Giro unveil testing route

The 37-year-old Texan has confirmed he will ride the three-week Giro for the first time when he returns to professional cycling next year after a three-year absence.

"We've worked hard to make the centenary edition of the Giro d'Italia a special race," race director Angelo Zomegnan said during a presentation.

"We hope it can be something to remember and set the tone ready for the next 100 years of the Giro. We've created some special stages for some special riders."

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 five-climb 250km mountain stage between Cuneo and Pinerolo.

The 61.7km individual time trial along the spectacular Cinque Terre coastal region is expected to a be key stage where Armstrong could gain vital seconds on his rivals thanks to his excellent time trialing skills.

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 79km long but finishes at an altitude of 2064 metres.

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

The total race distance is 3395.5 km.