The Giro d'Italia is 1 of 3 major Grand Tour events in professional cycling. Typically held in May each year, the Giro brings together the world's cycling elite in a gruelling test of mettle over flat, hilly, and mountain terrain.
Following the example of French newspaper L'Auto and its success with the Tour de France, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested a similar bicycle race around Italy. La Gazzetta's owner Emilio Costamagna took this project to heart, and in May of 1909, the inaugural Giro d'Italia took place. Out of 127 entrants, only 49 finished the race, with Italian Luigi Ganna winning the inaugural Giro and writing the first chapter of a century-old legacy.
The contemporary Giro d'Italia typically consists of 21 stages over a 23 or 24-day period, with 2 or 3 rest days. The rider with the lowest aggregate time across all stages claims the title and the famous Maglia Rosa (pink jersey).
The 2025 Giro d'Italia is the event's 108th edition.
