The Giro d'Italia is the first of the three Grand Tours on the UCI WorldTour calendar, preceding the Tour de France in July and the Vuelta a España in late August and September.
Race organiser RCS Sport has dubbed the Giro d'Italia 'the toughest race in the world's most beautiful place' because of the testing but spectacular race route that weaves its way up and down the Italian peninsula. The stages follow the stunning coastline, roll through the hills of Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche and then climb into the Alps, the Apennines and the breathtaking Dolomites. Millions of Italians watch the race from the roadside, enjoying the free show that professional cycling always offers. The overall leader wears the iconic pink jersey and gets a special welcome from the crowds and the passionate and well-informed cycling tifosi.
The first edition of the Giro d'Italia, held in 1909, was won by Luigi Ganna. When Alfredo Binda dominated the race so clearly in the twenties, he was offered a huge sum not to take part in 1930. He refused and remains one of the greatest all time winners with five victories. The pre-war and post-war period saw the rise of the rivalry between Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi. They represented new and old Italy, the rural and urban lifestyles, before the country entered a boom period in the fifties and sixties.
Belgium's Eddy Merckx won the Giro d'Italia five times in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1974 but often rode for Italian teams and clashed with Italian rivals such as Felice Gimondi and Gianni Motta. Andy Hampsten became the first American to win the Giro d'Italia in 1988 and since then other nations have also claimed the pink jersey.
In 2014 Nairo Quintana became the first ever Colombian winner while riding for Movistar Team. He dominated in the mountains and overcame snow and rain to pull on the pink jersey after the final stage to Trieste. He beat fellow Colombian Rigoberto Urán by almost three minutes, with talented young Italian Fabio Aru third overall at four minutes.
After recently starting in Denmark and Northern Ireland, the 2015 edition of the Giro d'Italia begins in Italy’s Liguria region with a team time trial on a spectacular bike path overlooking the Mediterranean coast near Sanremo. The final stage will be a road race into Milan, to mark the international “Expo Milano 2015” which the city is hosting from May through to October.
The 2015 Giro d'Italia will be held between Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 31, with 21 stages divided by two rest days. As is the case every year, the Giro d'Italia will be a celebration of Italy and of cycling.