December 3, 2006 — Organizers of the 90th edition of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) taking place from May 12 to June 3, 2007 have revealed the course and other details about the race. The 3,442-km, 21-stage race will start on the island of Sardinia with three stages there. The 2007 Giro, designed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Garibaldi, will finish in Milan on June 3rd. Garibaldi (1807-1882) unified Italy in 1860 and five of the stages have a strong historical connection with him.

The Giro will cross briefly into France on Stage 12 and into Austria on Stages 16 and 17. Relatively flat cycling dominates ten of the stages, five stages present varying terrain, and six will feature steep climbing. The 239-km Spoleto-Scarperia on Stage 7 will be the longest stage, and the highest altitude attained will be the 2,744m pass at Cima Coppi. There are three time trials (total of 79 kms) with Stage 1 being a 24-km team time trial from Caprera (where Garibaldi is buried) to La Maddalena.

Ivan Basso (newly signed with Discovery Channel), the 2006 Giro winner, commented about the 2007 route saying, “It might not be as difficult as normal but it will certainly be spectacular.”

Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel), who won the Giro in 2002 and 2005, said, “The climbs will provide a test for everybody, but the downhill sections offer a chance to recuperate and I think this will mean that there are more riders at the end, making a much more open race.” Savoldelli has a reputation for fast down hilling, hence his nickname: “the falcon.”

2007 Giro d’Italia
Total 3,442 kms

Stage 1 – Saturday, May 12 – Caprera-La Maddalena (Cronometro A Squadre), 24 kms
Stage 2 – Sunday, May 13 – Tempio Pausania-Bosa, 203 kms
Stage 3 – Monday, May 14 – Barumini-Cagliari, 195 kms
Rest Day – Tuesday, May 15 –
Stage 4 – Wednesday, May 16 – Salerno-Montevergine Di Mercogliano, 158 kms
Stage 5 – Thursday, May 17 – Teano-Frascati, 172 kms
Stage 6 – Friday, May 18 – Tivoli-Spoleto, 181 kms
Stage 7 – Saturday, May 19 – Spoleto-Scarperia, 239 kms
Stage 8 – Sunday, May 20 – Barberino Di Mugello-Fiorano Modenese, 194 kms
Stage 9 – Monday, May 21 – Reggio Nell’Emilia-Lido Di Camaiore, 182 kms
Stage 10 – Tuesday, May 22 – Lido Di Camaiore-Santuario Nostra Signora Della Guardia, 230 kms
Stage 11 – Wednesday, May 23 – Serravalle Scrivia-Pinerolo, 192 kms
Stage 12 РThursday, May 24 РScalenghe-Brian̤on (Francia), 163 kms
Stage 13 – Friday, May 25 – Biella-Santuario Di Oropa (Cronoscalata Individuale), 13 kms
Stage 14 – Saturday, May 26 – Cantu’-Bergamo, 181 kms
Stage 15 – Sunday, May 27 – Trento-Tre Cime Di Lavaredo, 190 kms
Rest Day – Monday, May 28 –
Stage 16 – Tuesday, May 29 – Agordo (Dolomiti Stars)-Lienz (Austria), 196 kms
Stage 17 – Wednesday, May 30 – Lienz (Austria)-Monte Zoncolan, 146 kms
Stage 18 – Thursday, May 31 – Udine-Riese Pio X, 182 kms
Stage 19 – Friday, June 1 – Treviso-Comano Terme, 178 kms
Stage 20 – Saturday, June 2 – Bardolino-Verona (Cronometro Individuale), 42 kms
Stage 21 – Sunday, June 3 – Vestone-Milano, 181 kms

For more info visit here, or the Giro’s site (in Italian) here.