Giro set to go virtual with Zwift and electric with e-bikes

The 2019 Giro d’Italia is set to be a vintage edition of the Corsa Rosa as an all Italian affair with a relatively flat opening half before hitting the Alps and Dolomites in force in the final week. Despite a nod to the traditions, the Giro d’Italia is incorporating two elements that are undeniably modern, e-bikes and virtual riding into the experience for fans.

On May 11, Zwift will also be releasing a brand new 8.2 km course that virtually creates the opening time trial in Bologna for virtual riders to tackle. Then for the duration of the Giro, Zwift will be holding a celebratory series of time trial races in partnership with the Italian Grand Tour. Additionally RCS Sport, the organizers of the Giro, have introduced the Giro E which will see 60 cyclists on 10 teams ride across 1,829 km of the route over 18 stages.

Traditionalists may scoff at the inclusion of decidedly modern elements to the Giro but they will in no way impact the pro race. Virtual racing and e-bikes are instead a way for the organizers to include more people into the 2019 edition and bring more attention to the seasons first Grand Tour.

Pedal assist Giro E

The Giro E features the rigours of the pro race. It begins on Sunday, May 12 and ends on Saturday, June 1 at Croce d’Aune in the Dolomites. The 18 stages feature 43,546 m of elevation gain and hits the 2019 Cima Coppi, the top of the Passo Gavia.

“Giro E is a Mille Miglia on bicycles, an event that enhances the beauty of Italy and allows you to enjoy it from the saddle, immersed in breathtaking landscapes and in the atmosphere of the Giro d’Italia,” explained Giro E creator and RCS CEO Paolo Bellino.

The teams of six e-bike riders will each have a captain who wears one of the Giro E jerseys and takes part in a final sprint at the end of each stage. Different sports personalities and professional riders will take part in the event for its inaugural edition.

The organizers say it will be one of the first large scale tests of pedal-assisted e-bike road racing. Brands taking part of Pinarello with their Nytro model, De Rosa, Trek among others. All the bikes will only pedal assist to a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

Virtual time trials all Giro for super fans

Meanwhile in the world of virtual riding, Zwift users will be able to tackle the short opening time trial in Bologna. The course goes through the Italian city before a sharp 2.1 km climb with a brutal 9.7 per cent average gradient to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.

“The Giro d’Italia has a long history of innovation,” explained Bellino about the other futuristic innovation the Giro is incorporating into its 2019 edition. “It’s always an exciting race and we’ve never been afraid to experiment with ways to deliver new excitement. This year, we are excited to be able to bring a new technological advancement to the race. Not only does this give fans around the world a chance to get closer to the race by experiencing a stage, but it also gives the competing riders a new way to prepare for the start of the race.”

Along with the new Bologna ITT course, Zwift will be launching a series of time trial races that will be held on the virtual riding platform until the end of the Giro. Zwift users who sign up for the Bologna race in the first three days it’s launched will be entered in a draw to win a Maglia Rosa signed by the eventual winner of the 2019 race.

Earlier in the year, there were rumours circulating that the Giro would introduce a prolong on Zwift sometime in the future.

The course will be launched publicly on Saturday 11 May in conjunction with a celebratory series of time trial races, held on Zwift for the duration of the Giro d’Italia. Zwifters who take part in an event on the Bologna course within the first three days of launch will be entered into a prize draw for the opportunity to win a Maglia Rosa, signed by the winner of the 2019 race.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to help encourage global participation around the Giro d’Italia,” says Eric Min, Zwift CEO and co-founder. “By engaging a large global community of cyclists, Zwift has the power to increase the exposure of being a host start city. The Bologna course will live on long beyond the start on Saturday 11 May and allow many more people around the world to experience a small part of this historic city.”

To set times on the Zwift course, professional riders taking part in the Giro from six WorldTour teams and four UCI Pro Continental teams will gather on Thursday to ride the yet to be launched course. The participating teams will be Bahrain Merida, Bora-Hansgrohe, EF Education First, Lotto Soudal, Mitchelton Scott, Team Sunweb, Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizanè, Bardiani CSF, Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec and Israel Cycling Academy.