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Giro d’Italia 2024: Route, how to watch, start list and everything you need to know
After the Tourmalet dominated 2023, 2024 will be the year of Italy in cycling, with the Tour de France starting with three stages in Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont just a month after the Giro d’Italia, which starts with a visit to Turin (where Stage 3 of the Tour will finish).
The GC action begins immediately in the Giro, with splits expected from day one before things settle down to keep the drama to the odd mountain stage before the real killers come out in the final week or so. Prati di Tivo, Forcola di Livigno and the Monte Grappa are the final week headliners, with the latter coming at the end of a week that begins with two tough days in the saddle, including an interesting inclusion of the Passo dello Stelvio as a breakaway-former.
That Monte Grappa day isn’t a summit finish but it is a double ascent, so say your prayers for the sprinters, as the likes of Tadej Pogačar will do his best to make that final challenge as punishing as possible. He might even force enough riders outside the time limit that he could go for the final stage sprint himself.
Giro d’Italia 2024: Key information
Dates: Saturday 4th May to Sunday 26th May
Start: Venaria Reale, Italy
Finish: Rome, Italy
Total distance: 3,321.2km
Total elevation gain: 42,900m
UK television coverage: Eurosport, Discovery+
Most wins: Fausto Coppi, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx (five)
2023 winner: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
Giro d’Italia 2024 route
Starting in the northwest in Turin, this year’s route makes its way down Italy’s west and centre to Pompei, from where it then heads up the east coast to the Dolomites, capping the main racing off at Bassano del Grappa before flying back down to Rome for the final day.
Although the 2024 Tour de France starts with three stages in Italy, the Giro has done well to not stick around in the areas of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna that will be featuring heavily just a month after this race concludes in Rome, but Turin does get the double whammy of the Grande Partenza and a Stage 3 sprint at the Tour.
Only a few of Italy’s iconic climbs feature, including the Superga and Colle Maddalena climbs on the opening stage that are often featured in Milano-Torino, the Passos dello Stelvio and Sella and the headline act for 2024, the Monte Grappa. It’s certainly not a who’s who of big names, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let’s just pray for good weather.
Giro d’Italia 2024 route: stage by stage
Stage 1: Saturday 4th May, Venaria Reale – Torino, 136km
Back when Milano-Torino was a race for climbers, the Superga was the key climb of the race with the Basilica on top of the hill providing an iconic backdrop to the Classic. The 2022 Giro featured the Superga-Maddalena pairing as part of a loop ridden twice, so this Grande Partenza should be a bit easier as although there is a circuit there’s only a single ascent of each. That said, it’s an immediate opportunity for splits to form and it won’t be for the sprinters. The first maglia rosa will go to the best sprinter from the group of climbers and puncheurs.
So this is where Pogačar takes the jersey then.
Stage 2: Sunday 5th May, San Francesco al Campo – Santuario di Oropa, 150km
After a couple of kickers on day one, Stage 2 has the 2024 Giro’s first summit finish up to the Santuario di Oropa in the Biellesi Alps, where Tom Dumoulin won ahead of his GC rivals in 2017.
Stage 3: Monday 6th May, Novara – Fossani, 165km
Finally, Stage 3 is the first day for the sprinters, although it finishes with 1.8km uphill into Fossano that may create drama.
Stage 4: Tuesday 7th May, Acqui Terme – Andora, 187km
If the day’s only climb is 100km from the finish, is there any climb at all? No is the answer, hence the organisers ranking this at the same difficulty as the previous day, although there is the uncategorised climb of Capo Mele, most often seen as one of Milan-San Remo’s Tre Capi. Coming just 2km from the finish, it could provoke an attack to drop tired sprinters.
Stage 5: Wednesday 8th May, Genova – Lucca, 176km
The climbs on the day likely won’t make much difference unless a team or two put the hammer down, although sprinters that can climb certainly benefit, which is pretty much all the top sprinters these days.
Stage 6: Thursday 9th May, Viareggio – Rapolano Terme, 177km
It’s a gravel stage! There is a whopping 11.6km of strade bianche here as the race takes on Strade Bianche’s Vidritta and Bagnaia sectors as well as a new Pievina sector before an uphill finish to Rapolano Terme, just 20km from Siena.
Stage 7: Friday 10th May, Foligno – Perugio, 37.2km, ITT
The first of two individual time-trials at the race and it’s a nice big one at just under 40km with a climb up to the finish in Perugia to spice things up.
Stage 8: 11th May, Spoleto – Prati di Tivo, 153km
The first proper mountain stage comes on Stage 8 in the Appenine mountains, with the summit finish at Prati di Tivo capping off the first week’s climbing and GC battle.
Stage 9: Sunday 12th May, Avezzona – Napoli, 206km
A sprint stage with a few little softeners finishes off week one in Napoli.
Stage 10: Tuesday 14th May, Pompei – Cusano Mutri, 141km
Week two erupts with a nice little mountain stage finishing on the Bocca della Selva, which featured mid-stage in 2021 when Victor Lafay won from the breakaway.
Stage 11: Wednesday 15th May, Foiano di Val Fortore – Francavilla al Mare, 203km
It should be a sprint, as the breakaway will have around 100km to hold on after the route flattens.
Stage 12: Thursday 16th May, Martinsicuro – Fano, 183km
The ten climbs on Stage 12 aren’t all categorised, but they might be enough to destroy the chances of a bunch sprint.
Stage 13: Friday 17th May, Riccione – Cento, 179km
It’s a Friday, so make plans, live your life, watch the highlights.
Stage 14: Saturday 18th May, Castiglione delle Stiviere – Desenzano del Garda, 31km
Fear not – this one’s the second time-trial. And it’s one for the purists.
