria and we are constantly re-evaluating and tweaking our recommendations.”

There are some other Italy specialists I have not personally experienced, but that come highly recommended by some of my other experts:

My Bella Vita’s Cherrye Moore says, “ In Sicily, I recommend Lucia Davies of Sicily Tour , one of a trio of British expats who have lived in Siracusa, Sicily for decades.” A family-owned tour-guiding company based in Siracusa, they have nearly 40 years of experience on the island and create trips fostering cultural exchange between Italy and English-speaking visitors, specializing in small group and custom tours.

Food & Wine

Life is too short to go to Italy and not eat well.

Beppe and Heather Dowd of Tourissimo recommend Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures , a company that has also earned kudos from other travel industry folks I know. Owner Francesca Montillo grew up in Southern Italy where her father was greengrocer. An Italian-American cookbook author, she launched the company a decade ago, and she personally leads the tours. She does numerous scheduled tours to different regions each year, and also offers custom private itineraries.

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The Alps Tour formalizes a sixteenth stage

T he satellite circuit of the Alps Tour has announced the organization of a new tournament, the 2024 Alps de Roquetas de Mar, which will take place in Spain at the end of May. There will not be 15 but at least 16 tournaments this season on the Alps Tour.

The circuit, led by Frenchwoman Estelle Richard, has indeed announced a new date, the Alps de Roquetas de Mar. It will take place in the eponymous city a few kilometers from Almeria, at the Playa Serena Golf Club, a par 72 (6,226 meters) with wide fairways and nine water hazards.

Alps Tour, schedule

The event will take place from May 29th to 31st and will offer a prize fund of 40,000 euros. It complements a month of May already marked by three events. This tournament played in the south of Spain will follow the Memorial Giorgio Bordoni (Italy, May 8th to 10th), the Gosser Open (Austria, May 16th to 18th), and the Lacanau Alps Open (Gironde, May 23rd to 25th).

Golf is one of the most lucrative sports in the world, both in the men's and women's fields, but its structure is quite different from that of other professional sports. The vast majority of professional players (at least 95%) derive their main income from managing a club or teaching the sport, rather than from participating in competitions.

Touring professionals, who sustain themselves through prize winnings and sponsorships, represent a small elite, but the best among them can earn truly impressive sums. However, for lower-level players, participating in tournaments can prove to be an uncertain profession.

Participation itself requires a certain expense: tournaments have entry fees, in addition to travel and accommodation costs, as well as the salary to be given to the caddy. Furthermore, most tournaments involve a halfway cut, after which half of the participants, those with the worst scores, are eliminated, while the prizes are reserved for the remaining players.

This means that lesser-known players, who don't consistently play and can't rely on sponsor support, may find themselves in financial difficulty if they have a bad year. History The golf tour system has evolved more through trial and error than according to an organic design.

In the early days of professionalism, each tournament was organized by a single golf club, golf association, or sponsor. As the number of tournaments increased, the top players began to focus their attention on them rather than on club activities.

When a certain number of tournaments were held annually in a region, they were formally linked together into a tour, under the supervision of a single organization, although in various cases individual tournaments continued to exist separately.

The precursor of the tour system was the PGA Tour, although the date of its establishment is not very well defined. The PGA of America was founded in 1916; since then, a list of players with the most victories in each season has been available, and players' career total victories have been calculated from that year.

However, the idea of a "tour" was not very clear at that time, and further developments were still awaited. Bob Harlow was appointed manager of the PGA Tournament Bureau in 1930, the first organization of professional players was created in 1932, and the list of prize money is only available from 1934.

The PGA Tour itself dates the formal establishment of the tour to 1968 when the "Tournament Players Division" separated from the PGA of America. The founding dates of the other major tours are as follows: 1950: LPGA Tour 1972: European Tour 1973: Japan Golf Tour 1995: Asian Tour To describe the professional golf tournament system in a particular area before the era of tours, the term "circuit" is often used.

For example, before the establishment of the Asian Tour, tournaments held in Asia were part of the Asian circuit. Professional golf has continued to create and develop new tours such as the Challenge Tour (1986) and the Nationwide Tour (1990 originally called the Ben Hogan Tour), as well as tours for senior players such as the Champions Tour (1980; originally the Senior PGA Tour) and the European Seniors Tour (1992).

