Giro d'Italia Donne 2023 route

The 34th edition of the Giro d'Italia Donne, organised by PMG Sport/Starlight, will cover a total of 928 kilometres across five regions of Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Liguria and Sardinia. 

The event has been reduced to nine stages this year and will begin in Chianciano Terme on June 30 and end in Olbia, Sardinia, on July 9, and include one rest day on July 7.

The main feature of this year's race will be the Passo (Pian) del Lupo, which is marked as the 'Cima Coppi' of the Giro d'Italia Donne, the highest peak of the race, on stage 5.

View the stages, routes and maps of the 2023 Giro d'Italia Donne. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team Women) returns as the defending champion in her final year of racing before retirement and will be aiming to win a fourth overall title.

Cyclingnews analyses the riders to watch for stage wins and the overall classification at the 2023 Giro d'Italia Donne.

Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2023 Giro d'Italia Donne with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.

June 30 - Stage 1: Chianciano, 4,4km (ITT)

The opening stage will offer the field a 4.4km individual time trial in Chianciano Terme that will suit the powerful time trial specialists looking to take the event's first maglia rosa.

The time trial route will cater to the fastest in the discipline with standout contenders Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM), who will racing in her first Giro d'Italia Donne as the newly crowned national champion of the US. Other riders who could do well are team pursuit expert Letizia Paternoster (Team Jayco AlUla), Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar).

July 1 - Stage 2: Bagno a Ripoli to Marradi, 102,1km

The second day of racing will be a 102.1km race from Bagno a Ripoli to Marrad, and the first shot at the maglia rosa with the potential to shake up the overall classification.

The route includes a category two scent over the Passo della Colla close to the finish in Marradi, perfect for riders such as Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek), Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ), who are powerful climbers and savvy late-race tactical riders.

July 2 - Stage 3: Formigine to Modena, 118,2km

Stage 3 is a 118.2km race from Formigine to Modena, which includes a category three climb at Villa Bianca-Marano.

The climbs are not difficult enough for the climbing specialists to get away from those sprinters who a strong enough to stay with the selections over the top.

The race could ultimately suit a breakaway or it could come down to a sprint, in which case Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) will be the overwhelming favourite.

July 3 - Stage 4: Fidenza to Borgo Val di Taro, 134km

Stage 4 will present a 134km race from Fidenza to Borgo Val di Taro. It is the longest stage of the event and runs throughout the Province of Parma. 

A stage clearly divided in two: the first part is almost flat, and at 80km begins the climb: Bardi, Passo Montevacà and Strela, all three are category 3 ascents. 

The last climb is 14km to go, where the riders who are in pursuit of the maglia rosa will want to gain time on their rivals. However, with a sharp descent into Borgo Val di Taro, the sprinters have a chance too.

July 4 - Stage 5: Salassa to Ceres, 103,3km

Stage 5 is a 103km race from Salassa to Ceres but begins with a category one climb along the Passo (Pian) del Lupo, which is marked as the 'Cima Coppi' of the Giro d'Italia Donne, the highest peak of the race. 

The Passo (Pian) del Lupo climb will start from the Castellamonte-side and is roughly 16km. The ascent will undoubtedly show who is truly in contention for the maglia rosa, and could possibly allow those GC contenders put big gaps into one another.

It comes early in the stage, and it is not the only climb of the stage, however, as there are also double category three ascents at Vietti and Sant'Ignazio before the run-in to Ceres.

July 5 - Stage 6: Canelli to Canelli, 104,4km

Stage 6 offers the field a hilly 104.4km loop to and from Canelli, and will be one for the breakaway riders or for a selection to attack on the final ascent.

It offers triple category three ascents in at Castino, Calosso and Santo Stefano. Canelli hosts the first real uphill finish of Giro Donne in 2023.

Even though there are challenging stages heading into this sixth stage, the uphill finish will be one where the GC contenders will not want to lose time.

July 6 - Stage 7: Albenga to Alassio, 109,1km

On stage 7, the peloton will race 109.1km from Albenga to Alassio.

The route will travel along the Ligurian coastline and then race inland to tackle the category three Passo del Ginestro, and then the double category two ascents in Vioneto and Salita before a summit finish on the category three climb to Alassio.

It is a challenging stage and riders can expect steep ascents and undulating terrain heading into the final climb to Alassio. 

It is also the last stage before a rest day when the race, riders and teams will all travel to Sardinia for the final two punchy stages.

July 8 - Stage 8: Nuoro to Sassari, 125,7km

The penultimate day of racing begins on Sardinia with the final two hilly stages.

Stage 8 will be 125.7km from Nuoro to Sassari with just one category three ascent at Romana-Ittiri.

It is one for powerful climbers and sprinters who can cover steep climbs and make small selections.

It is the first stage following the rest day, and some riders might struggle with the intensity, so how each rider is feeling could be somewhat unpredictable. 

As Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) said ahead of the race, some riders don't normally need to manage training on a rest day, but those who add some intensity into their training might see that pay off on stage 8.

"It's always hard to have a rest day because you need to push yourself. If we rest and don't do any intervals or intensity on that day, our body goes into shutdown recovery mode," Deignan said. 

"It's not something that many of us have had to manage before so I think it will be interesting to see which riders cope with it well. Someone could be sitting really well on position on the GC and get that rest day wrong and pay for it over the last two days."

July 9 - Stage 9: Sassari to Olbia, 126,8km

The nine-day race will conclude on stage 9 with a 126.8km from Sassari to Olbia, which begins with a category one climb at Osilo. 

It will be a challenging finale to the race because it also includes a category three climb before a run-in to Olbia, where the overall champion will be crowned.

The stage will suit a rider like Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), who won in Olbia last year, and who has secured 32 stage wins at the Giro d'Italia Donne during her career.