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Giro d’Italia 2010 preview

Like the Tour de France, this year’s first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia, will be starting away from its country of origin. Both will start in the Netherlands in cities that end in “dam,” the Giro d’Italia starting in Amsterdam whilst the Tour starts in Rotterdam.

For now though, all eyes are focused on the Giro and, with a percorso that includes a brutal time trial to the top of the Plan de Corones, it’s set to be a challenging last week.

Giro d’Italia: 8th to 30th May 2010

Giro d’Italia website

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Stage 1: Saturday May 8th Amsterdam TT, 8.4km

The Giro kicks off this Saturday with an 8.4km time trial in Amsterdam. Completely flat, this should favour short course specialists like David Millar and Bradley Wiggins.

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Stage 2: Sunday May 9th Amsterdam to Utrecht, 209km

Staying overnight in Amsterdam, the peloton will head out on a flat course to Utrecht, fourth largest city of the Netherlands. There are two categorised climbs although the taller climb is only 60m. With no KoM points on stages three and four, the winner of the King of the Mountains competition will wear the jersey until at least stage five.

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Stage 3: Monday May 10th Amsterdam to Middleburg, 209km

 Another stage to favour the sprinters although havoc could ensue if the wind picks up. After this stage has finished, the riders will head to Turin for a rest day.

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Stage 4: Wednesday May 12th Savigliano to Cuneo (TTT), 32.5km

This team time trial is unusual in that it features a gradual climb of around 200m to Cuneo meaning teams will have to be at their most organised and well disciplined if they want to seek out an early advantage.

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Stage 5: Thursday May 13th Novara to Novi Ligure, 168km

A stage for remembrance; by finishing at Novi Ligure, the Giro pays homage to Constante Girardegno, who won the 1919 and 1923 editions of the race. It also commemorates Fausto Coppi and the 50th anniversary of his premature death by passing through his birthplace of Castellania where there is a mountains prize on offer.

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Stage 6: Friday May 14th Fidenza to Marina di Carrara, 166km

Another stage of remembrance; this is the first visit to Marina di Carrara since two-time winner of the Giro Jacques Anquetil tied with Spanish sprinter Miguel Poblet as the winner of a 2km time trial held in the town during the 1960 edition. This stage also features the first big climb of the race, the Passo del Brattello. An attractive stage for breakaway specialists.

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Stage 7: Saturday May 15th Carrara to Montalcino, 215km

One week into the Giro and the route pays tribute to Gino Bartali and the 10th anniversary of his death by traversing roads he enjoyed training on. Flat for around the first 100km, it gets hilly as it nears the world heritage site of Volterra and takes in many of the roads used in the early season classic, the Monte Paschi Eroica.

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Stage 9: Monday May 17th Frosinone to Cava De’ Tirreni, 188km

A relatively flat stage alongside the scenic Amalfi coast will be a stage for the sprinters although it could see some breakaways.

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Stage 8: Sunday May 16th Chianciano to Monte Terminillo, 189km

This is the first summit finish. Those with a good Giro knowledge will remember that this was the place where Stefano Garzelli and Gilberto Simoni rode alone to the top in 2003 and launched the start of “Gibo’s” successful 2003 campaign.

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Stage 10: Tuesday May 18th Avellino to Bitonto, 220km

The stage ends in the “city of olives” after a route that is a safe bet for a win from a breakaway group.

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Stage 11: Wednesday May 19th Lucera to L’Aquila, 256km

Another stage for breakaways finishing at a place where, last year,  there was one of the worst earthquakes in Italy for 30 years. This is also one of the longest Giro stages in recent years.

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Stage 12: Thursday May 20th Città Sant’Angelo to Porto Recanti, 191km

A relatively flat stage and one of the last chances for the sprinters to shine before the high mountains come calling.

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Stage 13: Friday May 21st Porto Recanti to Cesanatico, 222km

The Giro pays homage to Marco Pantani by staging the finish in his home town while the route into Cesanatico takes in some of “Il Pirata’s” favourite training roads.

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Stage 14: Saturday May 22nd Ferrara to Asolo, 201km

The stage takes in the mighty Monte Grappa, a mountain with nine possible routes up it. This being the Giro, the most difficult route has been chosen from Semonzo where the road averages an 8% gradient for the 18km climb. After the descent there is a short climb to the finish in Asolo.

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Stage 15: Sunday May 23rd Mestre to Monte Zoncolan, 218km

The Monte Zoncolan averages around an 11% gradient for its 10km from the Ovaro approach. If that wasn’t enough for the riders to look forward to, the Zoncolan is preceded by three other climbs.

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Stage 16: Tuesday May 25th San Vigilio de Marrebbe to Plan de Corones (TT), 12.9km

Following a well-deserved rest day after the exertions of the Zoncolan, the riders have another challenge in the ascent of the Plan de Corones. Riding an individual time trial, the riders will be slowed to walking pace as sections reach a whopping 20 to 24%.

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Stage 17: Wednesday May 26th Brunico to Peio Terme, 173km

Another summit finish albeit not as intimidating a climb as the Zoncolan or the Plan de Corones. The main contenders will probably mark each other today and let a breakaway take the glory.

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Stage 18: Thursday May 27th Levico Terme to Brescia, 151km

This is surely the final chance for sprinters to go for a stage win although some could have dropped out following the brutal climbing earlier on. A breakaway could figure strongly.

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Stage 19: Friday May 28th Brescia to Aprica, 195km

This stage sees three climbs including the fearsome Mortirolo. Longer by 2km in length than the Zoncolan but slightly less formidable in gradient, it will still be a challenge for the riders.

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Stage 20: Saturday May 29th Bormio to Passo del Tonale, 178km

The Giro visits Switzerland with a quick detour into the country by a stage attempting three climbs that include the famous Passo di Gavia.  

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Stage 21: Sunday May 30th Verona TT, 15.3km

The stage includes the 5km Torricelle climb before finishing in the Roman arena in the centre of Verona.

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