The 2027 Giro dItalia route has been unveiled. Heres a stage-by-stage look at the mens race and some thoughts and data on the course.It runs from Saturday 8 May to Sunday 30 May 2027.When once an iron curtain fell between Italy and Slovenia, Stage 1 celebrates gives a literal meaning to the sinews of peace as riders will strain theirs while celebrating the open border as they criss-cross between both countries. The hilly finish with three marked climbs and more in the final 40km could drop some sprinters but several ought to be able to hold on.Stage 2starts in the Slovenian capital and goes to Koper, a seaside town where hopefully some entrepreneur has a bar called the Kabana. Whats certain is its a regular stage, via the main road from the capital to the coast. The final climb is a wide main road but just enough to eject some sprinters.Stage 3 looks flat with two little bumps but the second of these is a hard climb. When the Giro went over the Mostaccin in 2016 the peloton split and in just three kilometres at 9% we got a selection worth of an Alpine climb with several GC candidates clear and some caught out behind. A few riders, and plenty in the race convoy, will remember this which could make for a self-fulfilling outcome.Stage 4 is the first obvious sprint stage with a finish on the Adriatic coast by Rimini using the Misano motor racing circuit. The map is not out yet but the course could have some twists around Cerasolo but thats about it for surprises. Its all on the home roads of the Bardiani team but it looks like they wont be there.Stage 5 and the first summit finish. The Giro pays tribute to Michele Scarponi with the start in Filottrano. The summit finish is new for the Giro but a classic in Tirreno-Adriatico where Simon Yates and Mikel Landa have won; this is not one of those first week big ring climbs the Giro sometimes has, even in May itll be more selective.Stage 6 is an uphill finish of sorts to Lanciano. The towns is perched on a ridge and if we can see the profile its worth waiting for the details because todays profile has come out but not the micro details. Is this going to be a twisty finale in town over ancient flagstones to finish by a landmark, or will it end up by an industrial estate on the edge of town for the sake of convenience?Stage 7is the first time trial of the race and if the profile makes it look like a mountain time trial, it doesnt quack like one. Its main roads with steady gradients, often 4% and so everyone will use time trial bikes but itll feel like a course to test back muscles as much as legs. This will frustrate a rider like Ganna but equally leave pure climbers floundering.Stage 8 and the race returns to Napoli again, the race has a deal with the city. Note the uphill finish, the line appears to rise, and even higher than the Monte di Procida climb before, so expect a different kind of finish. If the race always visits hopefully the seemingly habitual rain at least from the last two years stays away.Stage 9 goes to Monte Livata, tested by RCS recently in the U23 Giro when Lorenzo Finn won the stage and time gaps go wide. The 17% label feels excessive but the first three kilometres are over 10% so its another selective summit finish. Probably not race defining butStage 10 is a long day across the Sibillini mountains including the Presta climb, its ripe for a breakaway thanks to the uphill start to help the breakaway form and the distance where several teams might be content to let the right move stay away.Stage 11 passes by plenty of climbs but sticks to the flat of the Arno valley all day except for the one climb, branded as Vetta le Croci but looking a lot like the Passo dellAlberaccio before dropping down to the finish on the Mugello motor racing circuit. The climbing again should be enough to eject and deject some sprinters.Stage 12and a Tuscan stage that might bring back memories for some as the finish is in Lunigiana, once an old province and today, at least for the peloton associated with one of the best junior stage races, where past winners include Tadej Pogaar, Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas and plenty more. The Zum Zeri climb is a ski station summit thats sparse in winter and summer alike and another steep finish.Stage 13 is a dash to Reggio for a likely sprint finish.Stage 14 is an alternative giro di Lombardia, ticking off the Ghisallo climb but in the reverse direction to usual. Another summit finish awaits, 10km at a tough 9% and while almost a road to nowhere, it ends in a small car park it is a wide road.Stage 15 is a time trial from Monzas motor racing circuit to Milan, the same start and finish as 2016s final stage but this has added kilometres.Stage 16 is the tappone, the big stage. At 192km its not the longest distance but could last the longest given the 5,700m vertical gain weather permitting for 25 May and the severity, the Mortirolo is climbed twice and each time via the hard Pantani route from Mazzo. The Gavia is the literal high point of the race and features a novelty with new cycle path. Towards the top theres been a tunnel