Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia 2018: the route and all the stages in detail

Date: May 4th
Length: 9,7 km
Type: Individual Time Trial

For the first time a Grand Tour starts outside of Europe. In Jerusalem, the professionals fight for the first Maglia Rosa. The specialists should be able to assert themselves in the slightly hilly, almost ten-kilometer prologue. The gaps remain small, so that the sprinters also keep their chances of pink open.

Date: May 5th
Length: 167 km
Type: flat

Day #2 belongs to the sprinters. In Tel Aviv, the fastest legs should secure the day's victory. This is not only about the Maglia Ciclamino, but possibly also about the Maglia Rosa. Thanks to the time credits, everything is possible for the sprinters.

Date: May 6th
Length: 229 km
Type: flat

Even if the profile from Be'er Sheva to Eilat starts out a bit wavy, this day belongs to the sprinters as well. At the finish, the sprinters will probably have their last chance to sprint for the pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia this year.

Date: May 8th
Length: 191 km
Type: hilly

After the first day of rest and transport, the 2018 Giro d'Italia hits Italian soil for the first time – and that soil is straight up wavy. The hilly terrain from Catania to Caltagirone will sort out any sprinters. In the end, the liveliest puncheurs fight for the day's victory - and the pink one.

Date: May 9th
Length: 152 km
Type: hilly

The fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia 2018 is directly hilly. The favorites for the day's victory include exactly the same drivers as the day before. But be careful: towards the southwest along the sea, the wind could also play a decisive role.

Date: May 10th
Length: 163 km
Type: mountainous

Mount Etna (Italian: Etna) is an active volcano – at around 3.323 meters above sea level, it is the highest in Europe. Here the classification drivers have to put their cards on the table for the first time. This is not the first time that Etna has been climbed. Jan Polanc won last year.

Date: May 11th
Length: 159 km
Type: flat

After the first mountain stage of the 2018 Giro, another flat stage is on the program from Pizzo to Praia a Mare. Despite the waves just before the finish, there should be a mass sprint here. In the far west of Italy, however, the peloton meanders north along the sea again. The wind could whistle the decisive tune through the field of drivers today as well.

Date: May 12th
Length: 208 km
Type: mountainous

The Giro d'Italia 2018 continues to lead the field of riders in the west directly by the sea to the north. The final climb of stage eight shouldn't pose any problems for the right climbers. The mountain is not particularly long and not steep. It is quite possible that outliers will triumph today.

Date: May 13th
Length: 224 km
Type: mountainous

Stage #9 of the Tour of Italy presents us with the second mountain stage. Marco Pantani last triumphed in Gran Sasso in 1999. No wonder, because the unrhythmic ascent benefits the real mountain goats. At least tomorrow is the second rest day.

Date: May 15th
Length: 239 km
Type: flat

After the second day of rest, the longest stage of the Tour of Italy 2018 must be completed. Although the profile is quite wavy, the sprinters should be able to assert themselves here. At least if enough teams can be found for the follow-up work.

Date: May 16th
Length: 158 km
Type: hilly

The Giro entourage has long passed Rome. Now we head northeast on undulating terrain to Osimo on Italy's eastern border. The escapees will sense their chance, because the strong sprinters have nothing to report today.

Date: May 17th
Length: 213 km
Type: flat

Michael Schumacher last won here in San Marino in 2006. Stop - wrong sport: Imola is best known for the Formula 1 racetrack. But professional cyclists have also competed for victories in Imola. In 2015, Ilnur Zakarin won the stage. Today it will be exciting because of the hill at the end.

Date: May 18th
Length: 180 km
Type: flat

Sprint! The sprinters remaining in the Giro d'Italia get their third last chance of a day's victory in Nervesa della Battaglia today. The almost flat profile will hardly give the breakaway a chance of victory. The class riders and their helpers will take it easy for tomorrow.

Date: May 19th
Length: 181 km
Type: mountainous

Monte Zoncolan has already been the destination of a Giro d'Italia five times. The previous winners are 2x Gilberto Simoni, Ivan Basso, Igor Anton and Michael Rogers. We will not see a no-name at the forefront today either. If you have a bad day today, you're out of the window.

Date: May 20th
Length: 176 km
Type: mountainous

Before the third day of rest and after Monte Zoncolan, you have to cover an extremely mountainous terrain from Tolmezzo to Sappada. The climbs aren't long, but they're concentrated. Four climbs have to be completed before the final climb to the destination. Nevertheless, the classification drivers shouldn't tear themselves to pieces here. Best chance for breakaways.

Date: May 22th
Length: 34,5 km
Type: Individual Time Trial

After the third and last day of rest, the pros are on their own. The nearly 35-kilometre individual time trial could throw the rankings upside down. In northern Italy, the fight against the clock decides who has to attack in the last Giro week - and who is content to defend.

Date: May 23th
Length: 155 km
Type: flat

Today is the last chance for the sprinters before Rome. If you want to save yourself the three hard mountain stages in the coming days, get out after today's section. The waves on the way shouldn't affect the strong sprinters too much, despite their already tired legs.

Date: May 24th
Length: 196 km
Type: mountainous

The trilogy of decisions begins at the 2018 Giro d'Italia in Abbiategrasso. After a long, flat approach, the final climb takes you up. Even if differences can be made here today, the climbers will not put all their cards on the table thanks to the days to come.

Date: May 25th
Length: 181 km
Type: mountainous

For many experts, the 19th stage is the king's stage of this year's Tour of Italy. Although the gravel Colle delle Finestre is already halfway through, it harbors many dangers. In addition to punctures, the most important thing to avoid is miscalculating your strength. Because after that it just keeps going up and down. The already exhausted drivers can lose a lot of time on the way up to the destination. The winner of the 101st Giro d'Italia has to present himself at his best today.

Date: May 26th
Length: 214 km
Type: mountainous

The decision falls in Cervinia. Three mountains complete the trilogy. It is quite possible that the man in the pink jersey will only defend his lead today. But the stage profile allows for early attacks on the first two mountains. A strong team and good tactics are especially helpful today.

Date: May 27th
Length: 118 km
Type: flat

All roads lead to Rome – and so did the 101st Giro d'Italia. The Tour of Italy 2018 ends with a mass sprint. The remaining fast men fight for the points jersey and for the prestigious stage win. Then the winner of the tour receives the pretty trophy. Who will it be?