Giro d'Italia 2021: Route, stage start times, TV channel details and more
Live coverage from Monday's stage three
What is this race and why should I care about it?
Why, it's only the 104th edition of the Giro d'Italia, the first of the three grand tours scheduled to take place this year.
For many aficionados, the Giro is the greatest test a cyclist can face with the stages regularly being longer, higher and, very often, colder than those at the Tour de France, its better known and slightly older cousin.
When does the Giro d'Italia start?
This year's Giro d'Italia begins with a nine kilometre individual time trial around Turin today.
How long is this year's Giro d'Italia?
The opening grand tour of the season comprises 21 stages and will be raced over 3,450.4km – that's 2,144 miles in old money.
After setting off from Turin with a short individual time trial, the peloton will spend the next three weeks winding its way towards the nearby city of Milan. Prior to reaching Milan, however, the race first heads south before looping back on itself and venturing into the high mountains.
Bookended with two races against the clock, the three-week race features stages for every type of rider: sprinter, climber, puncheur, breakaway specialist and whatever other description you care to use. It is in the high mountains where the race for the maglia rosa, the leader's pink jersey, is widely expected to be won or lost though. As you can see from the entire profile of the race (below), as is traditional, the vast majority of the seven mountainous stages come towards the end of the second and third weeks.
While some of the headline acts may be missing in 2021 – we are looking at you Passo dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia – route planners have decided to take the riders up one of the most feared climbs in world cycling, the dreaded Monte Zoncolan (stage 14). Just two days later the Passo Fedaia and Passo Giau feature in the queen stage in the heart of the Dolomites, with the Cima Coppi prize coming atop the Passo Pordoi (2,239m) which is the highest point in this year's race. In addition to the numerous climbs, descents and typically chaotic finales throughout the race, the inclusion of two stages with gravel sections (stage nine and 11) will test the riders' resolve further still.
And when does the Giro d'Italia finish?
The Giro d'Italia concludes with the second and final individual time trial of the race, the 29.4km test from Senago to Milan.
Where does each stage start and end?
How can I follow the race?
Those with subscriptions to Eurosport or GCN+ are in luck, both will be broadcasting every day, as will be Welsh terrestrial channel S4C which is available on Sky 134, Freesat 120 and Virgin TV 166 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and on iPlayer. Live shows and highlights programmes will be shown at different times each day. Alternatively, if you are stuck at work or do not subscribe to Eurosport or GCN+ – or cannot access S4C – then you can follow the action, as it unfolds, right here with Telegraph Sport. Almost all of the 21 stages will be live blogged by our team – see details below – while each evening selected race details and standings in the main classifications will be published.
What teams will ride the Giro d'Italia?
As with all WorldTour races, each of the 19 teams that make up the top-flight of professional cycling receive an invite and in the case of the Giro d'Italia, all teams are contracted to race.
In addition to the WorldTeams, Alpecin-Fenix qualified as the No 1 ranked ProTeam from 2020 while race organisers RCS handed wild card entries to Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani-CSF-Faizane and Eolo-Kometa.
How to watch live TV coverage and follow the race
All dates, times and distances are correct at time of publishing.
Saturday May 8
Giro d'Italia, stage one: Turin, 8.6km – time trial
Stage starts at: 1pm (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: None
Live: Eurosport1 12.50-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.05-9.35pm
Sunday May 9
Stage two: Stupinigi (Nichelino) to Novara, 173km
Stage starts at: 12.10pm (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: None
Live: Eurosport1 11.30am-4.15pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10-30pm
Monday May 10
Stage three: Biella to Canale, 187km
Stage starts at: 11.30am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.15am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Tuesday May 11
Stage four: Piacenza to Sestola, 186km
Stage starts at: 11.20am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11am-4.15pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10-30pm
Wednesday May 12
Stage five: Modena to Cattolica, 177km
Stage starts at: 12.20am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1.30pm
Live: Eurosport1 12.05-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Thursday May 13
Stage six: Grotte di Frasassi to Ascoli Piceno, 160km
Stage starts at: 11.50am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1.30pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.30am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Friday May 14
Stage seven: Notaresco to Termoli, 181km
Stage starts at: 12pm (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: None
Live: Eurosport1 11.45am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Saturday May 15
Stage eight: Foggia to Guardia Sanframondi, 170km
Stage starts at: 11.50am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.35am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.15-9.45pm
Sunday May 16
Stage nine: Castel di Sangro to Campo Felice, 158km
Stage starts at: 11.25am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.30am-4.10pm, S4C 2-4.15pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 11-11.30pm
Monday May 17
Stage 10: L’Aquila to Foligno, 139km
Stage starts at: 11.25am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 12.35-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Wednesday May 19
Stage 11: Perugia to Montalcino, 162km
Stage starts at: 12.10pm (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1.30pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.50am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Thursday May 20
Stage 12: Siena to Bagno di Romagna, 212km
Stage starts at: 10.30am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 10.20am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Friday May 21
Stage 13: Ravenna to Verona, 198km
Stage starts at: 11.35am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: None
Live: Eurosport1 11.20am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Saturday May 22
Stage 14: Cittadella to Monte Zoncolann, 205km
Stage starts at: 10.40am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 10.25am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Sunday May 23
Stage 15: Grado to Gorizia, 147km
Stage starts at: 12.20pm (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 12.15-4.15pm, S4C 2-4.15pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 11-11.30pm
Monday May 24
Stage 16: Sacile to Cortina d’Ampezzo, 212km
Stage starts at: 10am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 9.45am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 9-15-10.15pm, S4C 9.30-10pm
Wednesday May 26
Stage 17: Canazei to Sega di Ala, 193km
Stage starts at: 11.10am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 10.55am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 9-15-10.15pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Thursday May 27
Stage 18: Rovereto to Stradella, 231km
Stage starts at: 10.45am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 10.30am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Friday May 28
Stage 19: Abbiategrasso to Alpe di Mera (Valsesia), 176km
Stage starts at: 11.20am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.05am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 10-10.30pm
Saturday May 29
Stage 20: Verbania to Valle Spluga-Alpe Motta, 164km
Stage starts at: 11.30am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1pm
Live: Eurosport1 11.15am-4.30pm, S4C 2-4.30pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 9.45-10.15pm
Sunday May 30
Stage 21: Senago to Milan, 30.3km – time trial
Stage starts at: 12.35am (BST)
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From around 1.30pm
Live: Eurosport1 2-5pm, S4C 2-5pm
Highlights: Eurosport1 8-9pm, S4C 11-11.30pm