These tours were created both to give more golfers the opportunity to participate in a tour and to meet the demands of sponsors and media for more events to be associated with.

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Giro d'Italia 2024: Preview, full schedule and how to watch live

The Giro d’Italia 2024 is about to kick off the Grand Tour season in men’s road cycling .

On Saturday 4 May, Venaria Reale will host the opening stage of the 107 th edition of the Corsa Rosa that will see its conclusion three weeks later in Rome on Sunday 26 May.

All eyes will be on the Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogacar , who aims to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to achieve the Giro-Tour double.

Reigning champion and Olympic time trial gold medallist, Primoz Roglic , will not be defending his crown, as he has got his eyes set on the Tour de France.

The 2024 edition of the Italian Grand Tour features gruelling mountain stages in the Alps, gravel roads in Tuscany and more than 70 kilometres of time trial. The winner will lift the prestigious Trofeo Senza Fine (Endless Trophy) and wear the coveted Maglia Rosa in the Italian capital.

This year's race will cover a total of 3400.8 kilometres , making it the shortest edition in 45 years.

Find everything you need to know about the Giro d’Italia 2024 below, including the riders to look out for and how to watch the event live.

• Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2024: Tadej Pogacar powers to second victory
• Jambaljamts Sainbayar: From braving Ulaanbaatar's freezing roads to making history for Mongolian cycling

Who are the riders to watch at the Giro d’Italia 2024?

Pink jersey (general classification).

There is one overwhelming favourite for the Giro d’Italia 2024, and that is Tadej Pogacar .

Fresh off his second Liège–Bastogne–Liège title in impressive fashion, the two-time Tour de France winner is arriving to Italy in top shape.

Pogacar started his season by conquering the gravel roads of Strade Bianche , riding 81 kilometres solo to claim victory in Siena.

At Volta a Catalunya , the Slovenian swept four out of seven stages, securing the overall victory and sending a clear message to his rivals at the Giro about who the man to beat is.

Geraint Thomas suffered heartbreak at last year’s Giro d’italia, narrowly missing out on the overall victory by just 14 seconds.

The 2018 Tour de France champion was leading the race going into the penultimate stage, only to relinquish the pink jersey to Primoz Roglic after the Slovenian's formidable performance in the individual time trial.

The INEOS Grenadiers leader has some unfinished business with the Corsa Rosa and will try to pose a challenge to Pogacar.

Among the outsiders is Australia's Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R), who finished fourth in the 2021 Tour de France.

This year, the 28-year-old has consistently finished within the top five in week-long stage races. At the Giro d'Italia warm-up race, the Tour of the Alps, he was the runner-up behind the former Maglia Rosa wearer Juan Pedro Lopez , who also will be lining up at the start line in Venaria Reale.

French veteran Romain Bardet recently said that he is at his best level in years and is convinced he can challenge for the podium.

A second place at the Liège–Bastogne–Liège behind Pogacar was a boost of morale for the 33-year-old, who has not been on a Grand Tour podium since 2018, when he finished third at the Tour de France.

Daniel Martínez will lead the BORA - hansgrohe team. The Colombian climber is no longer in the shadow of INEOS stars Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal , following his move to the German team ahead of this season.

In 2021, Martínez was a strong domestique for compatriot Bernal and helped him secure the overall victory. He also achieved his best overall result in a Grand Tour by finishing in the top five that year. With the absence of teammate Roglic, it is up to Martínez to secure a top result.

“The Killer Bees” Team Visma|Lease a Bike made history in 2023, becoming the first team to claim all three Grand Tours in a single year. Although a repetition of the historic achievement looks difficult, the Dutch team have put their faith in 21-year-old prodigy Cian Uijtdebroeks .

The Belgian has been under the wings of reigning Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard at the O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico. Now he faces the ultimate test as Grand Tour captain.

Cyclamen jersey (points classification)

This year’s course is more sprinter-friendly than usual, featuring eight expected mass sprint finishes. Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek will aim to defend the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey for the points classification) that he secured last year.

However, he will face a fierce competition for the mauve jersey as several of the world's top sprinters will travel to Italy.

Soudal Quick-Step will fully support Remco Evenepoel at the Tour de France, giving Tim Merlier the opportunity to pursue success at the Giro.

