GIRO D' ITALIA PREVIEW

Back in its usual early-season slot, this year’s parcours looks primed for an action-packed three weeks

- Steve Puddicombe and Chris Marshall-Bell

Giro d’Italia 2021

1 SATURDAY 8 MAY TURIN > TURIN | INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

Ten years since Turin hosted the 2011 Grande Partenza to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the unification of Italy, the Giro returns, this time to celebrate the 160th anniversary. The nation will no doubt be united behind Filippo Ganna, who won all three-time trials in last year’s race and will be the hot favourites to do so again on what is a straightforwardly short and flat course. At just 8.6km long, there won’t be any significant gaps between the GC favourites, but the stage will offer a revealing glimpse of who’s arrived at the Giro in good form.

2 SUNDAY 9 MAY STUPINIGI (NICHELINO) > NOVARA | FLAT