2014 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11 2014 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11 The 2014 Giro d'Italia began on 9 May, and stage 11 occurred on 21 May. The 2014 edition began with a team time trial in Belfast. The first three stage of the Giro began in Northern Ireland, while the Giro returned to Italy on 13 May, after the first rest day. Due to an uncleared landslide in the town of Polla, the stage was lengthened from its original itinerary of , to a distance. On this stage, members of the team wore a white cockade, in memory of the people who died
2015 Giro d'Italia The highest climb of the 2015 Giro – known as the "Cima Coppi" – was the Colle delle Finestre on the penultimate stage. This was above sea level. In general, the climbs were lower than in previous years, following controversy in the 2014 Giro over the crossing of the Passo dello Stelvio. The race organisers also tried to make the transfers between stages shorter. Stage 1, the team time trial, was won by . Simon Gerrans was the first rider to cross the line, so he became the first leader of the race. Tinkoff-Saxo were second, seven seconds slower, which