Ride the 2011 Giro d'Italia route for charity

If you ever fancied riding the Giro d'Italia but didn't have the pro contract, now's your chance. The Gran Corsa d'Italia ride traces the entire 2011 Giro route to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Just 200 places are available for the ride, which takes places as the professional's Grand Tour finishes, starting on May 29 for three weeks.

Rapha-Condor-Sharp rider Ben Greenwood will be taking part in the ride.

"What an opportunity," Greenwood said on his ride blog. "Completing the challenge of a lifetime. And saving lives while you do it. The riders of Rapha-Condor-Sharp will be there. Will You?"

Riders can attempt to cycle the whole route, or select certain stages. Those taking part will be helped along the way by Classic Tours, who will provide transfer transport and route signage. Riders will have to cover the cost of flights and half-board accommodation themselves.

The Gran Corsa d'Italia will be officially launched on December 13 at the Look Mum No Hands cycling cafe at 49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX.

More information can be found on the Gran Corsa d'Italia ride's official web page or its Facebook page.

The professional's version of the 2011 Giro d'Italia starts in Turin on Saturday May 7 with a team time trial. It concludes three weeks later with an individual test against the clock in Milan on Sunday May 29.

In between the riders face some of Italy's toughest climbs, including Mount Etna, Grossglockner, Monte Zoncolan, Val di Fassa, Macugnaga and Colle delle Finestre.

The route has been widely described as 'spectacular', and was devised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.

For more information on the 2011 Giro, see our separate analysis of the route.

Giro d'Italia 2011: Route 

Stage 1:  Sat 7 May   21,5 Km   Venaria Reale - Turin (Team Time Trial)     

Stage 2:  Sun 8 May   242 Km   Alba - Parma     

Stage 3:  Mon 9 May   178 Km   Reggio Emilia - Rapallo     

Stage 4:  Tue 10 May   208 Km   Quarto dei Mille - Livorno     

Stage 5:  Wed 11 May   201 Km   Piombino - Orvieto     

Stage 6:  Thu 12 May   195 Km   Orvieto - Fiuggi Terme     

Stage 7:  Fri 13 May   100 Km   Maddaloni - Montevergine di Mercogliano     

Stage 8:  Sat 14 May  214 Km   Sarpi - Tropea     

Stage 9:  Sun 15 May   159 Km   Messina - Etna    

             Mon 16 May  Rest Day    

Stage 10:  Tue 17 May   156 Km   Termoli - Teramo     

Stage 11:  Wed 18 May   160 Km   Tortoreto Lido - Castefidardo     

Stage 12:  Thu 19 May   171 Km   Castefidardo - Ravenna     

Stage 13:  Fri 20 May   159 Km   Spilimbergo - Grossglockner     

Stage 14:  Sat 21 May  210 Km   Lienz - Monte Zoncolan     

Stage 15:  Sun 22 May   230 Km   Conegliano - Gardeccia/Val di Fassa     

              Mon 23 May  Rest Day   

Stage 16:  Tue 24 May   12.7 Km  Belluno - Nevegal (Individual Time Trial)     

Stage 17:  Wed 25 May   246 Km   Feltre - Sondrio     

Stage 18:  Thu 26 May   147 Km   Morbegno - San Pellegrino Terme     

Stage 19:  Fri 27 May   211 Km   Bergamo - Macugnaga     

Stage 20:  Sat 28 May   242 Km   Verbania - Sestriere     

Stage 21:  Sun 29 May   32.8 Km   Milan - Milan (Individual Time Trial)

Related links

Giro goes one up on Tour with spectacular 2011 route

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