With a start in Turin organizer RCS celebrates the 150-year unity of Italy. The 94th Giro d'Italia starts on May 7, 2011 with a team time trial of 21.5 km and then tours around Italy to its climax on May 29, staged in a final time trial in Milan over almost 33 km.

Many highlights along the 2011 course. The valve after the first 9-day week is an arrival on Mount Etna, one of two still active volcanoes in Italy. The arrival on Mount Etna is quite unique anyway, only the 1967 (victory of Franco Bitossi) and 1989 (Acacio da Silva) editions featured a finish on this volcano.

Although the official presentation of the Giro route won't be introduced until October 23rd, it is already clear that a finish on the Monte Zoncolan is planned. In 2010 the Giro also chose a finish on this particularly difficult mountain, where Ivan Basso prevailed. A day earlier, a planned trip to Austria, where the dreaded Grossglockner with an altitude of 2,571 meters possibly is the highest point - the 'Cima Coppi' - in this edition of the Giro.

In 2011, we again welcome an individual climb time trial. Stage 16 kicks off the third week and goes up the Nevegal mountain from Belluno, a particularly challenging climb with more than four kilometers at ten percent gradient. With names like San Pellegrino Terme and Sestrière in the last week it is clear that the peloton will again face a gruelling Tour of Italy.
The Giro d'Italia 2011 will bridge a total distance of 3,475 km. As far as we know, both Carlos Sastre and Vincenzo Nibali have already expressed to want to ride the Giro.

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Links: Giro d'Italia 2011