Few events in the sporting calendar carry the weight of history, passion, intrigue, drama, blood, sweat and tears like the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. For over a century, these UCI World Tour races have tested the limits of human endurance and captivated audiences around the world. The Giro d’Italia and the Tour […]
Few events in the sporting calendar carry the weight of history, passion, intrigue, drama, blood, sweat and tears like the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. For over a century, these UCI World Tour races have tested the limits of human endurance and captivated audiences around the world. The Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France are ever unpredictable, thrilling, addictive and spellbinding. Every summer the conversation continues… What makes each race such a distinct masterpiece?
Where do you stand on the Giro d’Italia vs. Tour de France debate?
A tale of two Tours
The Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France are more than just races —they are living, breathing chapters in the past and present story of professional cycling. The Giro was first inaugurated in 1909, in reality to boost the circulation of the La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy’s beloved sports newspaper. One of its most iconic moments came in 1949, when Fausto Coppi conquered the Cuneo-Pinerolo stage in a solo breakaway that stretched over 190 kilometres. The dramatic finish solidified the Giro’s reputation for action-packed, must-see racing.
Today, with its signature Maglia Rosa (pink jersey), the Giro is a celebration —among many other things— of Italian landscapes, from the undulating hills of the Tuscan countryside to the brutally epic (or epicly brutal) climbs of the Dolomites; of stamina, determination and the pursuit of glory, and of a nation’s passion for cycling.
The Tour de France, born six years earlier in 1903, was similarly rooted in journalism, as it was originally launched to promote L’Auto, a French sports daily. Over the decades, the race has grown into the pinnacle of professional cycling, with its own coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey), a symbol of excellence worn each day by the individual race leader.
The Tour is synonymous with prestige, having given the cycling world some unforgettable, controversial, and dramatic moments in its 121 year history, from the legendary performance of Eddy Merckx in 1969, when he claimed the yellow jersey along with the mountains and points classifications —a feat still unmatched to this day— to Lance Armstrong’s controversial dominance and subsequent downfall, and Tom Pidock’s more recent display of thrilling daring as he descended the slopes of the Col du Galibier in 2022, and became the youngest rider to win on the iconic Alpe d’Huez stage.
Facts, stats and stories
The Giro d’Italia
- Annual race dates: The Giro d’Italia typically takes place in May, and kicks off the annual cycling season as the first Grand Tour.
- The first Pink Jersey: The iconic maglia rosa was introduced in 1931, inspired by the pink pages of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the race’s founding newspaper.
- The longest stage: The longest stage in Giro history was seen in 1914, and covered 430 kilometers (267 miles) between Lucca and Rome. It was won by Costante Girardengo in a time of 17 hours 28 minutes and 55 seconds.
- First female participant: In 1924, Alfonsina Strada became the first and only woman to officially compete in the Giro d’Italia, breaking significant gender barriers in cycling, especially for her day.
- A truly global race: Today, the Giro d’Italia is broadcast to over 800 million people across 174 countries.
The Tour de France
- Annual race period: The Tour de France is held in July. At the height of summer, the race has become something of a ritual for cycling fans from all over the world, many of whom make the annual pilgrimage to follow the stages around France over the race’s two week duration.
- Record stage wins: British rider Mark Cavendish holds the record for the most Tour de France stage wins, with 35 victories.
- Legendary climbs: The Col du Tourmalet has been featured more than any other mountain in Tour history, with over 80 appearances since 1910.
- The first Tour de France Femmes: The first women’s Tour de France was held in 1955, organised by Jean Leulliot, and featured five stages in Normandy. The British cyclist Millie Robinson won this edition. But, the race did not continue in subsequent years.
- Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: In 2022, ASO launched the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, an eight-day stage race held after the men’s Tour. The event marked a significant step forward for women’s cycling, offering live television coverage and substantial prize money.