The Belgian has been one of the fastest sprinters during the first part of the season, winning three stages at the UAE Tour, the Nokere Koerse, and the sprinters’ classic Scheldeprijs.

Another challenge will come from Australian Kaden Groves . In 2023, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider added stage wins at both the Giro and the Vuelta a España, where he also left with the green jersey.

Biniam Girmay will be back on Italian soil, where he outsprinted Mathieu van der Poel in the Giro two years ago to take his first Grand Tour stage victory. The Eritrean looks to be close to his form from 2022.

Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij will finally get his Grand Tour debut. The 22-year-old beat Mads Pedersen twice to claim two stage wins at the Paris-Nice in March and is one of the most promising sprinters in the peloton.

Five-time Vuelta a España stage winner Fabio Jakobsen is set to race his first Giro and can complete the set of Grand Tour wins, having already secured a stage victory at the Tour de France in 2022.

Will Filippo Ganna sprint for stage wins again? The Italian time trial specialist was fighting in the bunch sprints at last year’s Vuelta a España and showed a new side of his talent.

Despite not having shone in the last couple of years, Caleb Ewan and Fernando Gaviria are both multiple Grand Tour stage winners and they have the power to be competitive in the bunch sprints.

Blue jersey (mountains classification)

Unlike in the Tour de France, the winner of the mountains classification in the Giro d’Italia is usually not the same as the winner of the general classification.

Thibaut Pinot , who has since retired, clinched the blue jersey in the previous edition while finishing fifth overall.

However, the breakaway riders often view for the mountains classification.

A potential contender is Simon Geschke of Cofidis. The German rider was close to seal the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France in 2022, but ultimately Jonas Vingegaard ended up with both the yellow and polka dot jersey.

Other names to watch are Britain's Simon Carr , who just won a stage and the mountains classification at the Tour of the Alps, and Dutchman Koen Bouwman , who is aiming for his second blue jersey after claiming it in 2022.

Key stages of the Giro d’Italia 2024

Five stages are singled out by cycling experts as the most decisive for the Giro d'Italia 2024.

The first one arrives already on stage two , which is the earliest summit finish in 35 years. It is a true climbing test, which takes the peloton to Santuario di Oropa (6.2% over 11.8km) and will give an early indication of who will be the main general classification contenders.

A 40.6-kilometre time trial awaits the peloton on stage seven . The course is technical and the uphill finish should shake up the top ten. Some will see it as an oppornunity to gain time, while others will try to limit their losses.

Stage 15 is the queen stage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Containing 5,200 metres of elevation gain over 220 kilometres, it is a brutal day in the mountains. Hopefully, snowfall will not affect this blockbuster Alpine stage.

The riders get a rest day following the queen stage, but already on stage 16 , climbing legs will be tested again. It includes the Passo dello Stelvio , the Cima Coppi of this year’s race. At an elevation of 2,757 metres it is the second highest pass in the Alps.

The lack of oxygen at high altitude will make the peloton suffer. With over 100 kilometres remaining from the summit of Stelvio, the favourites who might fall behind still have the chance to catch up before the final ascents to Passo Pinei and Monte Pana.

Stage 20 , the penultimate stage before the procession around the streets of Rome, promises a decisive battle in the mountains for the final general classification. Two gruelling ascents of Monte Grappa - 18.2 kilometres at 8.1% - will determine who earns the right to wear the pink jersey in Rome and hoist the Endless Trophy .

Day-by-day route of the Giro d’Italia 2024

Saturday 4 May, stage 1: Venaria Reale-Torino, medium mountains, 140 km ⭐⭐⭐

Sunday 5 May, stage 2: San Francesco al Campo–Santuario di Oropa (Biella), medium mountains, 161 km ⭐⭐⭐

Monday 6 May, stage 3: Novara-Fossano, hilly, 166 km ⭐⭐

Tuesday 7 May, stage 4: Acqui Terme-Andora, hilly, 190 km ⭐⭐

Wednesday 8 May, stage 5: Genova-Lucca, medium mountains,178 km ⭐⭐⭐

Thursday 9 May, stage 6: Viareggio-Rapolano Terme, medium mountains, 180 km ⭐⭐

Friday 10 May, stage 7: Foligno-Perugia, individual time trial, 40,6 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Saturday 11 May, stage 8: Spoleto-Prati di Tivo, high mountains,152 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunday 12 May, stage 9: Avezzano-Napoli, medium mountains, 214 km ⭐⭐⭐

