May 4, 2012 (Denmark) – Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) leads four Canadians at the first grand tour of the season. This year’s 95th running of the Giro d’Italia begins in Herning, Denmark with an 8.7km ITT kicked off by the President of Denmark. The 21-stage race features two time trials and one TTT with the transfer back to Italy after Stage 3.

The total distance riders will travel on their way to the finish in Milan is 3,476.4km. Joining Hesjedal are fellow Canucks Svein Tuft and Christian Meier with the Orica-GreenEdge Cycling Team, along with Dominique Rollin (FDJ-Big Mat). Alberto Contador, last year’s winner, is not on the start line after being banned for 2 years on February 6 after a lengthy court case regarding a positive test for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France. Contador was found guilty of doping and stripped of his title.

2012 Stages

May 5 – Stage 1 – Herning (ITT) 8.7km
May 6 – Stage 2 – Herning 206km
May 7 – Stage 3 – Horsens 190km

May 8 – Rest Day 1 – Horsens to Verona

May 9 – Stage 4 – Verona (TTT) 32.2km
May 10 – Stage 5 – Modena to Fano 199km
May 11 – Stage 6 – Urbino to Porto Sant’Elpidio 207km
May 12 – Stage 7 – Recanati to Rocca di Cambio 202km
May 13 – Stage 8 – Sulmona to Lago Laceno 229km
May 14 – Stage 9 – San Giorgio nel Sannio to Frosinone 171km
May 15 – Stage 10 – Civitavecchia to Assisi 187km
May 16 – Stage 11 – Assisi to Montecatini Terme 243km
May 17 – Stage 12 – Seravezza to Sestri Levante 157km
May 18 – Stage 13 – Savona to Cervere 121km
May 19 – Stage 14 – Cherasco to Cervinia 205km
May 20 – Stage 15 – Busto Arsizio to Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli 172km

May 21 – Rest Day 2 – Lecco to Limone sul Garda

May 22 – Stage 16 – Limone sul Garda to Falzes/Pfalzen 174km
May 23 – Stage 17 – Falzes/Pfalzen to Cortina d’Ampezzo 187km
May 24 – Stage 18 – San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago 139km
May 25 – Stage 19 – Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago 197km
May 26 – Stage 20 – Caldes/Val di Sole to Passo dello Stelvio 218km
May 27 – Stage 21 – Milan (ITT) 31.5km