and outside this, a small gravel track hugging the cliff face immortalised by Jobst Brand but now this has been cleared, paved and the fencing improved. Its only half a kilometre but its only a car width wide. The Mortirolo features again and the road to Aprica is awkward, not as steep as whats come before but by now still tiring.Stage 17 goes to Vo which briefly became internationally famous in 2020 when the Covid-19 outbreak started in Italy and the town was quarantined, as in closed off to outsiders. Now its open to all with two climbs in the Euganei hills to thwart the sprinters.Stage 18 is a mountain stage but accessible to many, the two climbs of the Durone (callous pass, was it a hard walk in old boots?) are almost big ring kind of climbs but the mid-stage Daone will get front and rear mechs moving with its sustained 11-12% slopes. The final climb sees the slope ease, infamous for Pantanis Giro ejection, the race has returned several times since and Ben OConnor won here in 2020.Stage 19 is ripe for a third week breakaway as tired riders confront the desperation of a last shot at the win.Stage 20 with the Zoncolan to settle things. Its climbed via the hardest side and a climb whose name has become a brand, a yardstick: Is it as hard as the Zoncolan? Today lower gearing means its not the dreaded experience it once was but it remains fearsome, especially because if someone is to attack to win the race or make a late GC gain it requires so much force to accelerate that itll settle things, and all before the natural amphitheatre towards the finish where an expectant weekend crowd will roar home the riders.Stage 21 is the regular Rome finish, a trip to the sea before laps around the city.The VerdictThe first route of new race director Stefano Allochio. An ex-pro, he was sprinter but theres no kindred sympathy here, three sprint stages look certain but its a stretch to get to five. Two time trials stand out and the distance of 50km sounds like molto but two years ago the total was over 70km, and flat.There was talk earlier in the year the Giro would go piano on the mountains until later in the race but theres plenty throughout. 50,250m of vertical gain in 2027 is within the norms, theres no inducement like 2024 to accommodate a Giro-Tour double. Five summit finishes two more than the Tour make the mountains as crucial to the winner as ever as well. With few sprint stages and a selection of 20-30 minute summit finishes theres a Spanish feel. La Vuelta de Italia?The use of motor racing circuits isnt novel but three in a year is, other stagvs have a circuit feel; twice up the Mortirolo on one stage, double Durone on another, this is spectator-friendly and helps contain the course too for the organisers. The Gavia, Mortirolo and Zoncolan all make welcome returns, the Giro as much, or even more than the Tour, needs its celebrity climbs as they supply box office appeal; plenty of other stages offer sport with surprises in the Apennines. The only thing missing from this Giro is the south of Italy, the race doesnt venture beyond Napoli.Todays presentation was notable for it happening today, it wasnt long ago that the race route was unveiled in January and teams had to be given a draft suggestion of the course ahead of this so they could make plans. Now theres plenty of time to review the route and make plans. To the point where today its unclear who will ride.Remco Evenepoel? Two time trials totalling 57km are an invitation. The Giro needs a star rider each year, were these days included to tempt him? Only now the Tour is alluring with two flat time trials totalling 71km to punish Pogaar. Could Evenepoel do both? Possibly but the double is not easy for anyone and, as suggested here as a hypothesis, harder still for Evenepoel as he can drop to his climbing weight like a boxer for a bout but holding it for three months between May and July maybe too much. If RCS really want to invite Evenepoel perhaps the Monza to Milan TT needs to become Monza-Milan-Monza? Maybe Lipowitz goes for it?One rider clearly fascinated by Giro is Paul Seixas. But next year is tied up with his contract, stay at Decathlon and he and the team can plan for the future including a Giro bid next year; sign elsewhere for 2028 and his last year with the Decathletes could see him obliged to the ride the Tour, hardly a punishment but a likely outcome.Several teams have multiple leaders, its likely Felix Gall rides the Giro again especially as the Tours TTs look worse for him; is it back to the Giro for Antonio Tiberi after a discreet Tour or does Jacob Omrzel get first say and a chance to start in Slovenia? At Red Bull could Lorenzo Finn start; and is Giulio Pellizzari likely to come back for another go, probably as few time trial kilometres helps. UAE could see Joo Almeida restart his grand tour ambitions, but does Isaac del Toro now get priority? And so on, a vacuum into which we can only speculate. One certainty is that Tadej Pogaar wont ride. This fact will inform some decisions in the coming weeks.The post 2027 Giro dItalia Route first appeared on The Inner Ring.