The Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy), also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. It is one of the three Grand Tours, and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The most recent winner (2009) is Denis Menchov.
The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France, and just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L'Auto...
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The Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy), also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. It is one of the three Grand Tours, and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The most recent winner (2009) is Denis Menchov.
The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France, and just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L'Auto, so Emilio Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d'Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan, with eight stages totalling 2,448 kilometres (1,521 miles). Luigi Ganna was the first winner.
The Giro is the second most important stage race in the world (after the Tour), and along with the Tour and the Road World Cycling Championship it makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling. The Tour de France, the Giro and the Vuelta a España are the three Grand Tours of the road bicycle...
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