2020 Giro d'Italia Race Preview
The details of this year's 2020 Giro d'Italia are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The 2020 Giro d'Italia promises to be one of the most compelling editions of the race in recent memory, with a route that will ruthlessly test the best climbers in the world across three weeks of racing through Italy in the autumn. The race has been moved from its traditional May slot to October due to the disruption caused by the global pandemic, meaning riders and teams face an entirely different set of conditions, with cold weather and unpredictable mountain stages likely to play a significant role in deciding the final outcome.
The route itself is a climber's dream, featuring an extraordinary amount of vertical gain and some of the most iconic climbs in Italian cycling. The race concludes with a mountaintop finish on the legendary Sestriere, but it is the stages through the Dolomites and the Alps that are expected to be truly decisive. Stage fifteen to Piancavallo, the Stelvio stage, and the brutal penultimate stage finishing atop the Agnello pass are all candidates to produce fireworks and tear the general classification apart.
In terms of favourites, Geraint Thomas of Ineos Grenadiers arrives as one of the pre-race picks following his Tour de France victory in 2018, though he will face fierce competition from the charismatic Jakob Fuglsang of Astana and the consistent Steven Kruijswijk of Jumbo-Visma. However, many eyes will be fixed on Tao Geoghegan Hart, the young British rider who could emerge as a surprise contender, and the mercurial João Almeida, the young Portuguese rider riding for Deceuninck-Quick-Step who has shown remarkable promise in his first grand tour.
Simon Yates of Mitchelton-Scott will also be a significant danger, having shown in previous editions of this race that he possesses the climbing legs and the instincts to hurt his rivals in the mountains. His attacking style could prove decisive on the longer and more demanding stages. Similarly, Vincenzo Nibali, the great Italian champion, will carry the hopes of the home fans as he attempts to add a third Giro title to his palmarès.
The time trials will also play a role, with an opening stage in Palermo setting the tone and a final individual effort offering the chance for any general classification gaps to be settled or widened in the closing days. Riders with well-rounded abilities will have an advantage over pure climbers who struggle against the clock.
With such a stacked field, a challenging and punishing route, and the uncertainty that comes with racing in autumn conditions through the Italian mountains, the 2020 Giro d'Italia has all the ingredients to produce an unforgettable race.
Get our full coverage of the Giro d'Italia and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
