'The hardest race in the most beautiful place' is the tagline for the Giro d'Italia and the 105th edition of the great Italian race looks to be no exception for viewers in Australia.
The race is set to start in Hungary, with the picturesque Lake Balaton to feature as the riders tackle the opening three stages of the Giro.
A peloton of elite stars of the sport will have to race over some of the hardest ascents in Italy, with Mount Etna, Blockhaus and the Marmolada all key summit finishes ahead of the final time trial in Verona.
Australian stars Richie Porte (INEOS Grenadiers) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) are set to race the Italian Grand Tour, with Porte looking to contest the battle for the overall win, while Ewan will be on the hunt for stages in a race where he has five stage victories already in his career.
All 21 stages of the Giro d'Italia will be live in full on SBS On Demand with television coverage on SBS starting later each night. There are two times to watch the daily highlights one-hour highlights show; 7.00am and 5.00pm (4.30pm on weekends).
With catch-up replays as well as extended highlights and analysis videos via throughout the three-week race, SBS is the place to be for all things Giro d'Italia.
Stage-by-Stage Guide to the Giro d'Italia on SBS
Stage 1 - Budapest to Visegrád - 195 km - Friday, May 6
Stage 1 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
Past the Danube, the route runs through a valley until 3.8 km to go. From here on, the course makes for the castle, with gradients around 5%, nearing 8% for a short stretch, and with a few hairpins before the home straight.
Broadcast:
8:10pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
10:50pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 8:50pm AWST)
Stage 2 - Budapest TT - 9.2 km - Saturday, May 7
Stage 2 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The final 1500 m run entirely uphill. Past the intermediate split, the route takes the climb leading to the castle, hitting the maximum gradient of 14%. The route then continues at around 4%, taking in a few hairpins, all the way to the finish square in Buda.
Broadcast:
9:50pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
10:40pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 8:40pm AWST)
Stage 3 - Kaposvár to Balatonfüred - 201 km - Sunday, May 8
Stage 3 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
Skirting along the lakeshore for the final 50 km, the route takes in one last, short climb by the Tihany Abbey. The stage finale is flat and mostly straight, with just a few mild bends.
Broadcast:
8:15pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Rest Day - Monday, May 9
Stage 4 - Avola to Etna-Nicolosi - 172 km - Tuesday, May 10
Stage 4 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The stage finishes by the Rifugio Sapienza, as it has tackled before in the Giro, but the final ascent is new.
Broadcast:
8:15pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 5 - Catania to Messina - 174 km - Wednesday, May 11
Stage 5 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The Portella Mandrazzi is the main difficulty on this 174 km stage, but it should still be one for the sprinters in Sicily. Messina is the hometown of Italian champion Vincenzo Nibali, and the last stage here was taken out by Fernando Gaviria.
Broadcast:
7:20pm - 12:20am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 12:20am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 6 - Palmi to Scalea - 192 km - Thursday, May 12
Stage 6 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route enters urban Scalea for the stage finale, which is raced on wide, straight and well-paved roads, with one last roundabout at the 3 km mark.
Broadcast:
8:25pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 7 - Diamante to Potenza - 196 km - Friday, May 13
Stage 7 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route then hits Viggiano, clears the challenging Montagna Grande di Viggiano, and then takes in the final ascent of Sellata before reaching Potenza.
The final kilometres are raced entirely on urban roads. The route runs uphill across the inner city, with sharp gradients at points, and then descends along wide and well-paved avenues. There is a short tunnel at the 2 km marker, leading into the finish avenue. The last 350 m have an average 8% gradient, topping out at 13%.
Broadcast:
7:30pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 8 - Napoli to Napoli - 153 km - Saturday, May 14
Stage 8 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The roads here are well surfaced but narrow, with a succession of bends and constantly changing gradients. Past Torregaveta, in Baia, the route kicks up at a 14% gradient to Lago Lucino, where the riders will leave the circuit at the end of the last lap. The route goes back to Bacoli and Posillipo along the same route, with a long descent down the Via Petrarca leading to the final kilometres in the city centre.
The last 3 pan-flat kilometres run eastwards along the Via Dohrn and Via Caracciolo. At the last km, the route takes a U‑turn at a roundabout, and returns along the Via Caracciolo all the way to the finish. The home straight (900 m) is on tarmac.
Broadcast:
9:25pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 9 - Isernia to Blockhaus - 191 km - Sunday, May 15
Stage 9 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The last 13 km go up steadily on narrow road, with several hairpins. Gradients are over 9% for almost 10 km, with peaks reaching as high as 14%. There is a very short descending section 500 m before the finish. The home straight (200 m long) has an uphill gradient of approx. 8%.
Broadcast:
7:30pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Rest Day - Monday, May 16
Stage 10 - Pescara to Jesi - 196 km - Tuesday, May 17
Stage 10 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
As the profile changes, the roads become narrower and steeper, and slightly damaged at points. The course then takes in consecutive ascents to Civitanova Alta (up to Crocette di Montecosaro), Recanati, Filottrano, Santa Maria Nova and Monsano. Past Monsano, the finish will be just 9 km away.
The route drops down quickly on wide roads into Jesi, with approximately 1,400 m to go. A right-hander leads into the home straight, on a 2% incline.
Broadcast:
8:20pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 11 - Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia Parmigiano - 203 km - Wednesday, May 18
Stage 11 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
Broadcast:
8:10pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 12 - Parma to Genova - 204 km - Thursday, May 19
Stage 12 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
Over the last 2 km, the road is straight, wide and well paved, slightly uphill, and with only one bend at the final kilometre marker.
