2027 Giro d’Italia: Controversy Erupts Over the Route: “But Where Is the South?”
While the unveiling of the 2027 Giro d’Italia route has sparked enthusiasm among fans for a race that promises excitement right from the start, another issue has also emerged on the sidelines that is sparking debate. At the heart of the controversy is the geographic distribution of the stages, with many fans pointing out the extremely limited representation of Southern Italy along the route of the next edition of the Corsa Rosa.
The race will start on May 8 in Trieste and will take place primarily in Northern and Central Italy. After setting off from Friuli-Venezia Giulia and crossing into Slovenia, the peloton will pass through Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Abruzzo, Campania (one stage, finishing in Naples), Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Lombardy, Trentino-South Tyrol, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, before concluding in Rome.
However, the route’s geography has sparked numerous discussions on social media. Many have pointed out the absence of regions historically closely tied to cycling, such as Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata, and Sicily. “A Giro d’Italia that doesn’t pass through the South—Naples aside—inevitably leaves me perplexed,” writes one fan on Facebook. Another comment with many likes reads: “I understand the organizational needs, but at this point, calling it the Giro d’Italia seems like an exaggeration to me.”
Among fans, there are also those who emphasize the race’s promotional value for the regions involved: “We’re always talking about promoting the whole country, but then entire regions are left out. It’s a missed opportunity for tourism and for local fans.” Others, however, take a more ironic tone: “To find a stage in the South on the map, you have to zoom in quite a bit.”
There is no shortage, however, of voices defending the organizers’ decision. “The route is fascinating and very well-balanced. You can’t expect the Giro to pass through every Italian region every year,” observes one user. Another adds: “The mountain stages look spectacular, and the time trial is fascinating. Let’s focus on the sporting aspect first.”
From a technical standpoint, the route does indeed seem set to offer plenty of highlights. Already in the first week, the uphill finish from Sarnano to Sassotetto, the time trial finishing in Campo di Giove, and the high-altitude finish at Monte Livata stand out. In the second half of the race, the spotlight will be on the Mortirolo, the Gavia, Madonna di Campiglio, and above all, Monte Zoncolan, which is once again set to play a crucial role in the battle for the pink jersey.
2027 Giro d’Italia: The 21 Stages
Stage 1 (May 8): Trieste – Trieste, 172 km
Stage 2 (May 9): Ljubljana – Koper, 166 km
Stage 3 (May 10): Cervignano del Friuli – Possagno, 163 km
Stage 4 (May 11): Argenta – Misano Adriatico, 151 km
Stage 5 (May 12): Filottrano – Sarnano-Sassotetto, 139 km
Stage 6 (May 13): Alba Adriatica – Lanciano, 148 km
Stage 7 (May 14): Sulmona – Campo di Giove (individual time trial), 19.6 km
Stage 8 (May 15): Trasacco – Naples, 219 km
Stage 9 (May 16): Itri – Subiaco-Monte Livata, 180 km
Stage 10 (May 18): Palombara Sabina – Norcia, 218 km
Stage 11 (May 19): Gualdo Tadino – Scarperia, 220 km
Stage 12 (May 20): Montecatini Terme – Zeri, 173 km
Stage 13 (May 21): Borgo Val di Taro – Reggio Emilia, 176 km
Stage 14 (May 22): Cantù Arena – Piani di Bobbio/Valtorta, 187 km
Stage 15 (May 23): Monza – Milan (individual time trial), 37.3 km
Stage 16 (May 25): Sondrio – Aprica, 192 km
Stage 17 (May 26): Chiari – Vo’, 194 km
Stage 18 (May 27): Rovereto – Madonna di Campiglio, 154 km
Stage 19 (May 28): Rovereto – Sacile, 199 km
Stage 20 (May 29): Pordenone – Monte Zoncolan, 180 km
Stage 21 (May 30): Rome – Rome, 131 km.
