2011 Giro d'Italia celebrates Italian unity

The 2011 Giro d'Italia will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, with organisers confirming that the race will start in Turin with a team time trial on May 7 and end in Milan on May 29 with an individual time trial.

Turin has been chosen to host the start of the Giro d'Italia because the city was the first capital of the unified country. The opening stage will be a 22km team time trial around the city centre.

The race will return to Milan for its finale with a short individual time trial of so far unspecified length after recent Giro finishes in Rome and Verona. Although Milan is not the capital of Italy, it is home of the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper and its parent company RCS Sport, that organises the race, and has traditionally hosted the final stage. Relations with local authorities have been difficult and race director Angelo Zomegnan opted to go elsewhere until Milan decided it had to host the finish of the race in style.

"The return of the Giro d’Italia to Milan is good news for sport, cycling enthusiasts and for everyone in Milan," the Mayor of Milan Letizia Moratti said after being given a symbolic maglia rosa by Zomegnan.

"The 2011 edition of the Giro will return to its roots and the race will end in our city on May 29. It will be an issue of great symbolic value, in the year of 150th anniversary celebrations of the unification of Italy."

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.