Key differences: Terrain, identity and style
The Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France might share the spotlight as Grand Tours, but their identities lie in what makes them special for each spectator, rider and home country.
The Giro d’Italia
The Giro typically spans 21 days of racing, which are divided into stages and held over a 23-day period, allowing for two full rest days. The Giro tends to be thought of as a race of relentless drama, featuring unpredictable terrain and weather, and routes as diverse as Italy itself. One day riders will be blazing along the sun-drenched coast. The next, battling snow at the summit of the Passo Gavia, or other classic climbs of the Giro.
But for Italy and Italians in particular, the Giro is more than a race. The Giro is deeply embedded in national consciousness, and fosters a huge sense of pride every year. In towns, cities and villages, along the route communities come together to host festivities and enjoy regional traditions and specialities, thus strengthening bonds and serving as a chance to celebrate Italy’s heritage and contemporary life.
Aside from the maglia rosa, the Giro d’Italia features three other important jerseys it’s worth taking a minute to understand. We also have the blue jersey (maglia azzurra), which goes to the climber who accumulates the most points on categorised mountain climbs; then there’s the cyclamen jersey (maglia ciclamino), worn by the points classification leader, and finally, the white white jersey (maglia bianca), given to the best young rider under 25.
The Tour de France
The Tour de France has a similar hold on its home nation. For many French (and international) cycling fans, summer is synonymous with the Tour, which captivates millions each year, attracting over 40 million viewers in France alone in 2024. The race is also a huge boost to local economies, as national and international tourists descend upon the towns and villages that sit on the race route to watch the cyclists, support cars and cherished Tour Caravan (the vibrant parade of sponsor-decorated vehicles that precedes the riders) pass through.
The Tour itself consists of 21 stages spanning three weeks, including flat sprints, mountain climbs and finally time trials, testing each team to put their best rider forward depending on the style of the stage. Domestiques (support riders) work tirelessly to help these team leaders win points and stages, which could include protecting them from wind, delivering supplies, or pacing them on climbs. This combination of team and individual strategy is what makes the Tour such a unique, and gruelling spectacle of both physical and mental strength and stamina.
Within the overall race itself, there are many different categories of points to be won, and three key jerseys beyond the coveted yellow jersey that demonstrate the leaders in each. The polka dot jersey for the best climber, awarded to the rider earning the most points on categorised summits; the green jersey for the points leader, often a sprinter excelling in stage finishes and intermediate sprints; and the white jersey, given to the best rider under 25, highlighting young talent. Each jersey showcases different strengths, adding depth and excitement to the race.
Our homage to the Grand Tours
Our Classic Climbs of the Giro cycling tour offers a seven-day immersion into the Italian race’s bucket-list climbs, including the Passo Stelvio, Passo Mortirolo, Passo Gavia, Passo Giau, the Sella Ronda’s and the Passo Falzarego. Each as epic and gruelling as the next, this cycling tour requires a strong head, heart and legs. But riders are rewarded around every hairpin bend with stunning, hair-raising mountain views, and every night with our handpicked hotels and guesthouses for some serious R&R.
Similarly, our Classic Climbs of the Alps cycling tour is a meticulously curated, six-day experience in which our guests live and breathe everything the French Alps have to offer. Iconic Tour climbs, such as the Col de la Madeleine, Col du Galibier, and the renowned Alpe d’Huez, have all played a pivotal role in shaping the identity, history and allure of the Tour de France. Guests ride in the tracks of the very professionals we watch battle it out throughout the race season, while soaking up the sweeping landscapes, Alpine food and culture, and premium hospitality.
Want to ride the Giro or Tour for yourself?
As soon as you’re up for the challenge, we’ll make sure everything is in place for the cycling tour of a lifetime! Check out our selection of European Tours or give us a call now on +34 972 754 301 or contact us online for more info!
P.S. Enjoyed this blog? Why not sign up to receive notifications every time we post and get regular updates on our latest tours!
