Primož Roglič and Jai Hindley foresee ‘super hard’ second half of 2024 Giro d’Italia

After the route for the 2024 Giro d’Italia was officially revealed in Trento on Friday, the cycling world soon gave their reactions to what looks to be a varied and challenging three-week parcours from Gran Piemonte to Rome.

Two former Giro winners - and future Bora-Hansgrohe teammates - Primož Roglič and Jai Hindley were at the presentation in Trento give their reactions to the route.

Both picked out stages in the second half of the race as key days, with Hindley pointing out how hard the second week is, as well as the traditional third-week onslaught.

Read more: Giro d'Italia 2024 route revealed

“I think it will be a super hard second week, and stage 15 is a monster day on the bike,” Hindley said, referring to the 220km stage between Manerba del Garda and Livigno.

It’s no surprise to see the Australian identify this day as one of the hardest, as it is on paper possible the most challenging day on the whole route, taking in 5,200m of climbing, as well as finishing 2,300m above sea-level.

The finale is almost cruelly difficult, with the peloton first climbing the 18km-long Forcola climb to go up to 2,300m, before briefly descending then heading back up to finish on another 8.1km climb, the as-yet-unused Mottolino.

“At the end it will be super tough, so expect to see fireworks,” was Hindley’s summation of what is sure to be a big day in the GC battle.

Roglič is not expected to defend his Giro title next year, focusing on completing his Grand Tour set with a Tour de France victory instead, but still offered his insights on the route for the race he won in 2023.

“The more towards the end you go, the more decisive they are,” he said of the final week, which ramps up in difficulty.

“For sure, the Monte Grappa will be the last one where all the ones that are there win it, they will have to do it for the last time there.”

Stage 20, the final real day of GC racing, will see the peloton tackle not one but two ascents of the Monte Grappa, an 18.2km climb in the Italian Alps. The gradient varies from a tough 8.1% to a leg-killing 14%, and whilst the stage finishes at the end of a descent rather than a summit, the amount of climbing will take its toll on the favourites.

As Roglič says, being the final day of racing before Rome, the Monte Grappa stage will be the final chance for GC riders to change or secure their position, and the big climb is certainly hard enough that large time gaps could open up, or the challenge may even see podium hopefuls crack completely.

For a detailed look at the route, stages and latest information about the 2024 Giro d'Italia, explore our dedicated race page.