Giro d'Italia 2024: How to watch in Australia, dates, schedule, route for cycling tour

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The first Grand Tour of the 2024 cycling season is underway, with some of the world's top riders tackling the Giro d'Italia.

Jai Hindley – who became the first Australian to win the famous tour in 2022 – isn't in action this time around, although 10 riders make up the Aussie contingent.

Ben O'Connor is pushing for victory with La Mondiale, while three Australians are competing for Team Jayco AlUla.

The Sporting News takes you through the key broadcast details for this year's event.

How to watch the Giro d'Italia in Australia: TV channel, live stream for cycling tour

All 21 stages of the Giro d'Italia can be streamed live and free on streaming service SBS On Demand.

Stages will also be shown on television, with overnight coverage on SBS Viceland. Check your local TV guides for timings.

Hour-long highlight shows will air from 7:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays, and 7:00 am and 4:30 pm on weekends.

If the Giro d'Italia is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re travelling abroad, you can use a VPN.

VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

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When does the Giro d'Italia start? Dates, schedule for 2024

The 2024 edition of the Giro began on Saturday, May 4 and will conclude on Sunday, May 26.

Riders will be required to complete 21 stages, with rest days scheduled between Stages 9/10 and Stages 15/16.

Giro d'Italia 2024 route map

The tour began in the north-western Italian city of Turin with a 140km hilly stage.

Riders are now gradually making their way down the country, reaching as far south as Pompei.

They will then race up the eastern edge of Italy before completing a few stages near the Austrian and Slovenian borders.

The final stage will take place in the historic city of Rome.

A good mix of flat and hilly stages have been scheduled for 2024, with seven mountain stages incorporated throughout the tour.

The full route can be viewed here.

Giro d'Italia 2024 start list, teams

A total of 176 riders – 22 teams of eight – are contesting this year's Giro.

Several top talents are action in the first Grand Tour of 2024, with Tadej Pogačar the favourite for UAE Team Emirates.

Other big names include Geraint Thomas and Romain Bardet. 

The teams competing are as follows:

The full start list can be viewed here.

2024 Giro d'Italia prize money

There's a total prize fund of over €1.5 million (approx. AUD$2.4 million) on offer at this year's Giro, with the top 20 riders in each respective classification to receive three figures and above, depending on their finishing position at every stage of the event.

Their final classification following the last of the 21 stages will also see the top 20 receive a final amount and added bonus, with the top five also receiving up to £10,000 for their points total.

There are also added prize funds allotted to the respective leaders and eventual winners in the young riders classification and for each competing team, but the table below lists only the financial breakdown in General Classification: