Il Giro d’Italia è la maggiore corsa ciclistica a tappe che si svolge in Italia. È stato disputato la prima volta nel 1909 e da quella volta l’evento ha avuto luogo ogni anno (ad eccezione del periodo delle guerre mondiali), nel mese di maggio, per tre settimane, su un percorso ogni anno differente. Inizialmente il Giro si svolgeva interamente in Italia, ma nelle ultime edizioni sono state a volte presenti nel percorso alcune tappe oltre confine. La 101ª edizione si prospetta come un appuntamento sportivo particolarmente interessante perché partirà da Gerusalemme il 4 maggio per concludersi a Roma il 27 maggio, snodandosi su 21 tappe che copriranno una distanza di 3563km in totale.
According to an article published in the Los Angeles Times, cycling is the third most popular form of fitness around the world, behind walking and running. From a leisurely ride to a fast-paced, competitive race, cyclists burn calories and tone muscles, benefitting in multiple ways from the cardiovascular activity. Whether you jump on a stationary bike or hit the trails or pavement, cycling is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy, is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Although the race is currently run by RCS Sport, a sport and media company headquartered in Italy, it was first organized in 1909 to increase sales of the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The race has been held annually since then, with the exception of when it was stopped during both world wars. Together, the Giro, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana make up cycling’s prestigious Grand Tours. Within each of the Grand Tours consists 21 day-long segments and two rest days totaling a 23-day period. While the route of the Giro changes each year, the format of the race stays the same. Participants appear in at least two time-trials and a passage through the Alps that includes the Dolomites. Each stage is timed to the finish. After finishing, the riders’ times are compounded with the previous stage times. The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the race’s leader and gets to don the coveted pink jersey (the color chosen because the La Gazzetta dello Sport was printed on pink paper). Giro d’Italia 2018 begins with Stage 1 on May 4 in Jerusalem. The race travels through portions of Israel, Sicily and Italy (regions including Calabria, Umbria and Piedmont) before its final stage, Stage 21, in Rome on May 27.
This year marks the 101st Giro d’Italia. If you’re an avid cyclist or just enjoy watching competitive sports, you won’t want to miss the Giro d’Italia this month.
