our giro

One of the most straightforward days of Our Giro as the route hugs Sicily’s southern seaboard, although the road does rise gently to the finish in Modica.

An explosive, potentially stifling day as Our Giro finishes halfway up Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, at Piano Provenzano. One for cool heads and pure climbers.

We finally dock on the Italian mainland and follow the coast north through Calabria. The ascent of Piano di Zanche awaits a by now tiring RGT peloton.

Matera is one of southern Italy’s little-known gems, although the City of Stones’ status as a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and its election as a European Capital of Culture in 2019 are changing that. A gently undulating route takes us there today.

A brute of a day, finishing atop a climb that acquired almost mythical status a few years ago when locals dubbed it the “Zoncolan of the South” and there was speculation about an imminent premiere in the Giro d’Italia. That wasn’t to be, but Our Giro is coming in May 2020.

Time trial day in Our Giro, though forget any notion of blazing down a drag-strip at 50kph: the route clambers up to the 1535m Forca di Presta in this gruelling homage to the areas worst affected by the earthquakes of 2016 and 2017..

The 1348m ascent of Monte Fumaiolo was a regular on Marco Pantani’s training rides. RGT Our Giro riders face “il Pirata’s” old gymnasium today on stage 11.

The Apennine Mountains aren’t as feared or revered by cyclists as the Alps or Dolomites, but stage 12 demonstrates why they certainly should not be underestimated. These climbs will be familiar to anyone who has ridden the Granfondo Nove Colli.

Finally some respite for the RGT riders, with only a bit of gentle climbing in the Colli Euganei outside Padova on today’s percorso.

The ascent of Monte Grappa via Monte Tomba gets its world premiere in Our Giro. Be warned: it’s one for small gears and big watts.

A day of legendary Dolomite climbs, and it’s the toughest of the lot, the Passo di Fedaia otherwise known as the Marmolada that the slaves of the RGT (Magic) roads will be taking on.

Another day, another date with one of cycling’s most feared ascents. It’s the Mortirolo calling the RGT “gruppo”, whose legs will no doubt be screaming by the time they reach Aprica.

The ascent of Monte Grappa via Monte Tomba gets its world premiere in Our Giro. Be warned: it’s one for small gears and big watts.

Again one for the wine buffs, as we head into the Langhe hills, through the vineyards of Barbaresco and Barolo. There are no blockbuster climbs on the route but not much flat road either.

Place names inscribed in cycling lore thanks to Fausto Coppi’s exploits in 1949, but an easier stage than the one “Il Campionissimo” dominated back then. Dish, or rather climb of the day: the 1248m Montoso.

The last climb of Our Giro is Col Basset, a gravel-road detour off the more famous climb to Sestriere, finishing where only eagles dare.

Complimenti to anyone who makes it this far, to the final-day time trial finishing in Milan’s Piazza del Duomo, hopefully, with a celebratory plate of risotto milanese.