GIRO D’ITALIA 2015: A BALANCED, MODERN ROUTE The 98th Giro d’Italia has been unveiled, with 1 team time trial, 1 individual time trial, 5 high mountain stages, 7 flatter stages and 7 medium mountain stages. Race start in Riviera dei Fiori (Liguria) and finish in Milan, where Expo 2015 opens in May. The Giro d’Italia commemorates Alfredo Martini and pays homage to Cadel Evans. Gran Fondo to take place on the roads of the Corsa Rosa. Greetings from UCi President Cookson. Milan (Italy), 6 October 2014: The 98th Giro d’Italia, organised by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, scheduled for 9-31 May 2015, was unveiled in Milan today, The philosophy behind the race route is balance, in line with recent years, with fewer transfers and an approach geared up for modern cycling. Like an inverted, three-week Classicissima, the 2015 Giro starts near Sanremo and finishes in Milan. Along the way, it tells a story with social, cultural, historical dimensions. Final stage from Turin to Milan: Turin, the 2015 European Capital of Sport, and Milan, the host of Expo 2015, book-end the final stage. Celebrating the career of Cadel Evans. During the Giro ceremony, Cadel Evans was invited to take to the stage for a presentation in recognition of his career. The Corsa Rosa and the invited audience gave him a standing ovation. The Giro d’italia remembers Alfredo Martini. Respected former rider and coach Alfredo Martini (1921- 2014) died in August. During his 23-year tenure as Italian national selector, he guided his riders to 6 World Championship wins. He will be commemorated during the Giro. The Gran Fondo along a Giro stage route is to be revived in 2015. It will take place on Sunday 24 May, starting and finishing at Aprica and including the climb of the gruelling Mortirolo. The presentation included a performance by the young British singer Jasmine Thompson of her hit song ‘Let Her Go.’ Brian Cookson, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s world governing body, attended the Giro presentation, and commented: «I am delighted to see that the 2015 Giro d’Italia will go through some of Italy’s most iconic regions and cities. It reminds me of some of the great battles of past editions. The Giro d’Italia is a true legend in our sport and an important race for the future of road cycling. I believe that this 2015 edition will be extremely challenging, combining some testing early stages together with the highest mountains in the last week. I really cannot wait for May 2015». THE 98TH GIRO D’ITALIA IN NUMBERS • 1 – National border crossing (Switzerland) • 2 – Rest Days (Monday 18 May, Monday 25 May) • 4 – Giro race starts in Liguria (Genoa 1980, 1992, 2004; Sanremo 1987) • 5 – Mountain stages (Fiuggi-Campitello Matese, Marostica-Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo-Aprica, Gravellona Toce-Cervinia, Saint Vincent-Sestriere) • 7 – Sprint stages (Albenga-Genova, Montecatini Terme-Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto-Fiuggi, Civitanova Marche-Forlì, Montecchio Maggiore-Jesolo, Tirano-Lugano, Turin-Milan); • 7 – Medium mountain stages (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Chiavari-La Spezia, La Spezia-Abetone, Benevento-San Giorgio del Sannio, Forlì-Imola (Enzo & Dino Ferrari Autodrome), Imola-Vicenza (Monte Berico), Melide-Verbania) • 7 – Uphill finishes (Abetone, Campitello Matese, Vicenza (Monte Berico), Madonna di Campiglio, Aprica, Cervinia, Sestriere) • 29 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by non-Italians • 68 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by Italians • 76.8 – Kilometres of time trials (17.6 km “Riviera dei Fiori” team time trial, 59,2 individual time trial Treviso – Valdobbiadene) • 136 – Length of the two shortest road stages in kilometres (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Tirano-Lugano) • 152 – Kilometres in the stage dedicated to Gino Bartali, La Spezia – Abetone • 263 – Kilometres in the longest stage (Grosseto – Fiuggi) • 1,854 – the altitude, in metres, of the Mortirolo, the Montagna Pantani in the 2015 Giro • 2.178 – the altitude, in metres, of the Colle delle Finestre, the Cima Coppi in the 2015 Giro • 3.481,8 – the total length of the Giro, in kilometres • 43.000 – vertical metres climbed during the 2015 Giro Info: SHIFT Active Media – Cycling Press Office RCS Sport Manolo Bertocchi – Tel.: (+44) 01225 448333 – Cell.: (+44) 7979 241227 E-mail: [email protected] RCS Sport Stefano Diciatteo – Press Office Coordinator RCS Sport Tel.: (+39) 02 25848758 – Cell.: (+39) 335 5468466 – E-mail: [email protected] Tw.: @rcssport – @stedicia.