Giro d'Italia 2010 Live Dashboard
Race Info, Previews, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights
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Giro d'Italia 2010 in Google Earth mapping credit and feedback to Ewoud_Dronkert | ||||||||||||
News and Updates for Giro d'Italia 2010
Interactive maps and Google Earth files for all stages
October 29 update: Thanks to Ewoud_Dronkert, we now have interactive stage maps and profiles for all stages in bikemap and google earth kmz formats. See the stage preview links in the race summary table, right. Here is the complete route in Google Earth. Note: No special labels have been added (yet?). Gavia will start working on the early drafts of the stage previews shortly. I'll post them as they are available. — Steve
2010 Route Analysis: A Giro d'Italia for the Climbers by Gavia
From Amsterdam to Verona
This Giro covers much of the Italian peninsula, and runs counter-clockwise from its start in Amsterdam to the finish in Verona. The Giro rolls from Piedmont on the northern border with France to the Amalfi Coast, then travels across to Adriatic Coast. From Bitonto, the Giro travels north along the Adriatic and passes through l’Aquila in a commemoration of the earthquake which caused widespread destruction in the city. Then, it’s on to Venezia and the Monte Zoncolan near Italy’s northern border. The final week lingers in Trentino and Lombardia in the north near Switzerland before the final time trial in Verona. The Giro celebrates the career of Fausto Coppi with a stage in Novi Ligure.
It’s all flat roads for the first three stages in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam prologue begins at the Van Gogh Museum and traces out a flat 8.4 kilometer course through the center of the city. Two sprint stages follow the prologue and run between Amsterdam and Utrecht and Amsterdam and Middleburg. A chance of crosswinds could complicate these stages which run close to the coast of the North Sea. Most likely, though, the sprinters will have their fun in these opening stages.
After the Dutch party, the Giro returns to Italy, touching down in Piedmont. The first stage in Italy is a team time trial of 32.5 kilometers between Savigliano and Cuneo. A strong team could gain a nice advantage for their team leader on this stage, but the relatively short distance should keep the general classification contenders well within the same time zone. After celebrating Fausto Coppi with a sprinters’ stage in Novi Ligure, the Giro continues its southward journey with two bumpy stages running from Fidenza to Carrara and Carrara to Montalcino. Classics riders like Alessandro Ballan, who will make his Giro début in 2010, should enjoy the stage to Montalcino, which includes stretches of gravel roads. The first mountain-top finish comes early in the second week at the finale of a stage running from Chianciano Terme in Toscana to the Terminillo in the Appenino not far from Roma.
After the first mountain top finish, the Giro returns to the flat lands with two stages for the sprinters from Frosinone to Cava de’Tirreno, which finishes just inland from the Amalfi Coast, and Avellino to Bitonto, which passes through Campania to the Adriatic Coast. As it heads deeper into Abruzzo, the Giro races over bumpy territory in the earthquake country around l’Aquila, which hosts the finish of a hilly 256 kilometer stage from Lucera. Two relatively flat stages follow the finish in l’Aquila, as the Giro races north through Porto Recanati and Cesenatico. From Cesenatico, there’s a transfer to Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna, and the final week of the Giro is a hilly affair through Venezia, Trentino, and Lombardia.
A stage running between Ferrara and Asola includes the Monte Grappa, an 18 kilometer climb which ramps up to a steep 14%. It’s a long descending finish, to Asola, but the following stage finishes on the fearsome Monte Zoncolan. Three climbs, the Sella Chianzutan, Passo Duran, and Sella Valcalda provide the antipasto for the Zoncolan, which has an average gradient of 11% and tilts up to a maximum gradient of 22%. Only the pure climbers will enjoy the jaunt up the Zoncolan, where Gilberto Simoni has celebrated two stage victories.
After a rest day, the climbing continues with the time trial on the Plan de Corones, which with its unpaved upper kilometers. Franco Pellizotti won the first edition of the Plan de Corones test, and this year’s Giro uses the same course running from San Vigilio di Marebbe to the 2273 meter mark on the Plan de Corones. The maximum gradient is 24% on the Plan de Corones and it resembles a mountain bike course more than a traditional road stage. The climbing continues the following day with a stage running between Brunico and Pejo Terme, which includes the 18.9 kilometer Passo delle Palade and finishes at Peio Terme, 1393 meters above sea level. The Giro then gives the general classification riders a rest with a flat stage between Levico Terme near the Swiss border and Brescia, but this stage offers just a short respite before the mountains begin again.
Two classic mountain stages provide the finale for this edition of the Giro. Brescia hosts the start of a stage which includes the Aprica, Trivigno, and Passo del Mortirolo. The Passo del Mortirolo is a nasty bit of work. The climb, more goat-path than road, rises in unrelenting gradients for nearly 13 kilometers. There is nothing easy about the descent which drops steeply through a series of vertiginous corners. Then it’s uphill to the line and the stage finishes at the summit of the 14 kilometer Aprica.
The final climbing stage of the 2010 Giro runs between Bormio and Ponte di Legno Tonale and climbs five major passes. The riders will face the Forcola di Livigno, Passo di Eira, Passo di Foscagno, and the Passo di Gavia before reaching the finish at the summit of the Passo del Tonale. The Passo di Gavia is the Cima Coppi, the highest peak in this year’s race, and carries a prize for the first rider to cross the summit. The descent off the Gavia is a tricky one, and wet weather could make for a hard day of racing. Bad legs on this stage would be disastrous for a Pink Jersey contender, and these final climbing stages should create a suspenseful finale for Italy’s grand tour. Certainly, this Giro is made for the climbers.
