Copying the info from the very extensive 2024 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-Stage Analysis by @Devil's Elbow ALL GLORY TO HIM!
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Stage 1: Venaria Reale – Torino, 140.0k
Just like in 2011, the Grande Partenza connects Venaria Reale and Turin, the summer residence of the House of Savoy and its capital. However, that’s where the similarities between the two end, and I’m not just talking about this stage. The Grande Partenza itself, however, is very much an upgrade over 2011: instead of a TTT, we have a mid-mountain stage that forms the toughest Giro opening day in living memory.
The route
The starting location is one of glories past, both inside and outside our sport. It was commissioned in the late 16th century by the House of Savoy, who at the time controlled Piedmont, Aosta, Nice and its original Savoyard territory in the French Alps, then greatly expanded in the early 17th century as the House sought (like so many others at the time) to emulate Versailles. Venaria Reale fell into disuse well before its monarchs became rulers of Italy and moved to Rome, though, as it was transferred to the military following major damage incurred during the Napoleonic Wars. In the Giro, it was last seen in 2018, as the start of the legendary Finestre stage.
The first hour is spent traversing the Po floodplain, then the riders enter the Collina Torinese, around which the stage is centered. The first KOM of the day, Berzano di San Pietro (2.6k at 5.8%), is also the easiest.
Next up is the intermediate sprint (the one for the points classification – we now have three separate kinds of intermediate sprints, because that totally isn’t confusing to the average viewer), then it’s time to head to Superga. This is not the hard side that used to be the MTF of Milano-Torino until that race was castrated, but rather the variant used in its 2000s iteration. Despite that, I can’t find a profile of this side – its overall stats of 7.1k at 8.8% are unimpressive, but the climb is rather irregular. The first 4.5 kilometres, containing all the harder parts, match the profile below.
The descent takes us into Revigliasco, where we join the final circuit for 1.5 laps. A flattish section takes us into Torino, with the Intergiro sprint on Corso Moncalieri, before the route turns into the hills once more for the first of two ascents of San Vito (profile later on). After passing through the finish line for the first time, it’s immediately time for the final KOM of the day, Colle Maddalena. This side easily trumps the one used in the 2022 Torino stage in terms of length and elevation gain, but doesn’t share its monster ramps. Two false flats mask the climb’s true difficulty: the majority is over 8%.
A moderately technical descent takes us back to Revigliasco and from there, it’s all familiar terrain. The bonus second sprint is in Moncalieri itself, just a few kilometres further from the line than the Intergiro one was. And then, it’s time for the final time up San Vito. It’s a climb not dissimilar to Redoute that totally wasn’t inserted after the presentation to get Pogacar to wear pink as soon as possible. The ensuing descent lasts until past the flamme rouge.
Originally founded by the Romans, Torino gained influence after the Duchy of Savoy moved its capital there in the 16th century. The aforementioned development of the Duchy into a kingdom that conquered/reunified all of Italy helped it prosper, but of course eventually cost it its status as capital. Despite this, unification was not unkind to the city, with the construction of the Fréjus tunnel and development of the Italian car industry (centred here until this day) ensuring its status as one of the country’s foremost cities. Its subsequent history has been turbulent at times – a fascist massacre of the labour movement shortly after Mussolini’s coup d’état, Allied bombing in WWII, economic turmoil due to the oil crisis in the 70s and 80s hitting its car industry – but it remains an important centre – not just economically and culturally, but also in sports, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006 and being home to Serie A record champions in Juventus. In cycling, it hosted the finish of the sport’s oldest race in Milano-Torino until very recently. It has also seen the Giro twice in the past three years already, with Ganna taking the opening TT in 2021 and Simon Yates winning the last great Giro stage the year after.
What to expect?
A significant selection on Maddalena that will see perhaps 50 riders survive, then almost certainly GC action on San Vito with strong potential for a Pogacar solo victory.
