Race news
2027 Giro d'Italia remains free to watch but fans could be limited on major climbs
New race director Luca Guercilena tries to balance rider safety with monetisation and fan access.
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The 2027 Giro d'Italia will not oblige fans to pay to watch the team presentation or key stages, but access to some mountain stages could be limited for safety reasons.
Speaking to Bicisport, new race director Luca Guercilena also revealed that the Giro and all of RCS Sport's other races such as Strade Bianche and Milan-Sanremo, could introduce paid hospitality areas and fan zones in the future.
Fans will be obliged to pay to see the best moment of the team presentation at the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ in Scotland because it has been combined with the Military Tattoo inside Edinburgh castle.
The huge crowds on the stage to L'Alpe d'Huez in this year's race sparked debate about rider safety and charging fans to see the race from the roadside at key points.
"At the moment the idea is to keep everything free for the fans," Guercilena told Bicisport after the presentation of the 2027 Giro route in Rome.
"If we have plans to consider charging a fee in certain places, we've got to guarantee we offer the fans and the client something special. When you offer a service, it's got to be good enough to match any payment.
"At the moment at least, our cycling is still free to watch. Then of course, if there are special moments or events that are created, we'll consider things."
Access to the stage finish on the Misano Adriatico and Mugello motor racing circuits during the 2027 Giro will be free to access, but Guercilena confirmed that crowd numbers could be limited on certain climbs for safety reasons.
At Il Lombardia, RCS Sport created a fan zone at the foot of the San Fermo della Battaglia climb, which was covered twice. It was free via registration but access to the climb was limited.
Bicisport asked if similar limits would be imposed on the Monte Zoncolan, the final climb of the 2027 Giro. Access and hospitality areas could also be created at key points of Strade Bianche on the dirt roads of Tuscany and perhaps even Milan-San Remo.
"At Il Lombardia we limited the access on the San Fermo climb to give the fans the best possibility to see the race and to ensure the riders could race safely on the climb," Guercilena said.
"We're considering limiting the space for fans in all our races. It's not easy but something we will work on for sure."
