The 2027 Giro d’Italia is beginning to reveal its cards, just days before the official route presentation. The next edition of the Corsa Rosa, which will run from 8 to 30 May, will start in northeastern Italy, with Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the spotlight and a brief venture into Slovenia.

Trieste is expected to host the start of the opening stage, which could finish in Koper, while Ljubljana and Cividale del Friuli could feature on stage two. Stage three would complete the opening stretch in the region, starting in Lignano Sabbiadoro and finishing in Vo’, in the province of Padua, after crossing the Colli Euganei.

From there, the peloton would head south, with stages spread across Emilia-Romagna, the Marche, Abruzzo and Campania. Early highlights could include a finish in Sassotetto, in tribute to Michele Scarponi, and a nearly 20-kilometre individual uphill time trial from Sulmona to Campo di Giove.

The first week would also give the sprinters their chances, including a finish on the Misano Adriatico circuit, while Naples would once again welcome the Giro as the southernmost point of the race. The route would then continue through Lazio and Umbria before turning north, where several mountain stages and two time trials could prove decisive in the general classification.

The latest route details have been compiled by SpazioCiclismo, which has brought together reports and leaks published by various Italian media outlets. Although nothing has yet been officially confirmed, next Tuesday’s presentation, on 3 November, will show how closely these predictions match the final route. In any case, the final week looks set to become the defining challenge of an edition that could revive some of the race’s most iconic climbs.

Vingegaard completed the Grand Tour treble by winning the Giro d'Italia

A final week featuring the Gavia, Mortirolo and the return of the Zoncolan

The Giro’s second half would come into focus in the Apennines, with a stage that could finish in Norcia after starting in Palombara Sabina. The peloton would then head to the Mugello circuit in Tuscany before tackling another summit finish. Montecatini Terme would host the start of stage 12, with Zum Zeri a possible destination, although Abetone is also being considered. Reggio Emilia would then host a stage starting in the Parma area, before a demanding finish at Piani di Bobbio, after climbs of Culmine di San Pietro and San Pellegrino.

The third weekend would feature an individual time trial finishing at the Monza circuit. Scheduled for Sunday 23 May, it would be the edition’s second race against the clock, following the uphill time trial in Abruzzo. After the rest day, the Giro would enter its final six days with a high-mountain stage from Sondrio to Aprica. The route would include the Passo del Gavia and the Mortirolo, which could be climbed twice, in a stage featuring close to 6,000 metres of elevation gain.

Stage 17 would offer some respite, starting in Chiari and finishing in Negrar, although the terrain would allow for a rolling route. The mountains would return the following day with a finish in Madonna di Campiglio, another historic Corsa Rosa venue. On Friday 28 May, the race would likely start in Rovereto and head to Possagno for a medium-mountain stage. The possibility of a finish in the Austrian town of Lienz, mentioned in early reports, now appears less likely.

The mountain finale would come on Saturday 29 May with the return of Monte Zoncolan. The penultimate stage would bring back one of Italian cycling’s most feared climbs and could decide any remaining battle for the general classification. After this final test, the survivors would travel to Rome for the traditional closing stage.

The Italian capital would once again bring the curtain down on an edition that, if the leaks prove accurate, will combine two time trials, several demanding finishes and a final week centred on three famous climbs: the Gavia, Mortirolo and Zoncolan.

Possible route for the 2027 Giro d’Italia