It has been a topic of hot discussion ever since the end of the Giro this year. Just how hard would the route for the Hundredth Giro be? The wait is finally over and RCS Sport, race organsiers, have not disappointed, unveiling a brutal course in Milan today.

The race begins in Sardinia before travelling to Sicily in a race that will be an all Italian affair. From the first eight stages, the big standout is stage four with the summit finish on Mt Etna, where Nibali will be keen to send his Sicilian fans wild. Stage two in Sardinia may see a few sprinters dropped, but is should still be a bunch kick. Stage six to Terme Luigiane and stage eight to Peschici will see a rider like Michael Matthews win, although a solo is not out of the question on rolling terrain, specifically in the former stage.

The final stage before the rest day sees a typical Giro stage, with the 139km being very flat, although the summit finish to Blockhaus serves as the second GC test of the race following Etna.

Things only get tougher post rest day, with a rolling 39km time trial that will suit riders like Dumoulin, followed by a day in the mountains ending with a long downhill into Bagno di Romagna. Two bunch sprints should follow before another flat stage ends with the summit finish to Oropa, where Marco Pantani took arguably his most famous Giro stage win. The second week is concluded by yet another one of the uphill bunch kicks that could potentially favour an attacker.

The final week is simply brutal. The first stage after the rest day is a mammoth 227km long, featuring the Mortirolo before climbing the Stelvio from both sides and finishing in Bormio. Day two is one of the easiest of the week, although riders still pass the famous climbs of Aprica and Passo del Tonale before finishing on the less well known climb to Canazei. Stage 18 features many of the climbs that were used in stage 14 of this year’s race. The Pordoi is followed by the Valparola, Gardena and Di Pinei passes before ascending the steep climb to Pontives. The finish line is located 4km after the summit on a false flat in Ortisei. Packed into 137m, this stage has potential for big attacks and changes in the GC.

The final two road stages are tough, although a lot of damage should already have been done by the Mortirolo/Double Stelvio day and then the stage of many passes on stage 17. Stage 19 finishes atop the 16km long Piancavallo climb while stage 20 features Monte Grappa and Foza before a 15km section of false flat leads to the line in Asiago. The reason the Giro’s final two road stages seem easier than usual? Stage 21 is not the processional bunch sprint, but a 28km long time trial in Milan. Anyone seeking time will have to be good against the clock in the first time Milan has held a closing time trial since 2012. The last time that happened, Ryder Hesjedal stole the pink jersey from Joaquin Rodriguez on the last day.

One thing is for sure: the winner of the 100th Giro will be completely deserving on this brutal and unforgiving course. 

Ruten 2017

May 5th - Stage 1: Alghero - Olbia 203 km


May 6th - Stage 2: Olbia - Tortolì 208 km


May 7th - Stage 3: Tortolì - Cagliari 148 km


May 9th - Stage 4: Cefalù - Etna 180 km


May 10th - Stage 5: Pedara - Messina 157 km


May 11th - Stage 6: Reggio Calabria - Terme Luigiane 207 km


May 12th - Stage 7: Castrovillari - Alberobello 220 km


May 13th - Stage 8: Molfetta - Peschici 189 km


May 14 - Stage 9: Montenero di Bisaccia - Blockhaus 139 km


May 16 - Stage 10: Foligno - Montefalco 39 km (Enkeltstart)


May 17th - Stage 11: Firenze - Bagno di Romagna 161 km


May 18th - Stage 12: Forlì - Reggio Emilia 237 km


May 19th - Stage 13: Reggio Emilia - Tortona 162 km


May 20th - Stage 14: Castellania - Oropa 131 km


May 21 - Stage 15: Valdengo - Bergamo 199 km


May 23th - Stage 16: Rovetta - Bormio 227 km (cima Coppi en el Stelvio)


May 24th - Stage 17: Tirano - Canazei 219 km


May 25th - Stage 18: Moena - Ortisei/St. Urlich 137 km


May 26th - Stage 19: San Candido/Innichen - Piancavallo 191 km


May 27th - Stage 20: Pordenone - Asiago 190 km


May 28th - Stage 21: Monza - Milano 28 km (Enkeltstart)