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The 2009 Giro d'Italia starts in Venice on May 9 with a 20.5km team time trial and ends in Rome on May 31 with a 15.3km individual time trial.

In between, the race travels north into Austria for a finish in Innsbruck and then west to the Alps for a mountain stage between Cuneo and Pinerolo.

The 60.6km individual time trial along the spectacular Cinque Terre coastal region is expected to a be key stage.

The little known central Apennine mountains will test the riders in the final week of the race. Stage 17 to the summit of the Block Haus climb is only 83km long but finishes at an altitude of 2064 metres.

The last mountain stage is on the slopes of the Mount Vesuvius volcano (pictured) overlooking Naples, while the final time trial stage around Rome starts and finishes in the shadow of the Coliseum.

STAGES

Stage 1: 9 May - Venice 20.5km (Team time trial)

Stage 2: 10 May - Jesolo-Trieste 156km (Flat stage)

Stage 3: 11 May - Grado-Valdobbiadene 198km (Flat stage)

Stage 4 12 May - Padova-San Martino di Castrozza 162km (Mountain stage)

Stage 5: 13 May - San Martino di Castrozza-Kastelruth 125km (Mountain stage)

Stage 6: 14 May - Brixen-Mayrhofen 248km (Intermediate stage)

Stage 7: 15 May - Innsbruck-Chiavenna 244km (Intermediate stage)

Stage 8: 16 May - Morbegno-Bergamo 209km (Intermediate stage)

Stage 9: 17 May - Milan-Milan 163km (Flat stage)

Rest day - 18 May

Stage 10: 19 May - Cuneo-Pinerolo 262km (Mountain stage)

Stage 11: 20 May - Turin-Arenzano 214km (Flat stage)

Stage 12: 21 May - Sestri Levante-Riomaggiore 60.6km (Individual time trial)

Stage 13: 22 May - Camaiore-Florence 176km (Flat stage)

Stage 14: 23 May - Campi Bisenzio-Bologna 172km (Mountain stage)

Stage 15: 24 May - Forlì-Faenza 161km (Mountain stage)

Stage 16: 25 May - Pergola-Cagli 237km (Mountain stage)

Rest day - 26 May

Stage 17: 27 May - Chieti-Blockhaus 83km (Mountain stage)

Stage 18: 28 May - Sulmona-Benevento 182km (Flat stage)

Stage 19: 29 May - Avellino-Mount Vesuvius 164km (Mountain stage)

Stage 20: 30 May - Naples-Anagni 203km (Flat stage)

Stage 21: 31 May - Rome 14.4km (Individual time trial)

Eurosport