The 2027 Giro d’Italia brings back its wildest version yet: double Mortirolo, Gavia, Zoncolan, and a mountain time trial in a route with over 50,000 meters of elevation gain

The Giro d'Italia 2027 already has an official route, and the organization has opted for a particularly demanding edition. The race will bring together some of the most iconic climbs in Italian cycling, with two ascents of the Mortirolo in the same stage, the return of the legendary Zoncolan, eight mountaintop finishes, and two time trials. A course that promises to keep the fight for the maglia rosa open until the last weekend.

The Giro 2027 features a route of 3,419 kilometers with mountains as the main protagonist

The 110th edition of the Giro d'Italia will take place between May 8 and May 30, 2027, starting in Trieste and finishing in Rome. Its 21 stages will accumulate approximately 3,419 kilometers and no less than 50,250 meters of positive elevation gain, a figure that clearly indicates the importance that climbing will have in this edition.

The route was presented in Rome and also marks the debut of Luca Guercilena, former head of Lidl-Trek, as the new race director. His first proposal combines some of the great historical climbs of the Giro with less common ascents and two time trial days that will total 56.9 kilometers.

However, the great peculiarity of the route is how its difficulty is distributed. The mountains will appear from the first week and will continue to gain prominence until culminating in a final week that will concentrate the Mortirolo, the Gavia, Madonna di Campiglio, and Monte Zoncolan.

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The first week will feature a start in Slovenia and a mountain time trial

After two consecutive editions starting outside of Italy, the Giro will return to its country to start in Trieste. Nevertheless, the race will have an international presence from the very beginning, as the opening stage will enter Slovenia and the second day will be entirely held in Slovenian territory, between Ljubljana and Koper.

This choice has also sparked speculation about a possible return of Tadej Pogačar, winner of the Giro in 2024. The proximity to his country could be an added attraction, although there is currently no confirmation of his participation.

The first days will allow for finishes for sprinters and explosive riders, but the general classification will face its first major test in the fifth stage.

The arrival at Sarnano-Sassotetto, after 139 kilometers from Filottrano, will include a final ascent of 13.1 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.4%. It will be the first significant opportunity to assess the form of the general classification contenders.

Two days later, one of the most interesting novelties of the route will arrive: an individual time trial of 19.6 kilometers between Sulmona and Campo di Giove. It will not be an extreme mountain time trial, but rather an effort that will combine fast sections with a progressive climb and gradients reaching 9%.

The first week will conclude with another mountain finish at Monte Livata, an ascent of 13.9 kilometers that presents its steepest ramps in the initial part.

The second week will combine new mountaintop finishes with 37.3 kilometers of time trial

After the first rest day, the peloton will begin to move north in Italy with several transition days and two more mountaintop finishes that could create significant differences.

The first will be in Zum Zeri, during the twelfth stage. Its final ascent will be 8.4 kilometers at 8.7%, with the last 2.4 kilometers above a 10% average gradient.

Two days later, another even more demanding test will arrive at Piani di Bobbio. The fourteenth stage will feature 187 kilometers and approximately 4,900 meters of accumulated elevation gain, including a passage through Madonna del Ghisallo before facing the final climb. The final climb will be about 10 kilometers at 9%, with a particularly tough central section.

The second week will end with the longest time trial of this edition. The riders will face 37.3 kilometers between Monza and Milan, starting at the historic racetrack and continuing along a predominantly flat route.

This will be the main opportunity for time trial specialists to recover lost time in the mountain stages. It could also be decisive in establishing the differences with which the favorites will face the final week.

A stage with two Mortirolo and the Gavia will be the grand queen day of the Giro 2027

If there is one stage that stands out above all others, it is the sixteenth, scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, immediately after the second rest day.

The day will start in Sondrio and finish in Aprica after 192 kilometers and approximately 5,700 meters of positive elevation gain. Its main attraction will be a combination of climbs that is hard to find in a single stage: two ascents of the Mortirolo and a passage over the Gavia.