Stage 15: Sunday 19th May, Manerba del Garda – Livigno, 220km
Originally scheduled to cross over to Switzerland for an 18km ascent of Forcola di Livigno, RCS announced a route change in March after Switzerland’s Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Mobility declined to authorise the border crossing due to the costs involved.
The change comes after the day’s second climb. Instead of heading into Switzerland, the peloton will take on the monstrous Mortirolo. From there it’s a long climb up the Passo di Foscagno before the steep kicker up the Mottolino, which stretches up to 18%.
Stage 16: Tuesday 21st May, Livigno – Santa Cristina Valgardena, 202km
After barely a climb for most of the second week, the final week hits the mighty Passo dello Stelvio only 33km in. However once over the summit there’s over 100km before the next climb, so the Stelvio is more of a softener that a decider and it’ll come down to the final pair of climbs to find the day’s winner. With all that valley, it’d be a shock if the breakaway makes it the whole way.
Stage 17: Wednesday 22nd May, Selva di Val Gardena – Passo del Brocon, 154km
A proper Dolomites day begins with the Passo Sella to help get a strong breakaway going before doing the Rolle, Gobbera and two goes up the Brocon, with the final 2km averaging 12%.
Stage 18: Thursday 23rd May, Fuera du Primiero – Padova, 166km
A gentle rest of the legs while the sprinters to do the business comes on Stage 18.
Stage 19: Friday 24th May, Mortegliano – Sappada, 154km
The penultimate mountain stage isn’t too crazy but does pack a punch, with both Category 2 climbs hiding steep sections.
Stage 20: Saturday 25th May, Alpago – Bassano del Grappa, 175km
There are ten ways up the Monte Grappa, so the final mountain stage of the 2024 Giro goes up the same one twice before a descent to the finish at Bassano del Grappa, a big cycling industry hub. Expect a big party on the mountain and a nice procession into town for Pogačar.
Stage 21: Saturday 26th May, Roma – Roma, 126km
A processional stage with a circuit before a bunch sprint finishes off proceedings. Say goodbye to Italy for 34 days until the Tour begins, which goes straight into the Olympics, which goes straight into the Tour de France Femmes, which goes straight into the Vuelta.
Giro d’Italia 2024: How to watch
The 2024 Giro d’Italia will be available to watch in the UK on Eurosport and Discovery+ for £6.99 per month with the basic package, which includes cycling and all other Eurosport programmes. It will also be shown on the TV channel Eurosport 1 in the UK.
It is being broadcast across 198 countries, but it’s not being shown in your country, you may be able to watch coverage using a VPN – Virtual Private Network – which allows users to mask their IP address and watch geo-blocked content, provided they don’t need to pay for a subscription. This is also helpful for watching paid-for coverage while travelling abroad in countries without access.
One such example is ExpressVPN, which is very well reviewed, helps users to find a way to watch cycling without having to pay for broadcasters services, and costs £5.36 per month, with three months free. Other options include NordVPN, Surfshark and Kapersky.
How to watch the Giro in Europe
In Europe, Eurosport is the main broadcaster, including countries such as Belgium (plus VRT, RTBF, RTL and VTM), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands (plus NOS), Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia (plus Planet TV), Spain (plus EITB), Switzerland (plus SRG SSR) and the United Kingdom. In Wales, the Giro d’Italia is being shown on S4C.
How to watch the Giro in North and Central America
Canada: FloSports
Dominican Republic: Eurosport
USA: Max USA, BeIN Sport
How to watch the Giro in 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
Uraguay: + Claro, DirecTV
Venezuela: + Claro, DirecTV
How to watch the Giro in Asia
In Asia, the following countries can watch the Giro d’Italia 2024 on Eurosport: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey. In China, the Giro d’Italia 2024 is available on Zhibo.tv.
How to watch the Giro in Oceania
Australia: SBS, Eurosport
Papua New Guinea: Eurosport
How to watch the Giro in Africa
In Africa, the following countries can watch the Giro d’Italia 2024 on Starzplay: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco (plus Eurosport) and Tunisia. Viewers in South Africa can watch on Supersport.
Giro d’Italia 2024: TV times
All times subject to change by broadcasters.
Stage 1: Saturday 4th May
Discovery+: 12:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: 12:30-16:45
Stage 2: Sunday 5th May
Discovery+: 11:45-16:45
Eurosport 1: 11:45-16:45
Stage 3: Monday 6th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: 12:00-16:45
Stage 4: Tuesday 7th May
Discovery+: 11:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: 11:15-16:45
Stage 5: Wednesday 8th May
Discovery+: 11:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: 11:30-16:45
Stage 6: Thursday 9th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: 11:30-16:45
Stage 7: Friday 10th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 8: Saturday 11th May
Discovery+: 11:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 9: Sunday 12th May
Discovery+: 10:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 10: Tuesday 14th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 11: Wednesday 15th May
Discovery+: 10:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 12: Thursday 16th May
Discovery+: 11:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 13: Friday 17th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 14: Saturday 18th May
Discovery+: 11:45-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 15: Sunday 19th May
Discovery+: 08:45-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 16: Tuesday 21st May
Discovery+: 10:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 17: Wednesday 22nd May
Discovery+: 11:00-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 18: Thursday 23rd May
Discovery+: 11:15-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 19: Friday 24th May
Discovery+: 11:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 20: Saturday 25th May
Discovery+: 10:30-16:45
Eurosport 1: TBA
Stage 21: Sunday 26th May
Discovery+: 14:00-18:30
Eurosport 1: TBA
Giro d’Italia 2024: Start list
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
Want to ride in the tyre tracks of the pros? Check out our collection of Giro d’Italia rides and climbs
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