Giro d'Italia: Date, history & how to watch

The 2023 Giro d'Italia was another thrilling battle for the Maglia Rosa, as Primoz Roglic overhauled Geraint Thomas in the penultimate day's time-trial.

While it may not have the glamour of the Tour de France, the Giro often has more drama and is arguably the favourite of cycling's three Grand Tours among the purists.

Here is all you need to know about the 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia.

What	2024 Giro d'Italia
Where	Italy
When	4th May - 26th May, 2024
How to watch	Live on Eurosport, streamed on Global Cycling Network (GCN+) and Discovery+ apps.

When is the Giro d'Italia?

The 2024 Giro is expected to begin on Saturday 4th May, with the first stage, also known as the ‘Grande Partenza, likely to take place abroad.

It will conclude on Sunday 26th May, with either a time-trial or ceremonial sprint stage in a major Italian city.

When will the Giro d'Italia route be announced?

The route for the 2024 Giro will be announced in October 2023 and is expected to start beyond the borders of Bel paese.

With the 2024 Olympics taking place in Paris, the Tour de France organisers have had to be creative with their route and for the first time, the Grande Boucle will begin in Italy, with Florence hosting the Grand Depart.

The first few days of the Giro are expected to be held elsewhere, with Slovakia, Belgium and Morocco all said to have applied to host the start.

Which jerseys are awarded at the Giro d'Italia?

The winner of the General Classification of the Giro d'Italia receives the Maglia Rosa, or Pink Jersey, which goes to the rider with the quickest overall time throughout the entire race.

The Maglia Rosa is likely to change hands on several occasions as the race develops. A purple jersey is awarded to the leader of the points classification - usually a sprinter - and the leader of the mountains classification receives a blue jersey.

As is the case at the Tour de France, the best young rider is awarded a white jersey.

Can I watch the Giro d'Italia?

The Giro d'Italia will be shown live on Eurosport in the UK and can also be streamed via the Global Cycling Network (GCN+) and Discovery+ apps.

How many times has the Giro d'Italia taken place?

The 2024 Giro d'Italia will be the 107th edition of the race. The inaugural edition, which took place in 1909, was won by Italian rider Luigi Ganna.

Who has won the Giro d'Italia on the most occasions?

Three men have claimed the Giro d'Italia's famous Maglia Rosa on five occasions. Italian rider Alfredo Binda won five times between 1925 and 1933 and another legendary Italian, Fausto Coppi, claimed his quintet of victories between 1940 and 1953. 

Coppi is remembered with the Cima Coppi, a title which is awarded to the highest mountain point in the race each year.

The rider who climbs the Cima Coppi first gets more mountain points than at any other point in the race. The only non-Italian to win five Giro d'Italia GC titles is Belgian legend Eddy 'the Cannibal' Merckx, who won five times from 1968 to 1974 and also claimed the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France on as many occasions in the same period.

Who won the 2023 Giro d'Italia?

Roglic won his first Giro, and fourth Grand Tour title at the 2023 race, adding the pink jersey to the three red ones he acquired in winning a hat-trick of Vuelta a Espana crowns between 2019-2021.

The Slovenian beat Geraint Thomas in the penultimate day's time-trial by 40 seconds to take the Maglia Rosa by 14 seconds ahead of the closing ceremonial stage in Rome.

France's Arnaud Demare claimed the points classification, while Dutchman Koen Bouwman won the mountains jersey as part of his efforts in supporting Roglic.

Juan Pedro Lopez Perez topped the young rider standings.