Giro d’Italia

Dates: May 11 to June 02, 2019
Stages: 21
Grande Partenza: Bologna, Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy
Finish: Verona

Jan Polanc on the Giro d’Italia podium (Yuzuru Sunada)

Giro d’Italia general classification after stage 12

Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) leads the general classification after 12 stages.

He moved into the position after replacing team mate Valerio Conti, who fell behind in a chasing group on the testing climbs of the day.

Before Conti, Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) held on to the maglia rosa from the opening stage, before being ousted on stage five.

1. Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 48-49-40
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 4-07
3. Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 4-51
4. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 5-02
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 5-51
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 6-02
7. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-00
8. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar, at 7-23
9. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar, at 7-30
10. Hugh John Carthy (GBr) EF Education First, at 7-33

Giro d’Italia 2019 route

The 2019 edition of the Giro d’Italia takes place almost entirely in Italy, having enjoyed a Grand Depart in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy.

The route includes seven summit finishes, including two in time trials – stage one and stage nine.

The race started with an individual test in Bologna, racing to San Luca over a short course.

Both the opening time trial, at 8.2 kilometres, and the stage nine solo event (34.7km) featured testing climbs.

The first stage in Bologna included an uphill finish, while the second time trial from Riccione to San Marino constantly climbed throughout the second half.

In the first week, rolling terrain dominated, but not without leaving chances for the sprinters to unleash their top-end speed too.

At the start of the second week, stage 10 – from Ravenna to Modena – covering 147km, was flat and suited the sprinters.

The following day, stage 11 started in Capri, and was another pan-flat day for the sprinters.

Major climbing days will of course be present in the Giro – with both stage 13 and stage 16 standing out.

Stage 13 will feature three major tests, finishing atop the Nivolet Pass with maximum gradients of 15 per cent.

The longest day will be stage 15 – 237km from Ivrea to Como covering the classic finally of Il Lombardia.

Then stage 16 features some of the biggest climbs in Italian cycling – the Gavia and the Mortirolo.

Next year’s edition will end in Verona with the final time trial – 15km featuring a four kilometre climb on the course, where victory could be secured.

Full details of the 2019 route were revealed during a presentation in Milan on Wednesday, October 31.

Find out how you can watch the Giro d’Italia live on TV here. You can also catch a live stream with fuboTV – and there’s a free trial available too which might come in handy.

Giro d’Italia 2019 jerseys

Chris Froome on the final stage of the Giro d’Italia. Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA

The leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia is the maglia rosa – it’s the pink jersey that sits aboard the shoulders of the rider who has completed the stages in the shortest amount of time.

The sprinter’s jersey – the maglia ciclamino – is purple in colour and goes to the fastest legs at the head of the sprinter’s competition.

Azure blue goes to the leading climber, in the shape of the maglia azzurra whilst the best young rider wears the white maglia bianca. 

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Past winners of the Giro d’Italia

2018 – Chris Froome
2017 – Tom Dumoulin
2016 – Vincenzo Nibali
2015 – Alberto Contador
2014 – Nairo Quintana
2013 – Vincenzo Nibali
2012 – Ryder Hesjedal
2011 – Michele Scarponi
2010 – Ivan Basso
2009 – Denis Menchov
2008 – Alberto Contador
2007 – Danilo Di Luca
2006 – Ivan Basso
2005 – Paolo Savoldelli
2004 – Damiano Cunego
2003 – Gilberto Simoni
2002 – Paolo Savoldelli
2001 – Gilberto Simoni
2000 – Stefano Garzelli