Giro d’Italia - South Tyrolean stage

The Giro d'Italia is one of the most important stage races in men's road cycling and, together with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, is one of the Grand Tours. The countless kilometres that the professional athletes cover during the Giro take them right across Italy and into neighbouring countries. Since 1909, the race has been held every year in May and is a fixture in the national event calendar. Two times it was cancelled - during the First and Second World Wars - and once it was postponed to October: during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

In some years, South Tyrol is also included in the route, and there are not only kilometres to cover but also metres in altitude. Some examples? In 2004 the Giro d'Italia passed through Bolzano (pictured), in 2017 San Candido was part of the route. In 2024, the Giro d'Italia returns and leads the top athletes in the Dolomites region of Val Gardena, for the first time again since 1940: Santa Cristina Valgardena will be the finish of the 16th stage, after having overcome the Umbrail Pass from Livigno, having cycled through the Val Monastero, Val Venosta, Valle dell'Adige and Valle Isarco valleys in South Tyrol, and having conquered Passo Pinei after the ascent from Prato all'Isarco. The following day, the 17th stage will start at the Piazza Nives quare in Selva Gardena.