Monday 13 May: Rest day

Tuesday 14 May, stage 10: Pompei-Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva), medium mountains, 142 km ⭐⭐⭐

Wednesday 15 May, stage 11: Foiano di Val Fortore-Francavilla al Mare, hilly, 207 km ⭐⭐

Thursday 16 May, stage 12: Martinsicuro-Fano, medium mountains, 193 km ⭐⭐⭐

Friday 17 May, stage 13: Riccione-Cento, flat, 179 km ⭐

Saturday 18 May, stage 14: Castiglione delle Stiviere-Desenzano del Garda, individual time trial, 31,2 km ⭐⭐⭐

Sunday 19 May, stage 15: Manerba del Garda-Livigno (Mottolino), high mountains, 222 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monday 20 May: Rest day

Tuesday 21 May, stage 16: Livigno-Santa Cristina Val Gardena (Monte Pana), high mountains, 202 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wednesday 22 May, stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena-Passo Brocon, high mountains, 159 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thursday 23 May, stage 18: Fiera di Primiero-Padova, hilly, 171 km ⭐⭐

Friday 24 May, stage 19: Mortegliano-Cima Sappada, medium mountains, 157 km ⭐⭐⭐

Saturday 25 May, stage 20: Alpago-Bassano del Grappa, high mountains, 181 km ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunday 26 May, stage 21: Roma-Roma, flat, 122 km ⭐

How to watch the Giro d’Italia 2024

The Giro d'Italia 2024 will be shown live around the world. Here is a list of the official broadcast partners across different territories.

• Albania - Eurosport
• Andorra - Eurosport
• Austria - Eurosport
• Belarus - Eurosport
• Belgium - VRT/RTBF.be/RTL Belgium/VTM Medialaan/Eurosport
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - Eurosport
• Bulgaria- Eurosport
• Croatia - Eurosport
• Cyprus - Eurosport
• Czechia - Eurosport
• Denmark - Eurosport
• Estonia - Eurosport
• Finland - Eurosport
• France - La Chaine L’Equipe
• Georgia - Eurosport
• Germany - Eurosport
• Greece - Eurosport
• Hungary - Eurosport
• Iceland - Eurosport
• Ireland - Eurosport
• Israel - STARZPLAY/Eurosport
• Italy - Rai/Eurosport
• Latvia - Eurosport
• Liechtenstein - Eurosport
• Lithuania - Eurosport
• Luxembourg - Eurosport
• Malta - STARZPLAY/Eurosport
• Moldova - Eurosport
• Montenegro - Eurosport
• Netherlands - NOS/Eurosport
• North Macedonia - Eurosport
• Norway - Eurosport
• Poland - Eurosport
• Portugal - Eurosport
• Principality of Monaco - Eurosport
• Romania - Eurosport
• San Marino - Rai/Eurosport
• Serbia - Eurosport
• Slovakia - Eurosport
• Slovenia - Planet TV/Eurosport
• Spain - EITB/Eurosport
• Sweden - Eurosport
• Switzerland - SRG SSR/Eurosport
• Ukarine - Eurosport
• United Kingdom - Eurosport
• Vatican City - Rai/Eurosport
• Wales - S4C

North and Central America

• Canada - FloSports
• Dominican Republic - Eurosport
• United States - MAX USA/BeIN Sport

