2027 Giro d'Italia includes motor racing track finishes to boost sprint safety
New race director Luca Guercilena hopes wide roads and smooth surfaces can help avoid the mass crash that wrecked the 2026 Naples stage finish.
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The 2027 Giro d’Italia will feature two finishes on motor racing circuits as race organiser RCS Sport looks to improve rider safety, particularly during high-speed sprint stages.
This year’s sprint finish in the centre of Naples ended in a major crash, with a late U-turn, slippery cobblestones and riders taking risks all contributing to the chaos.
Of the five likely sprint opportunities in 2027, stage 4 finishes on the Marco Simoncelli circuit in Misano Adriatico near Rimini, while stage 11 concludes on the Mugello circuit north of Florence. Stage 15 will also feature a motor racing venue, with the individual time trial starting on the Monza circuit.
"The idea of finishing on the motor racing circuits came after we listened to the riders and the teams about improving safety, especially for sprint finishes," Guercilena said during the presentation of the routes of the 2027 Giro and Giro d'Italia Women in Rome.
"Motor racing circuits have very wide roads and that helps everyone carry out their role in a sprint and race safely."
Motor racing circuits have been used in major pro races in the past but do not eliminate all the risk of high-speed crashes. There is no traffic furniture, roundabouts and rough roads on the often rolling circuits, but the wide roads make it easier for riders and teams to move-up and so take risks at high speed.
A stage of the 2023 Tour de France finished on the Circuit de Nogaro, but riders crashed as they fought for position.
Guercilena also highlighted a second reason for the motor racing circuit finishes. The number of young cyclists in Italy is falling due to safety concerns and the dangers of training on open roads.
He hopes the Giro can open some doors, so young riders and families can ride on the numerous motor racing circuits in Italy.
"It's also a matter of trying to help young children train in safety," Guercilena said.
"The Giro can set an example for the sport and try to push the motor racing circuits to open up and allow children and families to ride on them."
