The Giro d'Italia is a multi-stage cycling race held annually in Italy. The race consists of many stages that pass through Italy and a number of other countries. The first race (in 1909) was actually held to boost sales of the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, and is still run by a division of the paper today. The structure of the race is generally the same each year (although the route changes), with at least two time trials and a journey through the mountains of the Alps, including the Dolomites. Modern iterations of the Giro d'Italia usually consist of 21 stages over a 23 or 24-day period (including 2-3 rest days).

Some of the most intense hill stages of the 2022 race include:

• AVOLA - ETNA-NICOLOSI – 3580m vertical elevation and 166km in length, this stage traverses through the island of Sicily and finishes with a punishing summit ride.

• SALÒ – APRICA – 5440m vertical elevation and 200km in length, this stage of the race brings back some well-loved routes that haven’t been seen in a number of years. The stage is evenly spaced in terms of climbs; the two toughest climbs at Goletto di Cadino and Passo Del Mortirolo.

• BELLUNO – MARMOLADA – 4490m vertical elevation and 167km in length, this final stage through the Dolomites is massive finish to the lengthy race. The finale of the stage consists of consecutive, unrelenting climbs through the mountains, sometimes reaching an 18% gradient.

Do you watch the Giro d’Italia? Which is your favourite stage?