South America

• Argentina - + Claro/DirecTV
• Bolivia - + Claro/DirecTV
• Brazil - + Claro/DirecTV
• Chile - + Claro/DirecTV
• Colombia - + Claro/DirecTV/Caracol TV
• Ecuador - + Claro/DirecTV
• Guyana - DirecTV/Eurosport
• Paraguay - + Claro/DirecTV
• Peru - + Claro/DirecTV
• Suriname - + Claro/DirecTV
• The Caribbean - DirecTV
• Uruguay - + Claro/DirecTV
• Venezuela - + Claro/DirecTV
• Afghanistan - Eurosport
• Armenia - Eurosport
• Azerbaijan - Eurosport
• Bahrain - STARZPLAY
• Bangladesh - Eurosport
• Bhutan - Eurosport
• Cambodia - Eurosport
• People’s Republic of China - Zhibo.tv
• India - Eurosport
• Indonesia - Eurosport
• Iran - STARZPLAY
• Iraq - STARZPLAY
• Japan - J Sports
• Jordan - STARZPLAY
• Kazakhstan - Eurosport
• Kuwait - STARZPLAY
• Kyrgyzstan - Eurosport
• Lebanon - STARZPLAY
• Malaysia - Eurosport
• Maldives - Eurosport
• Mongolia - Eurosport
• Myanmar - Eurosport
• Nepal - Eurosport
• Oman - STARZPLAY
• Pakistan - Eurosport
• Philippines - Eurosport
• Qatar - STARZPLAY
• Russia - Eurosport
• Saudi Arabia - STARZPLAY
• Singapore - Eurosport
• Republic of Korea - Eurosport
• Sri Lanka - Eurosport
• Syria - STARZPLAY
• Chinese Taipei - Eurosport
• Türkiye - Eurosport
• United Arab Emirates - STARZPLAY
• Yemen - STARZPLAY
• Australia - SBS/Eurosport
• Papua New Guinea - Eurosport
• Algeria - STARZPLAY
• Djibouti - STARZPLAY
• Egypt - STARZPLAY
• Libya - STARZPLAY
• Morocco - STARZPLAY/Eurosport
• South Africa - Supersport
• Tunisia - STARZPLAY

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

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The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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Find the right bike route for you through Elektrostal, where we've got 330 cycle routes to explore. The routes you most commonly find here are of the hilly type. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of June and August.

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Watch Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams from anywhere

Can Tadej Pogačar take his first grand tour win since 2021?

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Giro d'Italia 2024 start list

The 107th Giro d’Italia starts in Turin and finishes 21 stages later in the eternal city, Rome. Covering 3,400km and climbing 44,650m the race will cross the Apennines, the Alps and the Dolomites along the way. With six summit finishes and mountains, such as the Monte Grappa and the almighty Stelvio Pass, the route is a daunting prospect for all who line up.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch the Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams from anywhere with a VPN , and potentially for FREE .

Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams take place between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 26. Start times vary. • FREE STREAMS —   Watch on SBS (Australia) RAIplay (Italy) RTBF (Belgium) •  U.S. — Watch on MAX •   Canada — Watch on FloBikes •   U.K. — Watch on Discovery+ • Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN

Without his arch nemesis, Jonas Vineguarrd, or last year’s winner, Primož Roglič, the overwhelming, almost nailed on favourite for this year’s race is the phenomenal Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates). Although he’s not won a grand tour since 2021’s Tour de France , such is his form this season that many commentators believe he will simply win the race at a canter.

Grand tours, however, are not won at a canter, they are full of pitfalls and surprises. They are arduous beyond common reason and as unpredictable as particles in an atomic collider. So, to tame and win a grand tour takes skill, ability and in no small part good fortune to avoid crashes, illness and a loss of form.

Lining up in the hope that Pogacar won’t have everything his own way are a host of stellar challengers such as Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R), Cian Uijtdebroeks and Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), Dani Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe), Luke Plapp (Jayco-Visma) and the veterans Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).

These riders all come with strong teams but none stronger than that of Pogačar who, instead of workers, has a team of 5-star generals with the likes of Rui Oliveira, Rafal Majka, Domen Noval and Felix Grossschartner backing him up.

With Sprinters such as Fabio Jakobsen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), attacking riders like Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and a few of the best time trialists, including Fillipo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), there are stars waiting to shine on every stage as the most magical of the three grand Tours takes its annual tour round Bella Italia.

Read on for where to watch Giro d'Italia 2024 cycling action live, wherever you are in the world.

FREE Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams

If you live in Australia, Italy or Belgium then you can look forward to a FREE Giro d'Italia live stream in 2024.

Australia’s SBS is set to serve up free streams of the first grand tour of 2024 as is Italy's Rai and Belgium's RTBF .

But what if you’re based in any of these countries but aren’t at home to catch that free Giro d'Italia coverage? Maybe you’re on holiday and don’t want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you’d usually be able to watch for free at home?

