The Giro d’Italia bike race is the (slightly younger) sister to the Tour de France. Like the Tour, Giro d’Italia was first established by a newspaper to increase sales in 1909 (the Tour de France started in 1903). Since then it’s been held every year, aside from the two world wars.
 

Surprisingly, in 2020 the Giro d’Italia will start in Hungary for the 103rd edition. It kicks off in Budapest on the 9th of May and continues through Gyor, Szekesfehervar and Nagykanizsa. This is the 14th time the Giro d’Italia has started outside of Italy and the first time in Eastern Europe.
After Hungary, the route moves to Italy and the island of Sicily. There will be a gruelling stage there that features a climb up Mount Etna.

The Giro d’Italia finishes with a slightly downhill time trial into Milan on May 30, which should make for an exciting finale.

Watch this highlights video by the race organisers. 


For more race information, visit their official site here.

If you’d like to visit Italy or Hungary while the Giro d’Italia is on and see the professional cyclists whiz by, browse the below active travel trips.
 

Hungary Active Holidays

Hungarian Rhapsody

   
Wind your way from the elegant city of Vienna along the Danube Cycle Path. Crossing the Austria - Slovak border the cycle route passes vineyards on the slopes of the Little Carpathian Mountains into the capital, Bratislava. Using quiet country roads this itinerary continues into Hungary where you will pedal through numerous delightful towns. Explore the Baroque city of Györ and visit the unusual artist village of Szentendre and its outlying island before heading to Budapest.

> 8 day self guided cycle. 
> View more trip details here.
 

Danube Explorer to Budapest

From the cobblestone streets of charming Passau to the Austrian capital of Vienna and the majestic city of Budapest, this journey by comfortable river boat and bike offers the opportunity to experience life on the Danube and the surrounding countryside at your own pace. Using the MV Fortuna boat (MVF) or MV Carissima boat (MVC) as a base, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the legendary Wachau, Bratislava, the Slovakian capital at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and the icon studded cities of Vienna and Budapest. 

> 8 day self guided cycle and barge holiday. 
> View more trip details here.
 

Sicily Active Trips

Sicily: Magna Via Francigena

Travel by foot along the 'regie trazzere' or ancient road from Palermo and the Tyrrhenian in the north to Agrigento on the southern Mediterranean coast to discover the rugged beauty of inland Sicily with its archaeological treasures and friendly locals who have been welcoming pilgrims for centuries. The Magna Via Francigena was officially re-opened in 2017 in celebration of its rich historical legacy as a trade route connecting Africa and the Middle East to Europe. It runs through ancient landscapes to extraordinary villages clinging to the cliffs and some suprisingly green hills among lakes and rolling mountains. However what is striking about the Magna Via Francigena is the influence of those who occupied the land over the years, from the Greeks and the Romans, to the people of Byzantium and the Moors, and the legacies they left behind in the form of mozaics and other ancient relics, traditions and culinary influences. On arrival in Agrigento, dip your toes into the sea, receive your Testamonium at the cathedral and revel in the satisfaction of having walked across Sicily.

> 8 day self guided walk. 
> View more trip details here.
 

Volcanoes of Sicily

To the north of the island of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea is the beautiful Aeolian Archipelago, made up of 7 diverse islands including Lipari, Vulcano and Stromboli, whose active volcanic cone dominates the horizon. Dramatic cliffs and winding coastline, black beaches and thermal hot springs, a deep blue sea and charming port towns are all characteristic of this enchanting group of islands. Four days have been set aside to explore these islands on foot including a guided ascent of Stromboli (subject to conditions), where fiery lava eruptions occur a few times each hour, one of the most sensational natural sights to see in Europe. The daily walks are interspersed with opportunities to relax on the beach, snorkel, explore the ports and villages or bathe in therapeutic hot mud. Back on the mainland of Sicily the focus shifts to the delightful seaside town of Taormina and the famous volcano, Mt Etna, where the 2002/03 eruption opened a line of gaping craters, before returning to Catania.

> 8 day self guided walk. 
> View more trip details here.
 

Italy Active Holidays

Cycle the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea

The combination of both mountains and the sea ensure the success of any great cycling route and this trip offers you exactly that. Starting from the lofty heights of the Dolomites, the route winds its way around the foot of these imposing peaks with jaw-dropping views stopping you in your tracks around every turn. From Dobbiaco, close to the Austrian border, to the elegant mountain town of Cortina, ringed by the pinnacles and spires characteristic of this special alpine region, the cycle heads south along an old rail trail to reach the ancient city of Belluno with the Schiara range offering a heady backdrop. As you finally descend onto the Venetian plain, the mountains give way to rolling vineyards where opportunities to sample the famous sparkling Prosecco in the town of Valdobbiadene await you. The final stage of this cycling journey will take you ro the Adriatic Sea, where the enchanting city of Venice will welcome you with its unique beauty.

> 8 day self guided cycle. 
> View more trip details here.

 

Are you a cycling enthusiast? Will you be making the trip to Italy or Hungary to spectate the Giro d'Italia in 2020?