Giro d'Italia 2027 - 20km mountain time trial in the Apennines confirmed for first week
Local media in central Italy have revealed details of the first of two time trials that could tempt Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas to ride the Corsa Rosa.
Favourite us on Google
The route of the 2027 Giro d'Italia and the 2027 Giro d'Italia Women will be revealed in Rome on November 3 but key details of the route have emerged, with the first week set to include a 20km mountain time trial.
The 110th edition of the men's Corsa Rosa will reportedly start in Trieste, in the north-east of Italy on Saturday May 8 and head south during the first week, with the turning point in the Abruzzo mountains and Naples.
According to local newspaper Il Centro, the mountain time trial or 'cronoscalata' will be held on Friday May 14.
After the Tour de France announced two time trials in the 2027 route, for a total of 71km against the clock, the Giro is also expected to increase the number and distance of time trial in the 2027 race, perhaps to tempt the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas. A second time trial stage in the 2027 Giro is expected to finish on the Monza motor racing circuit later in the three-week race.
The mountain time trial will start in the plateau town of Sulmona in the Abruzzo Apennines and climb up to the low-level Campo di Giove ski station, at the foot of the Majella mountain. The stage distance will be close to 20km, with an altitude gain of 650 metres.
Much of the time trial is along a gradual valley road out of Sulmona. The final five kilometres from Cansano to Campo di Giove climb at an average of 4.3%, with a maximum gradient of 5.7%.
The gradients mean it is not a pure mountain time trial like we saw most recently at the 2025 Tour de France from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes or the decisive mountain time trial to Monte Lussari in the 2023 Giro when Primoz Roglic snatched the maglia rosa from Geraint Thomas. However it will shake-up the GC standings and favour GC time trialists like Evenepoel.
The day before the mountain time trial, the Giro will reportedly finish in Lanciano after a ride down the coast or in the Abruzzo hills. Stage 8 is expected to start in Trasacco and finish in central Naples, on the wide Viale Caracciolo seafront promenade instead of the greasy, crash-prone cobbles of Piazza del Plebiscito.
Sunday's ninth stage will see the Giro head north to near Rome, with a mountain finish atop Monte Livata. In 2026 Lorenzo Finn won alone on the climb to set-up overall victory in the Giro d'Italia Next Gen.
The Giro peloton will enjoy a rest day on Monday, May 17 before the route continues north via Umbria, Tuscany and Liguria.
All the details of the 2027 Giro route will be revealed on Tuesday November 3.
