Whether they pass by the Italian coasts, through magical nature like that of Tuscany or to fight with the peaks of the Dolomites and observe the history of ancient cities, every May the "gladiators" on bicycles dream of only one thing - a pink T-shirt.
Cycling fever is shaking Italy again - the time has come for another edition of the Giro d'Italia, its 106th story, which will start today from the Adriatic, and will end on May 28 at the Imperial Forums in Rome.
Exactly 176 drivers from 22 teams will drive 21 stages or 3.489 kilometers in the coming days, but last year's champion Jay Hindley will not be among them, who decided to devote himself to the Tour de France this year.
Roglič, Evenepool or someone else
According to Eurosport, which broadcasts this great event every year, the battle for the crown this time will be between the former and current winner of the Vuelta, the Slovenian legend Primož Roglič (Jumbo Visma) and the Belgian Remko Evenepul (Soudal Kvik Step).
"We made complete preparations so that we would be right in the last week of the Giro", said Roglič, thus announcing the hell that is expected at the finish of the Tour of Italy.
By the way, the Giro is known for extremely difficult stages in the Alps during the last days, and as many announce, this year will be even more difficult.
Apart from the mentioned two, Zaoa Almeida (Emirates Team), Geraint Thomas and Theo Gegan Hart (both from Ineos) are among those who are given the chance to wear the pink shirt at the end.
Don't miss: Saint Bernard 2.469, a hellish pilgrimage
Each stage carries something of its own, but the ones that should not be missed this year are each from the 13th to the 20th, among which four are marked with a weight of five stars.
Among the royal stages is the one (13) that brings the journey to Switzerland via the great Saint Bernard pass, where the cyclists will also cross the highest point of the Giro at 2.469 meters above sea level.
Certainly, before these ascents, we should not forget the first mountain stage (seventh), which will drive a long 218 kilometers from the town of Capua to the Gran Saso d'Italia mountain massif.
Of the more famous Italian cities, apart from Rome, the Giro will also have its finish line in Salerno, Naples, Cesena and Bergamo.
However, the special attraction and as many already believe the craziest stage will be the 20th stage, the one where everything will probably "break".
Although it will be only 18,6 kilometers long, the already tired competitors are in for hell in the most difficult mountain time trial in the history of the Grand Tour. His goal will be on the border of Italy and Slovenia at Monte Lusari - or as Slovenes call it Svete Višarje, a place known for pilgrimage. The narrow road to the church has such a climb that it is difficult to walk to it, so it is easy to understand how difficult it will be for cyclists.
The last stage, mostly symbolic and the one that greets the new champion, returns to the capital city of Rome after five years.
Bonus video:
