The route for the 2011 Giro d’Italia has been announced – with the race set to include no less than seven summit finishes.

Team Sky directeur sportif Sean Yates described the route as “savage” and believes it could be “one of the toughest races in Grand Tour history.”

The 2011 Giro celebrates 150 years since the unification of Italy with ascents of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, and Monte Zoncolan, one of the most demanding climbs in cycling.

Yates added: “Seven mountain-top finishes has got to be some kind of record, and the fact that they are hard ones as well means it’s going to be an unbelievably tough race. It’ll be great to watch from a spectator’s point of view though.

“Although the team hasn’t been decided yet, we are going to have someone there who’ll be looking to contest the GC, and if they are able to ride consistently over the full three weeks then they will have a great chance of finishing right up the standings

“I’m not expecting many of the Tour favourites to be competing here now because I think it’s simply going to be too hard to do both races in such a short space of time.

“Vincenzo Nibali has got to be the early favourite for me. He’ll have got the belief after his Vuelta win this season and the fact that the race visits Sicily, where he’s from, will be another big incentive for him to perform.”

Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong is set to make his final overseas appearance as a professional at the 2011 Tour Down Under in Australia.

“I’m excited to be competing in my last professional ride outside the US at the Santos Tour Down Under,” said the seven-time Tour de France winner.

“It will be my third time to the event and I’m sure I will enjoy it as much as I have the first two times.”

Full route

Stage 1 – Saturday – May 7 – Venaria to Torino, TTT
Stage 2 – Sunday – May 8 – Alba to Parma
Stage 3 – Monday – May 9 – Reggio Emilia to Rapallo
Stage 4 – Tuesday May 10 – Quarto to Livorno
Stage 5 – Wednesday May 11 – Piombino to Orvieto
Stage 6 – Thursday May 12 – Orvieto to Fiuggi Terme
Stage 7 – Friday May 13 – Maddaloni to Montevergine
Stage 8 – Saturday May 14 – Scapri to Tropea
Stage 9 – Sunday May 15 – Messina to Etna
Monday May 16 – Rest day
Stage 10 – Tuesday May 17 – Termoli to Teramo
Stage 11 – Wednesday May 18 – Tortoleto Lido to Castelfidardo
Stage 12 – Thursday May 19 – Castelfidardo to Ravenna
Stage 13 – Friday May 20 – Splinbergo to Grossglokner (Austria)
Stage 14 – Saturday May 21 – Lienz to Zoncolan
Stage 15 – Sunday May 22 – Conegliano to Gardeccia
Stage 16 – Monday May 23 – Belluno to Nevegal
Stage 17 – Tuesday May 24 – Feltre to Sondrio
Wednesday May 18 – Rest day
Stage 18 – Thursday May 26 – Morbegno to San Pellegrino
Stage 19 – Friday May 27 – Bergamo to Macugnaga
Stage 20 – Saturday May 28 – Verbania to Sestriere
Stage 21 – Sunday May 29 – Milano to Milano ITT