MILAN (AFP) -- The Giro d'Italia's roads will lead to Rome again in the 2024, but the route unveiled on Friday, Oct. 13, showed they will run over some daunting mountains on the approach to the Eternal City.

Historically Milan has become the preferred finish for the Giro but in 2024, for a second consecutive year, it will end in Rome.

The three-week race will start on May 4 in Venaria Reale, near Turin, and after three stages in Piedmont, will descend to Naples before crossing to the Adriatic to head north to the Alps.

The first week will be marked by a sixth stage along gravel roads reminiscent of the Strade Bianche classic. It will be followed by a 37.2-km time trial.

A trio of demanding stages will end with a climb to 1,450m on Prati di Tivo.

The second week concludes with a second time-trial, this time over 31 km which acts as a prelude to a fearsome sequence of three mountain stages in the Dolomites.

The 20th and penultimate stage could decide the winner of the 2024 Giro, as it includes two climbs of 1,775m Monte Grappa.

"For me, this is the stage that holds my attention," said reigning champion Primoz Roglic.

After eight seasons with the team, now called Jumbo-Visma, Roglic will be riding for Bora-Hansgrohe when he defends his title.

The riders will "have to be ready from the first week, as the difficulties are spread out over the three weeks of the race", said Giro director Mauro Vegni.

The route covers a total of 3,319 km, the shortest since 1979, with four stages longer than 200 kilometers. It has a total altitude difference of 42,900m, down from 51,400m in 2023.

Giro organiser RCS Sport also announced that the women's edition would be called the Giro d'Italia Women and, they said, would benefit from the same level of organization as the men's race.

The women's race will take place from July 7 to 14 and its route will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

2024 Giro d'Italia route:

Stage 1 - May 4

Venaria Reale - Turin (136km)

Stage 2, May 5

San Francesco al Campo - Santuario di Oropa (150km)

Stage 3 - May 6

Novara - Fossano (165km)

Stage 4 - May 7

Acqui Terme - Andora (187km)

Stage 5 - May 8

Genova - Lucca (176km)

Stage 6 - May 9

Viareggio - Rapolano Terme (177km)

Stage 7 - May 10

Foligno - Perugia (37.2km ITT)

Stage 8 - May 11

Spoleto - Prati di Tivo (153km)

Stage 9  - May 12

Avezzano - Naples (206km)

Rest Day - May 13

Stage 10 - May 14

Pompei - Cusano Mutri (141km)

Stage 11 - May 15

Foiano di Val Fortore - Francavilla al Mare (203km)

Stage 12 - May 16

Martinsicuro - Fano (183km)

Stage 13 - May 17

Riccione - Cento (179km)

Stage 14 - May 18

Castiglione delle Stiviere-Desenzano del Garda (31km ITT)

Stage 15 - May 19

Manerba del Garda - Livigno (220km)

Rest Day -  May 20

Stage 16 - May 21

Livigno - Santa Cristina Val Gardena (Monte Pana) (202km)

Stage 17-  May 22

Selva di Val Gardena - Passo Brocon (154km)

Stage 18 - May 23

Fiera di Primiero - Padua (166km)

Stage 19 - May 24

Mortegliano - Sappada (154km)

Stage 20 - May 25

Alpago - Bassano del Grappa (175km)

Stage 21 - May 26

Rome-Rome (126km)