The first Mortirolo will appear after about 32 kilometers of racing, while the second ascent will come when approximately 45 kilometers remain to the finish. Between the two, the cyclists will have to overcome the Passo del Gavia, whose highest point reaches 2,618 meters in altitude and will be the Cima Coppi of this edition.

This is a stage where the difficulty will not only lie in the ramps of the Mortirolo but also in the accumulation of efforts. The presence of two passages over the same climb will also allow the public to witness the ascent of the riders twice over one of the most recognizable stages of the Giro.

The weather factor will also be important. The altitude of the Gavia at the end of May could complicate the race in case of snow or adverse conditions, although the presented route includes its ascent.

The finish will be located in Aprica, after a final stretch that is less demanding than the previous major climbs. This opens the possibility for decisive moves to occur far from the finish line, especially during the second ascent of the Mortirolo.

Madonna di Campiglio and the return of the Zoncolan will prevent relaxation until the end

The queen day will not be the last obstacle for those aspiring to win the Giro. The eighteenth stage, between Rovereto and Madonna di Campiglio, will have 154 kilometers and five categorized climbs. It will be another opportunity for climbers to seek differences before the final outcome.

But the organization has reserved one of the most feared climbs in Italian cycling for the penultimate day of competition.

On Saturday, May 29, the twentieth stage will take the peloton from Pordenone to the summit of Monte Zoncolan, after 180 kilometers.

The ascent will be made via the Ovaro side, the most known for its difficulty. Its 10.1 kilometers present an average gradient of 11.9%, a figure that barely reflects the challenge of its steepest ramps.

Before reaching this climb, the riders will have to overcome the Passo Duron and Sella Valcalda, two ascents that will contribute to making the day tougher.

The return of the Zoncolan via Ovaro has a special significance. This side has not been part of the Giro route since 2018, when Chris Froome achieved a stage victory there before ultimately winning that edition.

With this choice, the organization ensures that the general classification will have one last opportunity to change before the traditional final parade in Rome, which will once again host the conclusion of the race on Sunday, May 30.

A route that may attract Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, or Seixas

The presentation also opens the debate about which major figures from the international peloton will decide to participate in the Giro 2027.

Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the 2026 edition, could return to defend his title, although he has not yet confirmed his schedule. The same goes for Tadej Pogačar, whose possible presence is of interest due to the race's initial passage through Slovenia.

The two time trials may also be attractive for Remco Evenepoel, while the prominence of the great mountains makes the route an interesting option for riders like Paul Seixas or Isaac del Toro.

For now, the participation of these cyclists remains unconfirmed. What seems evident from the design of the route is that the winner will need to combine great climbing ability with time trial proficiency and endurance to withstand three weeks of competition with over 50,000 meters of ascent.

The 21 stages of the Giro d'Italia 2027

1. May 8: Trieste – Trieste (172 km)
2. May 9: Ljubljana – Koper (166 km)
3. May 10: Cervignano del Friuli – Possagno (163 km)
4. May 11: Argenta – Misano Adriatico (151 km)
5. May 12: Filottrano – Sarnano-Sassotetto (139 km)
6. May 13: Alba Adriatica – Lanciano (148 km)
7. May 14: Sulmona – Campo di Giove (ITT, 19.6 km)
8. May 15: Trasacco – Naples (219 km)
9. May 16: Itri – Monte Livata (180 km)
10. May 17: first rest day.
11. May 18: Palombara Sabina – Norcia (218 km)
12. May 19: Gualdo Tadino – Scarperia (220 km)
13. May 20: Montecatini Terme – Zum Zeri (173 km)
14. May 21: Borgo Val di Taro – Reggio Emilia (176 km)
15. May 22: Cantù – Piani di Bobbio/Valtorta (187 km)
16. May 23: Monza – Milan (ITT, 37.3 km)
17. May 24: second rest day.
18. May 25: Sondrio – Aprica (192 km)
19. May 26: Chiari – Vo' (194 km)
20. May 27: Rovereto – Madonna di Campiglio (154 km)
21. May 28: Rovereto – Sacile (199 km)
22. May 29: Pordenone – Monte Zoncolan (180 km)
23. May 30: Rome – Rome (131 km)