Don't worry — you can watch via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams around the world

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the cycling on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the Giro d'Italia 2024 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN . It's the best on the market:

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

Get 60% off NordVPN with this deal

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to SBS or another streaming service and watch the action

How to watch 2024 Giro d'Italia live streams in the U.S.

The 2024 Giro d'Italia will be aired by Max in the USA. A subscription to the service will set you back $10 per month or $100 per year with ads, $16/$150 for an ad-free experience, or $200 per year for the 'Ultimate' package, which includes additional devices and 4k resolution where available.

In addition to that, you'll need to pay for the B/R Sports add-on, which costs an extra $10 per month – although it's worth noting that Max is offering the B/R Sports add-on for free for a limited time.

And if you're currently out of the U.S. but still want to watch the race, then don't forget to explore  NordVPN  set out above.

How to watch Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams in the U.K.

Live coverage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia will be broadcast on Eurosport and Discovery+.

A 'standard' subscription to Discovery+ which includes Eurosport's cycling coverage will set you back £6.99 per month or £59.99 per year. The package includes year-round cycling streams as well as other live sports including snooker, tennis, motorsports, the Paris Olympic Games, and more.

A premium subscription, which includes all that plus TNT Sports ( Premier League , Champions League and Europa League football plus rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP) costs an additional £29.99 per month.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch Giro d'Italia 2024 live streams in Canada

Cycling fans in the Canada can watch the 2024 Giro d'Italia on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back CAN$150 for the year or CAN$29.99 on a monthly basis.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Canada.

Giro d'Italia 2024 stages

With the 6km Colle Maddalena coming just 30km from the finish line of Stage 1, there are some who are predicting this could be the most decisive climb of the race. If Pogacar decides to go solo and grab the Magnolia Rosa he could simply just defend it all the way to Rome. Although plausible, this is, however, unlikely. He is more likely to wait for Stage 2 with the first summit finish of the race at the legendary Santuario di Oropa. This is a climb all the greats would love to win on to emulate the idolised Marco Pantani so expect the race to get a proper shake up here.

After two tough opening days, the race then calms down for three standard flat stages into Fossani, Andora and Lucca so expect long breaks, controlled races and pulsating sprint finishes. To liven things back up there will be 11.6km of the famous Strade Bianche on Stage 6, with the Tuscan gravel roads set to add some chaos into the mix together with a short uphill finish into Rapolano Terme.

The following day there will be more chances to shake up the general classification in the long 37.2km time trial with the final seven all uphill. Stage 8 and we hit some real mountains with the race crossing the Appenines for summit finish number two, the 14.6km climb to Prati di Tivo which is followed the next day by a sprint stage so the GC riders can take a back-seat.

After the first rest day, the race resumes with a bang and summit finish number three: the 17.9km climb to Bocca della Selva at the end of Stage 10 but then settles down once more as tracing the eastern coast there are three gentle stages including Stage 13 which is 180km with little more than 100m of elevation.

Stage 14 sees the race enter its decisive stage with the second time trial: a flat out 31km test before the mountains arrive with a vengeance the following day. Stage 15 packs in four giant peaks including the evil pass del Mortirolo. Then things get even worse the next day as the race crosses the Passo di Stelvio (from the easy side) before finishing with a double whammy of the Passo Pinei and Monte Pana. Arriving in the heart of the magical Dolomites, Stage 17 crosses four giant peaks and the penultimate summit finish up the pass del Brocon to end a hectic four days.

Stage 18 and 19 will be for the sprinters and chancers as the overall contenders rest up before the finale, the twin ascents of the legendary Monte Grappa on Stage 20. This will seal the over all winner, if it hasn’t already been decided before the processional stage through Rome on the final day.

Stage 1 | Saturday May 4, Venaria Reale - Torino, 140km

Stage 2 | Sunday May 5, San Francesco al Campo - Santuario di Oropa, 161km

Stage 3 | Monday May 6, Novara - Fossano, 166km

Stage 4 | Tuesday May 7, Acqui Terme - Andora, 190km

Stage 5 | Wednesday May 8, Genova - Lucca 178km

Stage 6 | Thursday May 9, Torre del Lago Puccini - Rapolano Terme, 180km

Stage 7 | Friday May 10, Foligno - Perugia (TT), 40.6km

Stage 8 | Saturday May 11, Spoleto - Prati di Tivo, 152km

Stage 9 | Sunday May 12, Avezzano - Napoli, 214km

Stage 10 | Tuesday May 14, Pompei - Cusano Mutri, 142km, 13:05 - 17:15

Stage 11 | Wednesday May 15, Foiano di Val Fortore - Francavilla al Mare, 207km, 

Stage 12 | Thursday May 16, Martinsicuro - Fano 193km 

Stage 13 | Friday May 17, Riccione - Cento 179km 

Stage 14 | Saturday May 18, Castiglione delle Stiviere - Desenzano del Garda (TT), 31.2km 

