The 2024 Giro d’Italia starts from Venaria to reach Turin with a second part of the race which will be characterized by the Superga and Colle della Maddalena GPs and the San Vito climb. We cycled there (with a necessary detour) to discover the Collina Torinese.
Saturday 4 May, exactly 75 years after the tragedy of Supergathe 106th edition of the Giro d’Italia will start from Royal Venaria to reach the hill of the same name, face the Maddalena Hillpreceded and followed by the double climb tosteep road of San Vitoand award the first pink jersey in front of the Great Motheralready the arrival site of the last stage of the 2016 Giro and the fourteenth of the 2022 Giro.
If the ending of the first stage of the Corsa Rosa in Turin is certainly nothing new (it happened for eight consecutive editions, from 1936 to 1948), for the start from the Reggia di Venaria it is an encore, after the team time trial that opened the edition of 2011.
From the Royal Palace of Venaria to Chierese
The start of the Giro d’Italia will take place from the Royal Palace of Venaria. The Savoy residence, with its 80,000 m2, exceeds the surface area of Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Versailles. After a period of decline in the 20th century, since 2007 it has been restored to its former glory thanks to the largest architectural restoration work ever carried out in Europe.
The first phase of the race will take place north of the Piedmontese capital. Leaving Venaria Reale behind, the cyclists will face an initial flat phase which will touch Leinì, Volpiano, Chivasso and Casalborgone. The first difficulty of the Corsa Rosa will be the easy ascent to Berzano San Pietro. It follows Moriondo tearscene of Fausto Coppi’s first epiphany at the 1939 Giro del Piemonte.
Once you reach the Chierese area, right in the middle of the 140 kilometers planned, the difficulties of a section that involves a total difference in altitude of 1850 meters will begin. It is here that we will enter the evocative one phase of the Turin Hill.
Superga, a balcony overlooking Turin
The Superga climb will be tackled from the eastern side, the one on which many of the editions of the Milan-Turin race were decided between the 20th and 21st centuries.
After having passed the small village of Pavarolo (which houses the studio-museum of the painter Felice Casorati), the ascent will cross Baldissero Torineseand then reach the location The Pilonetto. The average gradient of the 8 kilometers that will lead to the Colli di Superga road is 4.5%, but when crossing Baldissero Torinese the gradient reaches double figures.
Even if the Giro d’Italia will not arrive at the Basilica, but will turn onto the Via dei Colli reaching a maximum altitude of 631 meters we advise all cycle tourists to make an additional effort from Colle di Superga to the Basilica: 500 meters at 9.5% which gives you what Le Corbusier defined as “the most beautiful position in the world”. Actually, the view of the Alps and Turin on days when the sky is clear is really worth the effort made to gain 670 meters of altitude.
Designed by architect Filippo Juvarra in the 18th century, the Basilica of Superga mixes baroque and neoclassical elements and, thanks to the imposing dome and the majestic façade, it is considered an icon of Piedmontese architecture. It houses the tombs of the members of the Savoy royal family and, in the part behind the architectural complex, the Monument to Grande Torino and to the victims of May 4, 1949, the destination of a constant pilgrimage of Granata fans.
As previously written, the Giro will take the Via dei Colli the Overview of Superga, a wide road that has been forbidden to motorcycle traffic for years and is rarely used by motorists, which runs for the 7.5 kilometers that separate the village of Superga and the municipality of Pino Torinese. This road is very popular with cyclists entirely immersed in the most beautiful woods of the Turin Hill. Always on the ridge you will reach the Col d’Arseteand then go down to Revigliasco it’s at Moncalieri.
Colle della Maddalena, the most challenging climb
Once Turin has finally been reached, the phase that will decide the first pink jersey of the 2024 Giro will begin. An evergreen of high technical content for all those who want to compete on two climbs close to the center of the Piedmontese capital. The first is San Vitoa ramp proposed 35 and 4.4 km from the finish line as a springboard for the bravest. Seven hairpin bends on a steep road that reach the road that separates the Leopardi and San Vito parks, green oases a stone’s throw from the city center. In these 1400 meters the average gradient is 9.8% and the maximum 16%. At the Giro d’Italia, the second climb will be a perfect springboard as it will culminate just 3 kilometers from the finish line.
After passing for the first time in front of the goal of the Great Mother and having first reached Piazza Hermada, then Villa della Regina, the cyclists will tackle the 6 km at 7.5% which will take them up to the 698 meters of the Maddalena Hill.
Cycling in nature
On the occasion of the passage of the Corsa Rosa, the road that runs from the pre-hill area to the third Gpm of the first stage was resurfaced in many key points. It’s about a fairly demanding ascent, characterized by a series of hairpin bends interspersed with straights. The slope is rather regular, with a maximum peak of 11% in the first part of the climbing.
In the summer months, the abundant shade offered by the trees guarantees the right coolness. Once you reach the top you can enter the Remembrance Park and, traveling about a hundred meters on a dirt road, reach the 715 meters that lead to the Victory Lighthouse located at 715 meters, at the highest point in the city of Turin.
At this point the cyclists will descend back to Revigliasco, but those who face the climb can opt for the numerous roads that lead to the Piedmontese capital. With the exception of the first fast stretch of the Strada della Maddalena, it is very technical descentsto be approached with the utmost caution especially in the winter months.
The Superga-Maddalena pairing is a great classic of Turin cycle tourism and allows you to fully appreciate an environment of great naturalistic value just a few kilometers from the metropolis. The San Vito climb, however, is a technically interesting addition for those who love short but demanding climbs.
Giro d’Italia 2024 stage Venaria Reale-Turin: times and places of passage
The first stage of the Giro d’Italia 2024 will start from Venaria Reale at 1.50 pm on Saturday 4 May. The group will transit from Leini (between 2.13pm and 2.15pm), Chivasso (2.33-2.36pm), Casalborgone (14.48-14.53), and then reach Berzano San Pietro (14.56-15.02), first GP of the race. TO Moriondo (15.09-15.16) the first flying finishes will be held. The transition to Baldissero Torinese (15.29-15.38) could be the springboard for the first attacks of the day, in view of the Superga GP, in the locality Bric del Ducawhere cyclists are expected between 3.38pm and 3.49pm.
Once on the Panoramica, the group will face the descent towards Pino Torinese (15.47-15.58). After three kilometers a very slight climb up to Col d’Arsetethe dive towards Pecetto Torinese (15.55-16.07), Revigliasco (15.56-16.09) e Moncalieri (16.05-16.18). After cycling along Corso Moncalieri you will arrive at the crossroads San Vito (16.15-16.29). A quick turn to the right and you face the 1.4 km climb and then you reach the finish line for the first time (16.19-16.33).
The start of the third GP of the race will be on Strada Eremo (16.22-16.37). The transition to Maddalena Hill the passage over the finishing line should take place between 4.38pm and 4.56pm Moncalieri between 4.52pm and 5.12pm, while the attack of second climb towards San Vito is expected between 5.01pm and 5.22pm. The arrival at the finish line in Corso Moncalieri, near the Gran Madre, will take place between 5.05pm and 5.26pm.
