The route of the 2023 Giro d’Italia was released this past October. The 21-stage race, the first of three Grand Tour races in the coming season, will take place from May 6-28. Over three weeks teams of riders will race around Italy, starting with a time trial from the Fossacesia Marina and finishing with a race into Rome.

The route measures 3,449km in length, with 51,300m of climbing. It will be a test for any rider. But, looking over the parcours below, what type of rider might find this edition most rewarding or punishing?

First, who will like this parcours? The inclusion of three time trials (stages 1, 9, 20) will favor the most powerful rouleurs, on the one hand. The significant amount of climbing, both hills and mountains (stages 7, 13, 15, 16, 19) will favor the uphill specialists, on the other hand. The ideal GC rider will be a rugged time trialist who can hang with the mountain goats (with a little help from teammates). Remco Evenepoel is a name already being floated. Primoz Roglic would be a favorite as well.

Second, who will not like this parcours? The sprinters will find less to enjoy with all the hills and mountains to struggle over. Stages 2, 17, and 21 shape up to be sprint finishes. But too many of these stages include a difficult peak or two that will take the kick out of the legs of the pure sprinters. It could be a good situation for riders like Mads Pedersen, who can get out on a breakaway, handle moderate climbing, and beat most any rider who hung with him in the final sprint.

Hump Day News will provide stage profile and rider analysis in the coming year. For now have a look over the parcours and start dreaming of the maglia rosa.

Stage Previews

Stage 1 | Fossacesia - Ortona

2023-05-06 18.4km

Stage 2 | Teramo - San Salvo

2023-05-07 204km

Stage 3 | Vasto - Melfi

2023-05-08 210km

Stage 4 | Venosa - Lago Laceno

2023-05-09 184km

Stage 5 | Atripalda - Salerno

2023-05-10 172km

Stage 6 | Napoli - Napoli

2023-05-11 156km

Stage 7 | Capua - Gran Sasso d'Italia

2023-05-12 218km

Stage 8 | Terni - Fossombrone

2023-05-13 207km

Stage 9 | Savignano sul Rubicone - Cesena (ITT)

2023-05-14 33.6kms

Rest Day 1

2023-05-15

Stage 10 | Scandiano - Viareggio

2023-05-16 190km

Stage 11 | Camaiore - Tortona

2023-05-17 218km

Stage 12 | Bra - Rivoli

2023-05-18 179km

Stage 13 | Borgofranco d'Ivrea - Crans Montana

2023-05-19 208km

Stage 14 | Sierre - Cassano Magnago

2023-05-20 194km

Stage 15 | Seregno - Bergamo

2023-05-21 191km

Rest Day 2

2023-05-22

Stage 16 | Sabbio Chiese - Monte Bondone

2023-05-23 198km

Stage 17 | Pergine Valsugana - Caorle

2023-05-24 192km

Stage 18 | Oderzo - Val di Zoldo

2023-05-25 160km

Stage 19 | Longarone - Tre Cime Lavaredo

2023-05-26 182km

Stage 20 | Tarvisio - Monte Lussari (ITT)

2023-05-27 18.6km

Stage 21 | Rome - Rome

2023-05-28 115km