Stage 15 | Sunday May 19, Manerba del Garda - Livigno, 222km

Stage 16 | Tuesday May 21, Livigno - Santa Cristina Valgardena, 202km

Stage 17 | Wednesday May 22, Selva di Val Gardena - Passo del Brocon, 159km

Stage 18 | Thursday May 23, Fiera di Primiero - Padova, 178km

Stage 19 | Friday May 24, Mortegliano - Sappada, 157km

Stage 20 | Saturday May 25, Alpago - Bassano del Grappa, 184km

Stage 21 | Sunday May 26, Roma - Roma, 125km

INEOS Grenadiers (WT) 1 THOMAS Geraint 2 ARENSMAN Thymen 3 FOSS Tobias 4 GANNA Filippo 5 NARVÁEZ Jhonatan 6 SHEFFIELD Magnus 7 SWIFT Ben 8 SWIFT Connor 
 Alpecin - Deceuninck (WT) 11 GROVES Kaden 12 BAYER Tobias 13 CONCI Nicola 14 HERMANS Quinten 15 JANSSENS Jimmy 16 KIELICH Timo 17 PLANCKAERT Edward 18 VAN DEN BOSSCHE Fabio 
 Arkéa - B&B Hotels (WT) 21 BIERMANS Jenthe 22 BARRÉ Louis 23 COSTIOU Ewen 24 DEKKER David 25 GRONDIN Donavan 26 RIES Michel 27 RIOU Alan 28 VERRE Alessandro 
 Astana Qazaqstan Team (WT) 31VELASCO Simone 32BALLERINI Davide 33 CHARMIG Anthon 34 FORTUNATO Lorenzo 35 KANTER Max 36 MULUBRHAN Henok 37 PRONSKIY Vadim 38 SCARONI Christian 
 BORA - hansgrohe (WT) 41 MARTÍNEZ Daniel Felipe 42 ALEOTTI Giovanni 43 KOCH Jonas 44 LIPOWITZ Florian 45 MULLEN Ryan 46 SCHACHMANN Maximilian 47 VAN POPPEL Danny 48 WELSFORD Sam 
 Cofidis (WT) 51 OLDANI Stefano 52 ANIOŁKOWSKI Stanisław 53 DEBEAUMARCHÉ Nicolas 54 ELISSONDE Kenny 55 FERNÁNDEZ Rubén 56 GESCHKE Simon 57 THOMAS Benjamin 58 WOOD Harrison 
 Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team (WT) 61 O’CONNOR Ben 62 BAUDIN Alex 63 PARET-PEINTRE Aurélien 64 PARET-PEINTRE Valentin 65 TOUZÉ Damien 66 TRONCHON Bastien 67 VENDRAME Andrea 68 WARBASSE Larry 
 EF Education - EasyPost (WT) 71 CARTHY Hugh 72 CEPEDA Jefferson Alexander 73 DE BOD Stefan 74 AMADOR Andrey 75 CARR Simon 76 CHAVES Esteban 77 HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich 78 STEINHAUSER Georg 
 Groupama - FDJ (WT) 81PITHIE Laurence 82 ASKEY Lewis 83 BARTHE Cyril 84 DAVY Clément 85 GERMANI Lorenzo 86 LE GAC Olivier 87 LIENHARD Fabian 88 PALENI Enzo 
 Intermarché - Wanty (WT) 91 GIRMAY Biniam 92 CALMEJANE Lilian 93 COLLEONI Kevin 94 MIHKELS Madis 95 PETILLI Simone 96 PETIT Adrien 97 SMITH Dion 98 VAN SINTMAARTENSDIJK Roel 
 Israel - Premier Tech (PRT) 101 WOODS Michael 102 CLARKE Simon 103 FRIGO Marco 104 HOFSTETTER Hugo 105 PICKRELL Riley 106 RAISBERG Nadav 107 SCHULTZ Nick 109 VERNON Ethan 
 Lidl - Trek (WT) 111 MILAN Jonathan 112 BAGIOLI Andrea 113 CONSONNI Simone 114 GHEBREIGZABHIER Amanuel 115 HOOLE Daan 116 LÓPEZ Juan Pedro 117 STUYVEN Jasper 118 THEUNS Edward 
 Movistar Team (WT) 121 QUINTANA Nairo 122 GUERREIRO Ruben 123 BARTA Will 124 CIMOLAI Davide 125 GAVIRIA Fernando 126 MILESI Lorenzo 127 RUBIO Einer 128 SÁNCHEZ Pelayo 
 Soudal Quick-Step (WT) 131ALAPHILIPPE Julian 132 ČERNÝ Josef 133 HIRT Jan 134 LAMPERTI Luke 135 MERLIER Tim 136 SERRY Pieter 137 VAN LERBERGHE Bert 138 VANSEVENANT Mauri 
