Giro d’Italia in Israel – May 2018
Giro d’Italia is a multi-stage annual bicycle race based mainly
in Italy. Every second year since 2010 the first stages of the Giro d’Italia
have been held in other countries. In Giro d’Italia 2018 the first three stages
of the race will be held in Israel. This will be the first time that one of the
three big Grand Tours cycle races has been held outside of Europe. The Giro
d’Italia 2018 will be one of the Israel top events for 2018 and arguably the
most prestigious sporting event held in Israel. This annual event is watched by
millions of viewers across the globe and attracts the biggest names in the
cycling world. Israel will host 176 of the world’s most prominent cyclists for
this major event.
10/12/2017,
Written by
Yourway Team
Giro d’Italia 2018
The Giro d’Italia; Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana are
the historic three Grand Tours. They are multi-stage bicycle road races which
are similar in format and considered the most prestigious and important cycle
races in the world. 2018 will be the 101st annual Giro d’Italia. The
2018 multi-stage cycle race will have eight summit finishes and two time trails
with a total of 21 stages. The first three stages of the race will be held in
Israel. Then the race will move to Sicily for an additional three stages. The
remaining stages of the race will be held in mainland Italy culminating at the
finish line in Rome on 27 July. This is an extremely challenging race with many
steep climbs, varied terrain and stretches through mountainous regions where
weather could be a challenge.
The Giro d’Italia 2018 will be dedicated to the memory of
iconic cyclist Gino Bartali who won the Giro d’Italia three times. In addition
to his sporting accolades Bartali (known by his fans as the “Great Ginettaccio”)
is remembered for the role he played in rescuing Italian Jews during World War
II.
Giro d’Italia in Israel – Stages and Schedules
The first three stages of this multi-segment race will take
place in Israel. Each of the stages of the race will have a dramatic setting
which showcases the beautiful Israeli landscape and timeless landmarks. The
first stage will be a 10.1km individual time trial to be held in Jerusalem on 4
May 2018. Stage 1 will start and end near the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City and
bring cyclists past the Israeli parliament building and other landmarks. This
stage of the race will culminate with the presentation of the first maglia
rosa.
The second and third stages of the race are sprint stages.
The second stage of the race will take place on 5 May and is a rolling
technical course starting in northern Israel. Riders start at the northern Port
of Haifa and follow a mostly flat road route for 167km. The route takes riders
up to Acre then south through Zikron Yakov to the finish line in Tel Aviv. The
third stage will be held on 6 May and covers 229km starting in Be’er Sheva,
traveling through the Negev Desert and finishing at Israel’s southernmost point
in Eilat, on the edge of the Red Sea. The following day, 7 May is a rest day
when the riders will fly out of Eilat to Sicily.
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