Broadcast:
7:40pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 13 - Sanremo to Cuneo - 150 km - Friday, May 20
Stage 13 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
At the entrance of the old townin Cuneo, the riders will ride on flagstone for 800 metres, before taking in the last km. The home straight is on tarmac road, with a 2.5% gradient.
Broadcast:
9:10pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 14 - Santena to Torino - 147 km - Saturday, May 21
Stage 14 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route ascends from Rivodora to Superga, taking in two laps of a 36.4‑km circuit that includes climbs up to Superga and the Colle della Maddalena. The former is 5 km long, with gradients hovering around 10%, and topping out at 14%. The latter is much shorter; it winds its way along a narrow road across the woods, with maximum 20% gradients. A technical descent then leads all the way to the finish.
After clearing the Colle della Maddalena, the route drops into Valsalice, with some technical sections as it passes through urban areas. The gradients then go up again, up to Parco del Nobile. The last 4 km are run entirely downhill, mostly on narrow roads. The road then opens out past the last kilometre, in urban Torino, and levels out with approx. 700 m to go.
Broadcast:
8:50pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
10:30pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 8:30pm AWST)
Stage 15 - Rivarolo Canavese to Cogne - 178 km - Sunday, May 22
Stage 15 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
At over 10 km each, these climbs are on wide and well-paved roads, with a number of hairpins in-between. Each is followed by a fast, techincal descent. At over 22 km, the steep, final climb eventually becomes a long false-flat up all the way to the finish. Over the last 4 km, from the centre of Cogne all the way to the finish, the gradient hovers around 2.5%.
Broadcast:
8:05pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Rest Day, Monday May 23
Stage 16 - Salò to Aprica - 202 km - Tuesday, May 24
Stage 16 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route then tackles the Passo del Mortirolo coming from Monno. Three km before the summit, the road narrows and the gradients rise. A technical descent follows, leading to Grosio on narrow roads. After a flat stretch, the route goes up again, heading for Teglio (on narrowed roadway, with gradients even exceeding 15% at points), and then descends rapidly towards Tresenda, before the closing ascent up the Valico di Santa Cristina.
The route winds its way in hairpins through the woods, with sharp gradients, before dropping sharply and rapidly into the finish. The descent from the Valico di Santa Cristina to the finish is highly technical, on narrow roads and with sharp gradients. In the closing stretch, the route rises steadily at around 3% all the way to the finish.
Broadcast:
6:50pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 17 - Ponte di Legno to Lavarone -168 km - Wednesday, May 25
Stage 17 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The Valico del Vetriolo is long but manageable (average 7% gradient), whilst the Menador ascent (Kaiserjägerstrasse) is narrow at points, with tunnels carved out in the rock, and gradients constantly over 10%. Past Monterovere, the finish will only be a few undulating kilometres away.
After the KOM and a short descent, the route goes up again, until the 4 km marker, and then drops down once more on wide roads. The final 700 metres run on a slight incline.
Broadcast:
8:20pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 18 - Borgo Valsugana to Treviso - 152 km - Thursday, May 26
Stage 18 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The final 11 kilometre circuit is played out on wide and flat roads, with the exception of a slightly narrower sector, from the 4 to the 2 km marker, and of a sharper corner with 3 km to go. Over the last 2 km, the road opens up, with just a final bend 1,200 m before the finish.
Broadcast:
9:30pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 19 - Marano Lagunare to Santuario di Castelmonte - 177 km - Friday, May 27
Stage 19 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route enters Slovenia through the Uccea pass, leading directly to Kobarid (Caporetto). Here, the peloton will tackle Mt. Kolovrat, ascending at nearly 10% for 10 km (with gradients easing off for a short stretch halfway up the climb). After clearing the Passo Solarie, a long false-flat down leads back to Italy, snaking through the woods. Starting in Cividale del Friuli, the peloton will tackle the closing climb to the Castelmonte sanctuary.
The final climb is 7 km long, with a short downhill stretch after 2.5 km. The sharpest gradients (up to 13%) are found at the foot of the climb, and when the road starts to go up again after the fall. The roadway is wide and well surfaced.
Broadcast:
8:00pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)
Stage 20 - Belluno to Marmolada (Passo Fedaia) - 168 km - Saturday, May 28
Stage 20 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The stage finale features three consecutive climbs: Passo di San Pellegrino (with gradients exceeding 15% past Falcade), Passo Pordoi (the 2022 Cima Coppi), and Passo Fedaia, where the gradients hover steadily above 10%, topping out at 18% in the 6 km past Malga Ciapela.
The ramps are steep over the last 14 km. After a technical ascent from Caprile to Rocca Pietore, the route becomes a 2% false-flat. The gradients go up again past Sottoguda, then the road dips a little before Malga Ciapela. The average gradient over the last 6 km is around 12%, with pinches up to 18%.
Broadcast:
8:05pm - 1:35am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
10:30pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 8:30pm AWST)
Stage 21 - Verona ITT - 17.4 km - Sunday, May 29
Stage 21 Giro d'Italia 2022 profile Source: RCS
The route then descends for 4 km, and then the last 3 km are along the city streets, with some sharp bends, which lead all the way to the finish in Piazza Bra and the Verona Arena.
Broadcast:
9:45pm - 1:50am (AEST) LIVE on SBS On Demand
11:00pm - 1:30am (AEST) LIVE on SBS
(LIVE on SBS VICELAND from 9:00pm AWST)