Giro d'Italia - Giro d'Italia 2024: Stage-by-stage analysis
It’s here! The forum isn’t the forum without the Giro stage-by-stage analysis, and with Eshnar having stepped down there was only the next-best option: doing it myself. I hope I’ve managed a level of quality similar to what we’ve all grown used to, but you can be the judge of that...
forum.cyclingnews.com
Stage 1: Venaria Reale – Torino, 140.0k
Just like in 2011, the Grande Partenza connects Venaria Reale and Turin, the summer residence of the House of Savoy and its capital. However, that’s where the similarities between the two end, and I’m not just talking about this stage. The Grande Partenza itself, however, is very much an upgrade over 2011: instead of a TTT, we have a mid-mountain stage that forms the toughest Giro opening day in living memory.
The route
The starting location is one of glories past, both inside and outside our sport. It was commissioned in the late 16th century by the House of Savoy, who at the time controlled Piedmont, Aosta, Nice and its original Savoyard territory in the French Alps, then greatly expanded in the early 17th century as the House sought (like so many others at the time) to emulate Versailles. Venaria Reale fell into disuse well before its monarchs became rulers of Italy and moved to Rome, though, as it was transferred to the military following major damage incurred during the Napoleonic Wars. In the Giro, it was last seen in 2018, as the start of the legendary Finestre stage.
The first hour is spent traversing the Po floodplain, then the riders enter the Collina Torinese, around which the stage is centered. The first KOM of the day, Berzano di San Pietro (2.6k at 5.8%), is also the easiest.
Next up is the intermediate sprint (the one for the points classification – we now have three separate kinds of intermediate sprints, because that totally isn’t confusing to the average viewer), then it’s time to head to Superga. This is not the hard side that used to be the MTF of Milano-Torino until that race was castrated, but rather the variant used in its 2000s iteration. Despite that, I can’t find a profile of this side – its overall stats of 7.1k at 8.8% are unimpressive, but the climb is rather irregular. The first 4.5 kilometres, containing all the harder parts, match the profile below.
The descent takes us into Revigliasco, where we join the final circuit for 1.5 laps. A flattish section takes us into Torino, with the Intergiro sprint on Corso Moncalieri, before the route turns into the hills once more for the first of two ascents of San Vito (profile later on). After passing through the finish line for the first time, it’s immediately time for the final KOM of the day, Colle Maddalena. This side easily trumps the one used in the 2022 Torino stage in terms of length and elevation gain, but doesn’t share its monster ramps. Two false flats mask the climb’s true difficulty: the majority is over 8%.
A moderately technical descent takes us back to Revigliasco and from there, it’s all familiar terrain. The bonus second sprint is in Moncalieri itself, just a few kilometres further from the line than the Intergiro one was. And then, it’s time for the final time up San Vito. It’s a climb not dissimilar to Redoute that totally wasn’t inserted after the presentation to get Pogacar to wear pink as soon as possible. The ensuing descent lasts until past the flamme rouge.
Originally founded by the Romans, Torino gained influence after the Duchy of Savoy moved its capital there in the 16th century. The aforementioned development of the Duchy into a kingdom that conquered/reunified all of Italy helped it prosper, but of course eventually cost it its status as capital. Despite this, unification was not unkind to the city, with the construction of the Fréjus tunnel and development of the Italian car industry (centred here until this day) ensuring its status as one of the country’s foremost cities. Its subsequent history has been turbulent at times – a fascist massacre of the labour movement shortly after Mussolini’s coup d’état, Allied bombing in WWII, economic turmoil due to the oil crisis in the 70s and 80s hitting its car industry – but it remains an important centre – not just economically and culturally, but also in sports, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006 and being home to Serie A record champions in Juventus. In cycling, it hosted the finish of the sport’s oldest race in Milano-Torino until very recently. It has also seen the Giro twice in the past three years already, with Ganna taking the opening TT in 2021 and Simon Yates winning the last great Giro stage the year after.
What to expect?
A significant selection on Maddalena that will see perhaps 50 riders survive, then almost certainly GC action on San Vito with strong potential for a Pogacar solo victory.
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