Reportedly, the Grande Partenza of the 104th Giro d’Italia will take place on Saturday 8 May in Turin before a Verona finish on Sunday the 30th. Two years ago Richard Carapaz celebrated his GC victory in Verona’s amphitheatre, while the last Grande Partenza in Turin was in 2011. Which was the Giro that was won by the late Michele Scarponi following the disqualification of Alberto Contador.
According to rumours, the 2021 Giro will include the ascent of the Colle Fauniera. The climb of almost 25 kilometres at 7% has also been called Colle dei Morti. It featured once before on the Italian Grand Tour, in 1999. The ascents of the Monte Zoncolan and Tre Cime di Lavaredo are said to be in the pipeline also.
A tribute to Fausto Coppi is on the cards as well. The 177 kilometres race would start and finish in Cuneo and include the Madonna del Colletto di Valdieri as an intermediate climb.
Also rumoured is an ascent of the Monte Zoncolan, which is a monster of 10.1 kilometres at 11.9% with peaks up to 22%. When the Giro visited the Zoncolan in 2018, Chris Froome soloed to victory.
The Zoncolan-race is said to be stage 14 before stage 15 would be a lumpy test between Grado and Gorizia. On stage 16 it will be back to the pure bred climbers then with a summit finish on Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The 6.2 kilometres climb goes up at 12.4%. It would be the eighth time if Tre Cime di Lavaredo is going to be included in the upcoming Giro. Former winners are Felice Gimondi (1967), Eddy Merckx (1968), José Manuel Fuente (1974), Lucho Herrera (1989), Beat Breu (1981), Riccardo Ricco (2007) and Vincenzo Nibali (2013).
Lastly, a finish in Ravenna said to be in the pipeline also.
More information is likely to be revealed in February.
Take a look at the provisional start list of the Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2021: social media
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