What is the Giro d'Italia? Everything you need to know...
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 06/05/16 3:37pm
The Giro d’Italia starts on Friday and will run until the end of May.
But what exactly is the Giro and why does it matter?
Here, we explain everything you need to know…
What does Giro d'Italia mean?
It basically means Tour of Italy, in Italian.
Is it a big deal?
Yes, it's a very prestigious race and one of cycling's three grand tours, the others being the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.
How long does it last?
It is made up of 21 stages and takes place over roughly three weeks. It starts on Friday, May 6, and ends on Sunday, May 29.
Is there a yellow jersey, like in the Tour de France?
Yes, there is, but it's not yellow; it's pink. It is worn by the leader of the race and is the main prize for the eventual winner. The pink jersey is known in Italy as the maglia rosa.
Where does the race go?
The Giro often starts outside of Italy and this year the first three stages will be in the Netherlands.
The rest of the race is in Italy - starting in the south and gradually heading north to the finish in Turin - except for stages 19 and 20, large parts of which are in France.
Who won it last year and who is expected to win this year?
Last year's race was won by Alberto Contador, but he isn't back to defend his title, so Vincenzo Nibali is the bookmakers' favourite. Nibali, who is Italian, won the race in 2014.
Are Chris Froome, Sir Bradley Wiggins or Mark Cavendish racing?
No. Froome is saving himself for the Tour de France in July, Wiggins rides for a team who do not qualify to race at the Giro, and Cavendish has opted not to take part.
In fact, there is not a single Briton racing at this year's Giro.
Which other riders should I look out for?
The best sprinter in the world, Germany's Marcel Kittel, is taking part, as is Spain's Mikel Landa, who is one of the best climbers. Another Spaniard, Alejandro Valverde, should be challenging for overall victory, while Swiss legend Fabian Cancellara is also on the start line.
How many teams and riders take part?
Some 189 riders from 22 teams of nine start the race. The teams are the 18 teams belonging to cycling's top division, the UCI WorldTour, plus four invited teams from the second division.
How long are the stages and when do they take place?
The stages vary in length from 130km to more than 240km. However, there are also three time trials this year that are much shorter, at 9.8km, 10.8km and 40.5km.
Because of the different distances, the stages start at varying times, roughly from 10am to 12.45pm BST. All of the stages are scheduled to finish at about 4.15pm BST.
Should I be excited about the Giro?
Yes, definitely. It is often a lot more exciting than the Tour de France and the racing is almost always close. It also takes place against some beautiful backdrops, such as the Alps.
