Monday 4 May 2020 09:16, UK
The 2017 Giro d'Italia will contain four summit finishes and two individual time trials totalling 67.2km, organisers have revealed.
The 3,572km route strikes an even balance between climbing and time-trialling and appears perfectly suited to Chris Froome, who has already posted a tweet outlining his approval of it.
The 100th edition of the Giro will start in Sardinia on May 5 and also visit Sicily and the Alps before finishing in Milan on May 27.
The four summit finishes will take place on Mount Etna (stage four), Blockhaus (stage nine), Oropa (stage 14) and Piancavallo (stage 19), while the fearsome Passo del Mortirolo and iconic Passo dello Stelvio will both be tackled on a particularly savage-looking 16th stage.
The first time trial follows a rolling, 39.2km course on stage 10, while the second covers 28km of flat terrain from the Monza motor racing circuit to central Milan on the last day of the race.
This year's Giro winner, Vincenzo Nibali, has already said he wants to return to defend his title, largely due to the fact that stage five ends in his home city of Messina. Fellow Italian Fabio Aru is also expected to take part given the race's first three stages will be held in his native Sardinia.
Whether Froome joins them remains to be seen, but the weight of time-trialling would make him favourite for overall victory and presents him with an ideal opportunity to target the Giro and Tour de France double - a feat last achieved by Marco Pantani in 1998.
Nibali said: "It's a very hard Giro, with two very important time trial stages. In this respect it's very balanced and similar to the ones I've won in the past. This Giro will require a lot of energy and you'll need to be ready from the start."
The Netherlands' Tom Dumoulin is a time-trial specialist and an up-and-coming Grand Tour rider who will also like the look of the course, but 67.2km against the clock is almost certain to put off Nairo Quintana, the 2014 winner, and Esteban Chaves, this year's runner-up.
The world's leading sprinters may also be deterred given that there are only six sprint stages for them to target, compared with a potential nine at the 2017 Tour de France.
Stage 10
Stage 16
Stage 18
Etna (stage four, summit finish)
Blockhaus (stage nine, summit finish)
Oropa (stage 14, summit finish)
Passo del Mortirolo (stage 16)
Passo dello Stelvio (stage 16)
Umbrailpass (stage 16)
Passo Pordoi (stage 18)
Passo Valparola (stage 18)
Passo Gardena (stage 18)
Piancavallo (stage 19, summit finish)
Monte Grappa (stage 20)
Foza (stage 20)
Stage one: Friday, May 5 - Alghero to Olbia - 203km
Stage two: Saturday, May 6 - Olbia to Tortoli - 208km
Stage three: Sunday, May 7 - Tortoli to Cagliari - 148km
Monday, May 8: First rest day
Stage four: Tuesday, May 9 - Cefalu to Etna - 108km (summit finish)
Stage five: Wednesday, May 10 - Pedara to Messina - 157km (sprint)
Stage six: Thursday, May 11 - Reggio Calabria to Terme Luigiane - 207km
Stage seven: Friday, May 12 - Castrovillari to Alberobello - 220km (sprint)
Stage eight: Saturday, May 13 - Molfetta to Peschici - 189km
Stage nine: Sunday, May 14 - Montenero Di Bisaccia to Blockhaus - 139km (summit finish)
Monday, May 15: Second rest day
Stage 10: Tuesday, May 16 - Foligno to Montefalco - 39.2km (individual time trial)
Stage 11: Wednesday, May 17 - Florence to Bagno Di Romagna - 161km
Stage 12: Thursday, May 18 - Forli to Reggio Emilia - 237km (sprint)
Stage 13: Friday, May 19 - Reggio Emilia to Tortona - 162km (sprint)
Stage 14: Saturday, May 20 - Castellania to Oropa - 131km (summit finish)
Stage 15: Sunday, May 21 - Valdego to Bergamo - 199km
Monday, May 22: Third rest day
Stage 16: Tuesday, May 23 - Rovetta to Bormio - 227km
Stage 17: Wednesday, May 24 - Tirano to Canazei - 219km
Stage 18: Thursday, May 25 - Moena to Ortise - 137km
Stage 19: Friday, May 26 - San Candido to Piancavallo - 191km (summit finish)
Stage 20: Saturday, May 27 - Pordenone to Asiago - 190km
Stage 21: Sunday, May 28 - Monza to Milan - 28km (individual time trial)
