Always eager to break unwritten rules of professional road cycling and discover new terrain, the Giro d'Italia organizers has arranged for next year's Giro to be the first Grand Tour in history to start outside of Europe. The Giro organizers have chosen the controversial location of Israel for its project.

2018 will mark the 13th time the Giro d'Italia begins outside its home country as Israel will host the first three stages of next year’s Corsa Rosa, beginning with an historic day when the individual time trial commences in Jerusalem on Friday, May 4.

The Giro d'Italia 2018 will begin with a individual time trial followed by two flat stages that suit the preferences of top sprinters in the professional cycling peloton. Following these three stages in Israel, the riders, staff and organizers will fly to Italy where the 2018 Giro will recommence on Tuesday, May 8th, following a rest day.

The stage 1 individual time trial will make use of a very technical route finishing close to the walls of the Old City. With numerous bends on streets of the city and small ascents and descents, the route will pass by landmarks including the Parliament (Knesset) and the historic walls. The finale is uphill, with the gradient intensifying from light to more demanding.

Stage 2 will be a 167 kilometer sprinter stage from Haifa to Tel Aviv on Saturday 5 May. The route undulates around Acri and riders will compete for the first mountains competition points (GPM/KOM) of the 2018 Giro in Zikron Yakov. The second part of the route is mainly flat on wide roads, with the last few kilometers partially taking place within the city of Tel Aviv. The finish line will be situated next to the sea.

The third and final stage in Israel, on Sunday 6 May, heads south, offering 226 somewhat sprinter-friendly kilometers from Be'er Sheva to Eilat by the Red Sea. After the start, the small climbs and false plateaus lead the peloton to the Negev Desert and then to the Red Sea coast. Having passed the town of Mitzpe Ramon, a long descent leads towards the finish in Eilat.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for full coverage of Giro d'Italia 2018.