Published January 13, 2010 03:45PM
The route for the Giro d’Italia’s opening time trial will take in some of the highlights of Amsterdam when the season’s first grand tour begins May 8.
Dutch officials revealed that the 8.4km route will start on the famed Museumplein, just in front of the world-famous Rijksmuseum and then end near the Olympic Stadium in a looping course that will also pass several of the city’s trademark canals.
Cobblestones, urban streets and several technical corners will provide a stiff challenge in what will be quite a long time trial to open the 93rd edition of the corsa rosa.
City officials in Amsterdam are promising to spend 5.5 million euros to host what will be the Giro’s second visit to Holland. The Giro started in Groningen in 2002.
The second stage on May 9 will also start near the Museumplein and travel 213km into the heart of Utrecht in what should be a sprint finale. On May 10, the peloton will start from Amsterdam’s financial district called the Zuidas and head for the city of Middelburg.
After three stages in Holland, the Giro will take a rest day to travel back to Italy, where the race will resume on May 12 with a team time trial between Savigliano to Cuneo.
Holland is playing host to all three grand tours. In September, Assen was the start of the 2009 Vuelta a España while the Tour de France will start in Rotterdam on July 3.