Giro d’Italia: Over 100 hundred years of history

In the world, we can see that there are different races. Some of them, are more important than others, and that’s something that no one can deny. For example, the Giro d’Italia is one of the top three most important races in the world. Actually, they are part of what most people know as Grand Tours. Are you ready to know more about it?

Giro d’Italia: How everything began

The Giro d’Italia is not a race that has 10 or 20 years of history. It actually began over 100 hundred years ago, and it has become one of the most important races throughout history.

A lot of people might know, or they may be heard about how the race was designed. Looking back at the 20th century, we can see that a lot of the things we know today started back in those days. The same happened with Giro d’Italia! Everything started in 1908, as one of the most important newspapers in Italy started a plan to change how people was seeing cycling back then.

The Giro d’Italia didn’t actually start as a cycling event. Another important newspaper of Italy, named Corriere Della Sera, was organizing something similar to the Giro d’Italia, but as a car race.

Once everything was in order for the race to take place, people from all over the world wanted to be part of it. The very first edition of the Giro d’Italia took place in 1909, and it was different from what we see nowadays.

That first edition had 8 stages, 2.400km to race through, and there were 127 cyclists participating in the race, who were looking for the glory of the first trophy ever of the Giro d’Italia.

How has the Giro changed?

Time passes by and things, eventually, need to change. That happened to the Giro d’Italia, a race that nowadays has over 110 years of history has changed different things in order to provide cyclists with a better experience.

For example, one of the most significant changes might be the fact that the race has more stages now. The first editions only had 8 stages, but nowadays, the Giro has 21 stages.

Something that people must be aware of is that those 21 stages do not take place immediately. Cyclists have at least 3 days to rest, which is something that didn’t exist back then as well.

Also, the way races are held also changed. We already mentioned that there are 21 stages, but that can change sometimes. Cyclists can face 20 stages, with a prologue before the race actually starts. This is another thing that didn’t exist back in the day.

Something that a lot of people might find curious is the fact that the Giro d’Italia hasn’t always started in Italy, In the very firsts years, the race always started in Italy, but as years passed by, countries like Israel, France, Greece, Denmark, among others, have held the beginning of the race.

Clasiffications in the Giro d’Italia

Just like in any other race, the Giro has a pretty accurate way of measuring racer performance.

The race has four classifications. Points, mountains, young riders, and general classification. They are all important, but, cyclists are always aiming to have the best score in the general classification.

Something curious about the Giro is the fact that the winner of each classification will wear a distinctive jersey. And in case the same rider wins twice, he will wear a prestigious jersey due to his performance.

How often does the Giro d’Italia take place?

The Giro d’Italia takes place once per year. Just like the other major races in the world, like the Tour de France o la Vuelta a España, the Giro is held only one time each year.

In case you wonder when is the chosen date for the race to happen, it is easy to give an answer. The Giro d’Italia is held during the month of May, and this is something that hasn’t changed a lot during the last few years. The last race took place just two months ago, and Egan Bernal was the winner of it.

Will you stay tuned for the next Giro d’Italia?

There’s almost a year left for the next Giro d’Italia to take place. We will probably see some familiar faces in the following edition, so it’s quite sure that Egan Bernal will be there again. Are you ready to enjoy it?