The Giro d’Italia is the first of cycling’s three prestigious Grand Tours, held annually over three weeks in May. Established in 1909, the Giro is widely considered the “purist’s” Grand Tour, celebrated for its aesthetic beauty, unpredictable spring weather, and the brutal, jagged climbs of the Dolomites and the Alps. While the Tour de France is a battle of corporate precision, the Giro is a race of passion and panache, often decided on narrow, crumbling mountain passes where the “Tifosi” (the fans) create a wall of noise and color.
The leader of the General Classification wears the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey), a color chosen to match the pink newsprint of the original sponsor, La Gazzetta dello Sport. The race is a comprehensive test of an athlete’s versatility, requiring the raw power for flat plains, the explosive climbing ability for the legendary “Cima Coppi” (the highest point of the race), and the technical descending skills to survive rain-slicked Italian asphalt. Winning the Giro is a career-defining feat, immortalizing the rider’s name on the Trofeo Senza Fine—the “trophy without end”—a spiraling golden masterpiece that represents the infinite history of the sport, one our founder Andy Funk had the honor of holding in his own hands many years ago after winning the KOM competition of a Giro d’Italia age-group event. The Giro proves that to conquer the most grueling terrain on earth, you need more than just a strong engine; you need a heart that can beat in rhythm with the mountains.
