2019 Giro Route Five Key Stages

Full List 2019 Giro Stages

Froome Attends Giro Route Announcement

Defending champion Chris Froome said he was still uncertain whether he will defend his Giro d’Italia title. The race which was unveiled in Milan in November and was described as “explosive and interesting by Froome.

Froome, 33, became the first British rider to win the Giro last May to complete a ‘grand slam’ after his Tour de France and Tour of Spain wins in 2017.

“A start like that, with the Bologna time trial, is explosive and interesting,” said Froome.

“I like this edition of the Giro very much, it can be won only by a complete rider. It’s a balanced course in between mountains and time trials.”

Froome finished third in this year’s Tour de France, which was won by Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas.

And with a shorter gap between the end of the Giro on June 2 and the start of the Tour de France on June 29 the four-time winner could opt to skip the Italian race.

“I’m not 100 percent sure if I’ll be there at the Giro d’Italia 2019, it’s a decision we’ll have to make in December,” said Froome, who appeared onstage during the presentation.

“The pink jersey for me is a great honor, it had been missing from my collection.

“It was an important jersey for the history of cycling, and something I had dreamed of as a child.

“It’s also an important race for the team as it’s the tenth anniversary of Team Sky.”

“We’re all together in December at a training camp so I think in that period we will decide everything for next year,” he added.

‘A beast’

Last year’s Giro started in Israel, but this year’s race which covers 3,518 kilometers will be almost entirely within Italy, apart from a time-trial into San Marino.

It starts with a tough 8.2 kilometer time-trial in Bologna and then heads southwest to Fucecchino and into Tuscany.

The riders will tackle climbs including the Passo Gavia at 2,618 meters high on stage 16 and Passo del Mortirolo with a total of seven summit finishes between the Dolomites and Alps.

“It’s a brutal, brutal second half,” added Froome.

“A very organised team will be needed too. The stage with Gavia and Mortirolo is a beast!

“It comes after a rest day and that day the true champions will stand out from the bunch.”

Italian Elia Viviani, who won the points jersey last year, believes the first week can make a difference for the sprinters.

“I’ve got good feelings about this Giro,” said the 29-year-old.

“The last week of racing will be incredibly tough for the sprinters but I’m looking at this Giro with the goal of arriving in the wonderful Verona, my home town.”

A number of important social and cultural references will be made during the three-week race.

Full List 2019 Giro Stages

RBA/AFP Photos: Bettini