# What is the Giro d'Italia? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-the-giro/ Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-14 · Publisher: Zestasy *Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.* The Giro d'Italia is Italy's great three-week professional bike race, first held in 1909 and usually run in May, with around 21 stages up and down the country. The overall leader wears the maglia rosa, the pink jersey, because the race was founded by La Gazzetta dello Sport, a newspaper printed on pink paper. For non-fans, it is the best excuse there is to stand on a mountain pass with a picnic and cheer. Even if you have never watched a bike race in your life, the Giro is worth knowing. For three weeks in spring, a travelling circus of riders, team cars, motorbikes, helicopters and caravans rolls through Italian towns, past vineyards and over the Alps, and the whole country seems to take an afternoon off to watch. ## The basics - **First edition:** 1909, starting in Milan. It was launched by the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, partly to sell more newspapers. - **When:** usually in May, sometimes running into early June. - **How long:** modern editions usually have 21 stages over 23 or 24 days, with two or three rest days. - **Where:** a different route every year, criss-crossing Italy and sometimes starting abroad. The route is announced months ahead. - **Who:** professional teams of riders from all over the world. It is one of cycling's three grand tours, alongside the Tour de France and Spain's Vuelta. ## Why the jersey is pink The leader of the overall classification, the rider with the lowest total time, wears the maglia rosa. The colour comes from the pink paper of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The jersey was introduced in 1931, and it has become one of the most famous colours in sport. The other jerseys, as listed on the race's official site: - **Maglia ciclamino** (cyclamen, a purple-pink): the points classification, usually suiting sprinters. - **Maglia azzurra** (blue): the best climber, the King of the Mountains. - **Maglia bianca** (white): the best young rider, for riders aged 25 or under. ## The stages, decoded - **Flat stages** usually end in a sprint finish: dozens of riders charging for the line at alarming speed. - **Hilly stages** suit attacking riders and often end in steep town centres. - **Time trials** are riders against the clock, alone, in strange helmets. - **Mountain stages** are the heart of the Giro. Big Alpine and Dolomite passes are the stages fans circle in the calendar, and the highest point of each edition is called the Cima Coppi, after the great Fausto Coppi. Spring in the mountains means the weather can be dramatic, which is part of the Giro's charm and its legend. ## How to watch it - **On television** in the afternoon, especially the last hour of each stage, when the action happens. Italian commentary is a joy even if you understand one word in five. - **At the roadside,** for free. Find the route on the official site, choose a town or, better, a climb, and arrive early. On mountain stages, roads close well before the race and many fans walk or cycle up in the morning. - **At the finish,** in a host town, where there is usually a festival atmosphere. What to expect at the roadside: a long wait, a carnival of publicity vehicles throwing hats and sweets, a rush of police motorbikes, then the riders, gone in seconds on the flat, slower and closer on a climb. Bring a picnic, a flag, a jacket for the mountains and patience. Follow marshals' instructions, stay off the road and never run alongside the riders. ## Riding the roads yourself The best thing about the Giro may be that its climbs are public roads. Riding a pass the race has used is a classic cycling holiday; see our guide to your [first mountain pass](https://zestasy.com/wiki/first-mountain-pass/). And if you fancy an organised ride, Italy's [gran fondo](https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-a-gran-fondo/) events are the amateur version, with feed stops instead of team cars. ## FAQ ### How is the winner decided? The rider with the lowest total time across all the stages wins and wears the final maglia rosa. You can win the Giro without winning a single stage. ### Is the Giro harder than the Tour de France? Riders and fans love to argue about it. The Giro is famous for steep climbs and unpredictable spring weather, so it often feels wilder. ### Can I see the Giro if I'm on holiday in Italy in May? Very likely, if you are near the route. Check the official site for the stages, and plan a day around a climb or a finish town. ### Do I need to know the riders to enjoy it? Not at all. Pick a rider in a jersey you like, or simply cheer for whoever is suffering most on the climb. Everyone at the roadside does. ## Sources - [Wikipedia: Giro d'Italia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giro_d%27Italia) - [Giro d'Italia: Official site](https://www.giroditalia.it/en/) ## Related - [What is a gran fondo?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-a-gran-fondo/) - [What is L'Eroica?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-leroica/) - [How do you plan a multi-day cycling holiday?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/cycling-holiday/) - [How do you ride your first mountain pass on a bike?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/first-mountain-pass/) - [What are good active things to do on an Italian holiday?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/active-italian-holiday/) - [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)