Riders make their way through the crowd during a stage of the Giro d’Italia. This year’s Giro starts Friday, with stops in Naples, Vicenza, Pisa and Pordenone. (Facebook/Giro d’Italia)
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Americans based in Italy will have a chance to see many of the world’s top cyclists in action over the next few weeks.
The Giro d’Italia, one of the three “Grand Tour” competitions along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana, begins Friday in Albania.
This year’s event will cover 2,140 miles before ending June 1 in Rome. The race passes near every major U.S. military community in Italy except Naval Air Station Sigonella.
Here are some of the events happening near U.S. bases:
Stage 6 on May 15 begins in Potenza and ends in Naples. The 141-mile stage is rated as low difficulty.
Stage 10 on May 20 is a nearly 18-mile time trial that begins in Lucca and ends at the piazza that’s home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Unlike the case in most stages, onlookers will have a better chance to see individual cyclists in action as they race separately against the clock.
Stage 13 on May 23 begins in Rovigo and ends in Vicenza. The 112-mile stage is rated at medium difficulty and the finish line is at the city’s famous Monte Berico.
Stage 15 on May 25 begins in Asiago and ends in Fiume Veneto. The 136-mile stage is rated high difficulty due to several climbs. The long line of cyclists will pass along the SS-13 through the communities of Sacile, Fontanafredda and Pordenone — where many Americans from Aviano Air Base reside — near the end of the stage.
Three Americans are listed as participating among the 23 teams featured on the race’s official website.
Brandon McNulty is one of eight riders listed for UAE Team Emirates, while Luke Lamperti rides for the Belgian team Soudal Quick-Step and Larry Warbasse is a member of Switzerland’s Tudor Pro Cycling Team.
The only team officially based in the United States, EF Education/Easy Post, does not feature an American rider.
McNulty won a stage at the event in 2023 and is the one of the most well-known American riders. Defending champion and Tour de France victor Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia will not be competing at the event this year.
Organizers say that streets along the route generally will be closed off about two hours before participants are expected to pass through. They’ll reopen about a half-hour after the last race vehicle has passed.
Other than time trials, where the route will be closed for much of the day, those catching the race in person will likely see a few minutes of action as large groups of riders quickly pass by. They’ll have more time to spend with vans selling merchandise that follow and trail the riders along the stage.