 Team dsm-firmenich PostNL (WT) 141 BARDET Romain 142 ANDRESEN Tobias Lund 143 HAMILTON Chris 144 JAKOBSEN Fabio 145 POOLE Max 147 VAN DEN BERG Julius 148 VERMAERKE Kevin 
 Team Jayco AlUla (WT) 151 DE MARCHI Alessandro 152 DUNBAR Eddie 153 EWAN Caleb 154 HEPBURN Michael 155 MEZGEC Luka 156 PLAPP Luke 157 WALSCHEID Max 158 ZANA Filippo 
 Team Polti Kometa (PRT) 161 FABBRO Matteo 162 BAIS Davide 163 BAIS Mattia 164 LONARDI Giovanni 165 MAESTRI Mirco 166 PIETROBON Andrea 167 PIGANZOLI Davide 168 RESTREPO Jhonatan 
 Team Visma | Lease a Bike (WT) 171 LAPORTE Christophe 172 AFFINI Edoardo 173 BOUWMAN Koen 174 GESINK Robert 175 KOOIJ Olav 176 TRATNIK Jan 177 UIJTDEBROEKS Cian 178 VALTER Attila 
 Tudor Pro Cycling Team (PRT) 181 TRENTIN Matteo 182 DAINESE Alberto 183 FROIDEVAUX Robin 184 KAMP Alexander 185 KRIEGER Alexander 186 MAYRHOFER Marius 187 STORER Michael 188 STORK Florian 
 UAE Team Emirates (WT) 191 POGAČAR Tadej 192 OLIVEIRA Rui 193 BJERG Mikkel 194 GROßSCHARTNER Felix 195 LAENGEN Vegard Stake 196 MAJKA Rafał 197 MOLANO Juan Sebastián 198 NOVAK Domen 
 VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè (PRT) 201POZZOVIVO Domenico 202 COVILI Luca 203 FIORELLI Filippo 204 MARCELLUSI Martin 205 MARTINELLI Alessio 206 PELLIZZARI Giulio 207 TONELLI Alessandro 208 ZANONCELLO Enrico 
 Bahrain - Victorious (WT) 211 TIBERI Antonio 212 KEPPLINGER Rainer 213 BAUHAUS Phil 214 CARUSO Damiano 215 PASQUALON Andrea 216 POELS Wout 217 SÜTTERLIN Jasha 218 TRÆEN Torstein

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Simon Warren has been obsessed with cycling since the summer of 1989 after watching Greg Lemond battle Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France. Although not having what it took to beat the best, he found his forte was racing up hills and so began his fascination with steep roads. This resulted in his 2010’s best-selling  100 Greatest Cycling Climbs , followed to date by 14 more guides to vertical pain. Covering the British Isles, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain he has been riding and racing up hills and mountains for over 30 years now. He hosts talks, guides rides, has written columns for magazines and in 2020 released his first book of cycling routes,  RIDE BRITAIN . Simon splits his time between working as a graphic designer and running  his 100 Climbs brand  and lives in Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District with his wife and two children.

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This classification is inspired by UEFA coefficients and allows to rank the European championships by basing itself on the results of the last 5 seasons of the field hockey European Cups : Men's Euro Hockey League.

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