October 18, 2011 (Milan, Italy) – Organizers unveiled the 2012 Giro d’Italia route in Milan on Sunday Oct. 16, and the grand tour will start outside of Italy once again beginning in Herning, Denmark, with an 8.7km ITT, and finish up  3,476,4km later in Milan with a second ITT.

The 2012 course is not as daunting as last year’s event which saw numerous crashes and drew criticism due to many difficult stages. The number of transfers has also been reduced but riders will face with plenty of mountain stages for good measure. While last year’s winner Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank was on hand for the unveiling it’s unlikely he’ll be defending his title as he’s focusing on the Tour de France next year. Here’s a look at the stages and some photos from Sunday’s ceremony.

Giro Stage Facts
– total distance is 3,476,4km
– 2 Individual Time Trials
– 1 Team Time Trial
– 7 fast stages
– 4 medium mountain stages
– 3 medium mountain with climbing arrival stages
– 1 high mountain stage
– 3 high mountain with climbing arrival stages

2012 Giro d’Italia Stages

Stage 1 – May 5 – Herning (Denmark) – 8.7km ITT
Stage 2 – May 6 – Herning to Herning (Denmark) – 206km
Stage 3 – May 7 – Horsens to Horsens (Denmark) – 190km
Rest Day – May 8
Stage 4 – May 9 – Verona to Verona – 32.2km TTT
Stage 5 – May 10 – Modena to Fano – 199km
Stage 6 – May 11 – Urbino to Porto Sant’Elpidio – 207km
Stage 7 – May 12 – Recanati to Rocca di Cambio – 202km
Stage 8 – May 13 – Sulmona to Lago Laceno – 229km
Stage 9 – May 14 – San Giorgio del Sannio to Frosinone – 171km
Stage 10 – May 15 – Civitavecchia to Assisi – 187km
Stage 11 – May 16 – Assisi to Montecatini Terme – 243km
Stage 12 – May 17 – Seravezza to Sestri Levante – 157km
Stage 13 – May 18 – Savona to Cervere – 121km
Stage 14 – May 19 – Cherasco to Cervinia – 205km
Stage 15 – May 20 – Busto Arsizio to Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli – 172km
Rest Day – May 21
Stage 16 – May 22 – Limone sul Garda to Falzes – 174km
Stage 17 – May 23 – Falzes to Cortina d’Ampezzo – 187km
Stage 18 – May 24 – San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago – 139km
Stage 19 – May 25 – Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago – 197km
Stage 20 – May 26 – Caldes/Val di Sole to Passo dello Stelvio – 218km
Stage 21 – May 27 – Milan – 31.5km ITT

Read more HERE.