October 01, 2012 (Milan, Italy) – The defending Giro d’Italia champion, Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal, was in Milan on the weekend for the unveiling of the 2013 race route, scheduled for May 4-26. Other big guns were on hand as well, including Alberto Contador (Esp), Mark Cavendish (Gbr), Taylor Phinney (USA), Joaquin Rodriguez (Esp), Thomas De Gendt (Ned), Ivan Basso (Ita) and Vincenzo Nibali (Ita). The presentation of the 2013 Giro included an introduction of the stages and fun antics among the riders and some cooking.

The 2013 Giro will start in Naples on May 4 and finish in Brescia on May 26, the riders will cover over 3,405.3 km and leave Italy only once – on Stage 15 the first Grand Tour of the season dips into France for the Col du Galibier, one of the classic climbs of the Tour de France.

Seven stages with sprint finishes, five stages over mid-height mountains, five stages over high mountains, two individual time trials and a team time trial – all of the details were revealed at the Spazio Pelota in Milan.

THE STAGES

– 1st stage – 4 May NAPLES – NAPLES 156 km
– 2nd stage – 5 May ISCHIA – FORIO (team time trial) 17.4 km
– 3rd stage – 6 May SORRENTO – MARINA DI ASCEA 212 km
– 4th stage – 7 May POLICASTRO BUSSENTINO – SERRA SAN BRUNO 244 km
– 5th stage – 8 May COSENZA – MATERA 199 km
– 6th stage – 9 May MOLA DI BARI – MARGHERITA DI SAVOIA 154 km
– 7th stage – 10 May SAN SALVO – PESCARA 162 km
– 8th stage – 11 May GABICCE MARE – SALTARA (individual time trial) 55.5 km
– 9th stage – 12 May SANSEPOLCRO – FLORENCE 181 km
13 May Rest Day
– 10th stage – 14 May CORDENONS – ALTOPIANO DEL MONTASIO 167 km
– 11th stage – 15 May TARVISIO (Cave del Predil) – VAJONT 1963/2013 (Erto and Casso) 184 km
– 12th stage – 16 May LONGARONE – TREVISO 127 km
– 13th stage – 17 May BUSSETO – CHERASCO 242 km
– 14th stage – 18 May CERVERE – BARDONECCHIA 156 km
– 15th stage – 19 May CESANA TORINESE – COL DU GALIBIER (Valloire) 150 km
20 May Rest Day
– 16th stage – 21 May VALLOIRE – IVREA 237 km
– 17th stage – 22 May CARAVAGGIO – VICENZA 203 km
– 18th stage – 23 May MORI – POLSA (individual time trial) 19.4 km
– 19th stage – 24 May PONTE DI LEGNO – VAL MARTELLO/MARTELLTAL 138 km
– 20th stage – 25 May SILANDRO/SCHLANDERS – TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO (Auronzo di Cadore) 202 km
– 21st stage – 26 May RIESE PIO X – BRESCIA 199 km