The 2005 Giro d’Italia was the 88th edition of the prestigious Italian cycling race. It took place from May 7th to May 29th, 2005. The Giro d’Italia is one of the three Grand Tours in professional cycling, alongside the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Overall Route: The race consisted of 21 stages, covering a total distance of around 3,497 kilometers. The route featured a mix of flat stages, medium mountain stages, high mountain stages, and an individual time trial.
Race Favorites: The main contenders for the General Classification (GC) included Paolo Savoldelli, Gilberto Simoni, Damiano Cunego, Ivan Basso, and Stefano Garzelli.
Race Winner: Paolo Savoldelli, riding for the Discovery Channel team, emerged as the overall winner of the 2005 Giro d’Italia. Savoldelli displayed consistent performance throughout the race and secured the victory, marking his second Giro d’Italia win, having previously won in 2002.
Legacy: The 2005 Giro d’Italia added another chapter to the rich history of the race, further establishing its reputation as one of the most prestigious and challenging events in professional cycling.
Overall, the 2005 Giro d’Italia provided fans with thrilling racing action, showcasing the determination, endurance, and skill of the world’s top cyclists as they battled for victory over the course of three demanding weeks.
Jersey Winners – 2005 Giro d’Italia
Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey) – General Classification (GC) Leader: Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) – Riding for the Discovery Channel team.
Maglia Ciclamino (Cyclamen Jersey) – Points Classification Leader: Paolo Bettini (Italy) – Riding for the Quick-Step team. This jersey is awarded to the rider who accumulates the most points from intermediate sprints and stage finishes.
Maglia Verde (Green Jersey) – Mountains Classification Leader: José Rujano (Venezuela) – Riding for the Selle Italia-Colombia team. This jersey is awarded to the rider who earns the most points by reaching the summits of categorized climbs.
These jersey winners distinguished themselves throughout the race, either by excelling in specific aspects of the competition or by leading the overall standings.
Overall Ranking – 2005 Giro d’Italia
The top 10 riders in the General Classification (GC) of the 2005 Giro d’Italia were as follows:
- Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) – Discovery Channel
- Gilberto Simoni (Italy) – Lampre-Caffita
- José Rujano (Venezuela) – Selle Italia-Colombia
- Danilo Di Luca (Italy) – Liquigas–Bianchi
- Juan Manuel Gárate (Spain) – Saunier Duval–Prodir
- Sergei Honchar (Ukraine) – Domina Vacanze
- Vladimir Karpets (Russia) – Illes Balears–Caisse d’Epargne
- Pietro Caucchioli (Italy) – Crédit Agricole
- Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) – Fassa Bortolo
- Emanuele Sella (Italy) – Ceramica Panaria–Navigare
These riders demonstrated exceptional skill, endurance, and determination throughout the grueling three-week race, earning their places among the top competitors in the 2005 Giro d’Italia.
Click here to remember who the winners of the 2006 Giro d’Italia were.