For the final stage, the Giro skips its traditional finish in Milano, thanks to a dispute with the City Council in the northern city. Instead, the 2010 Giro finishes with a 15 kilometer time trial in Verona. The course includes a small climb, the Torricelle, but in the main, it’s a flat crono to finish this mountainous Giro. The stage follows the same circuit as the Verona World Championship in 1984, though it will run in reverse for this Giro. The short distance will not cause the climbers too much worry. After the difficult mountain stages in the third week, it’s possible that the general classification standings will be decided. Franco Pellizotti will know better, though, because he lost his podium position to Marzio Bruseghin in a short final day time trial during the 2008 Giro d’Italia.
After the innovations of the last year’s Giro Centenario, which included an unusually long time trial in Cinque Terre, the 2010 Giro travels a more expected path. The start in Amsterdam and the finish in Verona both depart from tradition, of course, but in the main, this Giro has a familiar feel. The general classification battle should come down to the final difficult mountain stages. Along the way, there are several stages to tempt the sprinters and a few for the attacking hard men like Philippe Gilbert and Alessandro Ballan. This Giro aims for classic stature as it celebrates the career of Fausto Coppi and visits four of Italy’s iconic climbs. It remains for the riders to bring it to life. Vive il Giro! — Gavia
October 26 update:
9 Big Photos from the 2010 route presentation in Milan — sirotti
Sastre: A Giro for climbers — cyclingnewsGimondi critical of Giro's time trials — cyclingnewsThe official route
October 24 update: The official route map, stage maps and profiles are now posted. See the links in the race summary table, right. The stage maps and profiles are (currently) pdf files and they display slowly. There a fair number of changes to the middle stages as compared to the rumours. Gavia will have a full route analysis later on Monday. — Steve
Zomegnan presents an all-inclusive 2010 Giro d'Italia — cyclingnews
A repeat Giro victory for Menchov? — cyclingnews
Stage Analysis (Italiano) — gazzetta.it
Giro'10: Corsa Rosa Announced! — pezcyclingnews
Mosquera eyes start in mountainous 2010 Giro — cyclingnews
9 Big Photos from the 2010 route presentation in Milan — sirotti
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| Comparing 2010 to previous years... | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Stages | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | ? |
| Medium Mountain Stages | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | ? |
| Mountain Stages | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| # of Categorized Climbs (Cat 2, 1 and HC) | ? | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 24 |
| Mountaintop Finishes | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Individual Time Trialing | 36k | 77k | 63k | 65k | 56k | 80k |
| Overall Distance | 3418k | 3396k | 3424k | 3442k | 3526k | 3498k |
Route Presentation Live Saturday
October 23 update: The 2010 Giro route will be presented live on Saturday from the East End Studios in Milan. RAI Tre will be starting their broadcast at 16:30 CEST (10:30 ET/7:30 PT) hosted by Andrea Fusco. Check back for more live video streaming links. — Steve
live video — rai tre ...completed
live video — fromsport ... completed
October 21 update:
Giro d'Italia to skip Milan in 2010: First time in 21 years stage race avoids country's largest city — cyclingnewsFirst three stages start in Amsterdam
October 20 update: We've known for quite awhile that the 2010 Giro starts from Amsterdam, but thanks to Johan Baukema via 2cycle.be for pointing out this map from Gazzetta dello Sport that shows all three stages in Holland start from Amsterdam. This information was released at the end of September. — Steve
Route rumours for
Giro 2010
October 19 update:
Based on the latest news, I've posted a complete outline of the 2010 route. (See the race summary table to the right and the map left) Monte Zoncolan, Plan de Corones, Passo del Mortirolo and Passo di Gavia are some of the famous climbs. There is expected to be four time-trials, including a cronosquadre (Cuneo) when the Giro returns from the opening three days in Holland, a mountain time-trial (Plan de Corones) on stage 16 and a finishing tt in Verona. More to come... If you have anything to add then please do so. The official route announcement is Saturday, October 24th and there should be live video coverage from the East End Studios in Milan. — Stevesources: lastampa.it and cicloweb.it and the articles listed below...
 
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2009 Giro d'Italia coverage is now archived
October 19 update:
Giro, salite storiche. Milano in castigo — lastampa.itGiro d'Italia, Milano snobbata nel 2010. Ma perché? — sport.sky.itA Novara torna il Giro d’Italia — corrieredinovara.itGiro d’Italia 2010: tappe e percorso, primi dettagli — suipedali.itHome
Il Giro d'Italia punta
su Brescia e Valcamonica — bresciaoggi.itCICLISMO, TOUR: ZOMEGNAN DA' VOTO A PERCORSO, MERITA DIECI — sport.repubblica.it
October 11 update:
Giro d'Italia to cover Siena's gravel roads — cyclingnews
October 8 update:
Giro details emerge: Plan de Corones, Gavia, Verona finale — cyclingnews
Giro d'Italia to celebrate Coppi in 2010 — cyclingnews
October 3 update:
Zoncolan back in 2010 Giro — cyclingnews
Lance Armstrong hints at 2010 schedule; may include the Giro — velonews
2010 Giro d'Italia dates are May 8-30, 2010.
Official route announcement is October 24th.
2010 Giro d'Italia to start in Amsterdam — AP
Giro Rumors — podiumcafe
Giro Rumors (Italian) — cicloweb.it
2009 Giro d'Italia archived coverage
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Giro d'Italia Official Race DVDs
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