New Race Regulations for 2014 Giro d'Italia

Friday, May 9th is approaching fast and the expected main protagonists of the Giro d'Italia (from Belfast to Trieste – 1st June) are warming up. The opening team time trial of the Giro will see the 22 teams, each made up of 9 riders, at the start line, with a total of 198 participants.

You should be aware that the Giro d'Italia management team has made significant changes to the race regulations as follows: 

FINISHING AND INTERMEDIATE SPRINTS TIME BONUSES REDUCED
Improvements have been made to finish line and intermediate sprints bonuses. These bonuses are reduced to create a better balance of reward for consistently high performers in big sprint finishes rather than breakaways, contributing to more exciting racing.

The stage winner will be awarded a 10-second bonus; a 6-second bonus goes to the second place rider; and the third to cross the finish line receives a 4-second bonus.

On the intermediate sprints, time bonuses are: 3 seconds for the first place rider; 2 seconds for second place; and 1 second for third.

THE RED JERSEY – INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION
The scores pattern of the Maglia Rossa has been improved by dividing the stages into three categories. In the first category, points awarded to the top 20 finishers – including 50 points for the first-placed rider.
In the second category, points are awarded for the first 15 – with 25 points for first place.
In the third category, points are awarded to the top 10 – with 15 points for first.

There are similar changes for the intermediate sprints.
In the first category, points are awarded to the top 10 ranked – with 20 points for the first-placed rider. In the second category, points are awarded to the top 5 – with 10 points for first place. In the third category, points are awarded to the top 3 – with 8 points for first.
This is to allow the true sprinters to fight for this shirt.

INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION IN DETAILS:
At the finish of each stage (except for the team time trial), the following points will be awarded to riders arriving in order:
First Category (top 20): 50 points (for first place), 40 (for second place), 34 (for third place), then 28, 25, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 20th position.
Second Category (top 15): 25 points (for first place), 22 (for second place), 20 (for third place), 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 15th position.
Third Category (top 10): 15 points (for first place), 12 (for second place), 9 (for third place), 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 10th position.

For each intermediate sprint, the following points will be awarded in the same way:
First Category (top 10): 20 points, 16, 12, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Second Category (top 5): 10 points, 6, 3, 2, 1.
Third Category (top 3): 8 points, 4, 1.

THE BEST CLIMBER – MAGLIA AZZURRA
The scores for the GPM (Best Climber) ranking have been revised to bring out the qualities of the best climbers who compete in the Giro d'Italia.
The scores have been changed by exponential increasing the scores of the hardest climbs categories to give them proportionally higher value.

For the first category, points are awarded to the top 8 riders: 32 points (for first place), 20, 14, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 8th place.
For the second category, points are awarded to the top 6 riders: 14 points (for first place), 9, 6, 4, 2, and 1 point for 6th place.
For the third category, points are awarded to the top 4 riders: 7 points (for first place), 4, 2, and 1 point for 4th place.
For the fourth category, points are awarded to the top 3 riders: 3 points (for first place), 2, and 1 point for 3rd place.

The CIMA COPPI, which is always attributed to the highest elevation of the Giro d'Italia and this year will be the 2758m Stelvio Pass, the score will be awarded to the first 9 riders classified separately with 40 points for the winner, then 28 points for second place, 21, 15, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 9th place.
 

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