# 2014 Giro d'Italia

The 2014 Giro d'Italia was the 97th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races.
The race started off in Belfast, on 9 May, with a 21.7 km (13.5 mi) team time trial and concluded in Trieste, on 1 June, with a 172 km (106.9 mi) flat stage. A total of 198 riders from 22 teams entered the 21-stage race, which was won by Colombian Nairo Quintana of the Movistar Team team. The second and third places were taken by Colombian Rigoberto Urán and Italian Fabio Aru, respectively.
Quintana became the first Colombian to win the Giro. He won the secondary young rider classification. In the other classifications, FDJ.fr rider Nacer Bouhanni was the winner of the points classification and Trek Factory Racing's Julián Arredondo won the Mountains classification. Ag2r–La Mondiale finished as the winners of the team classification, while Omega Pharma–Quick-Step won the team points classification. This was also the first grand tour where non-Europeans led for the entire race, with a Canadian, two Australians, and two Colombians wearing the Pink jersey.

## Teams

All eighteen UCI ProTeams were automatically invited and were obliged to attend the race. As the winners of the 2013 Coppa Italia rankings for Italian teams, Androni Giocattoli–Venezuela were invited to the race in October 2013. In January 2014, the three remaining wildcard places were decided by a vote on social media, from a shortlist of eight UCI Professional Continental teams. The places were later awarded to the Bardiani–CSF, Colombia and Neri Sottoli squads.
The 22 teams that competed in the race were:
| Ag2r–La Mondiale Androni Giocattoli–Venezuela* Astana Bardiani–CSF* Belkin Pro Cycling BMC Racing Team Cannondale Colombia* Team Europcar FDJ.fr Garmin–Sharp | Giant–Shimano Team Katusha Lampre–Merida Lotto–Belisol Movistar Team Neri Sottoli* Omega Pharma–Quick-Step Orica–GreenEDGE Team Sky Tinkoff–Saxo Trek Factory Racing |
*: Marked UCI Professional Continental teams given wild card entry to this event.

## Pre-race favourites

Before the start of a race, Nairo Quintana, Joaquim Rodríguez, Cadel Evans, Rigoberto Urán were among the main favourites for overall victory. Other possible contenders were Domenico Pozzovivo, Michele Scarponi, Dan Martin, Ivan Basso, Rafał Majka and Przemysław Niemiec.

## Stages

The 2014 Giro has its stages categorized into five different categories, named A to E. The category of a stage determines the points given for the points classification, and for the maximum time allowed for cyclists to finish the stage. Category A is reserved for the flattest stages, while category D is for the stages with the highest mountains. Category E is for time-trial stages.
It started in Belfast on 9 May 2014 and traveled across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. There were three rest days instead of the usual two and the race started on a Friday.
List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 9 May | Belfast (Northern Ireland) – Belfast (Northern Ireland) | 21.7 km (13 mi) | | E (Team time trial) | Orica–GreenEDGE |
| 2 | 10 May | Belfast (Northern Ireland) – Belfast (Northern Ireland) | 219 km (136 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Marcel Kittel (GER) |
| 3 | 11 May | Armagh (Northern Ireland) – Dublin (Ireland) | 187 km (116 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Marcel Kittel (GER) |
| | 12 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 4 | 13 May | Giovinazzo – Bari | 112 km (70 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 5 | 14 May | Taranto – Viggiano | 203 km (126 mi) | | C (Medium-mountain stage) | Diego Ulissi (ITA) |
| 6 | 15 May | Sassano – Montecassino | 257 km (160 mi) | | C (Medium-mountain stage) | Michael Matthews (AUS) |
| 7 | 16 May | Frosinone – Foligno | 211 km (131 mi) | | B (Flat stage) | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 8 | 17 May | Foligno – Montecopiolo | 179 km (111 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Diego Ulissi (ITA) |
| 9 | 18 May | Lugo – Sestola | 172 km (107 mi) | | C (Medium-mountain stage) | Pieter Weening (NED) |
| | 19 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 10 | 20 May | Modena – Salsomaggiore Terme | 173 km (107 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 11 | 21 May | Collecchio – Savona | 249 km (155 mi) | | C (Medium-mountain stage) | Michael Rogers (AUS) |
| 12 | 22 May | Barbaresco – Barolo | 41.9 km (26 mi) | | E (Individual time trial) | Rigoberto Urán (COL) |
| 13 | 23 May | Fossano – Rivarolo Canavese | 157 km (98 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Marco Canola (ITA) |
| 14 | 24 May | Agliè – Oropa | 164 km (102 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Enrico Battaglin (ITA) |
| 15 | 25 May | Valdengo – Montecampione | 225 km (140 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Fabio Aru (ITA) |
| | 26 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 16 | 27 May | Ponte di Legno – Val Martello (Martelltal) | 139 km (86 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Nairo Quintana (COL) |
| 17 | 28 May | Sarnonico – Vittorio Veneto | 208 km (129 mi) | | B (Flat stage) | Stefano Pirazzi (ITA) |
| 18 | 29 May | Belluno – Rifugio Panarotta (Valsugana) | 171 km (106 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Julián Arredondo (COL) |
| 19 | 30 May | Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa (Crespano del Grappa) | 26.8 km (17 mi) | | E (Individual time trial) | Nairo Quintana (COL) |
| 20 | 31 May | Maniago – Monte Zoncolan | 167 km (104 mi) | | D (Mountain stage) | Michael Rogers (AUS) |
| 21 | 1 June | Gemona del Friuli – Trieste | 172 km (107 mi) | | A (Very flat stage) | Luka Mezgec (SLO) |

## Classification leadership

In the 2014 Giro d'Italia, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses (10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively) for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner is considered the winner of the Giro.
Additionally, there was a points classification, awarding a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. Unlike in the better known points classification in the Tour de France, the type of stage has no effect on what points were on offer – each stage had the same points available on the same scale. The winner earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a blue jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, third, or fourth-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, was worth still more points than the other first-category climbs. The fourth jersey represents the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1989 were eligible.
There were two classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time; the Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team.
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Trofeo Fast Team | Trofeo Super Team |
| 1 | Orica–GreenEDGE | Svein Tuft | not awarded | not awarded | Luke Durbridge | Orica–GreenEDGE | Orica–GreenEDGE |
| 2 | Marcel Kittel | Michael Matthews | Marcel Kittel | Maarten Tjallingii | Michael Matthews | Orica–GreenEDGE | Orica–GreenEDGE |
| 3 | Marcel Kittel | Michael Matthews | Marcel Kittel | Maarten Tjallingii | Michael Matthews | Orica–GreenEDGE | Team Sky |
| 4 | Nacer Bouhanni | Michael Matthews | Nacer Bouhanni | Maarten Tjallingii | Michael Matthews | Orica–GreenEDGE | Giant–Shimano |
| 5 | Diego Ulissi | Michael Matthews | Elia Viviani | Maarten Tjallingii | Michael Matthews | Astana | Giant–Shimano |
| 6 | Michael Matthews | Michael Matthews | Elia Viviani | Michael Matthews | Michael Matthews | BMC Racing Team | Giant–Shimano |
| 7 | Nacer Bouhanni | Michael Matthews | Nacer Bouhanni | Michael Matthews | Michael Matthews | BMC Racing Team | Giant–Shimano |
| 8 | Diego Ulissi | Cadel Evans | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | BMC Racing Team | Trek Factory Racing |
| 9 | Pieter Weening | Cadel Evans | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 10 | Nacer Bouhanni | Cadel Evans | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 11 | Michael Rogers | Cadel Evans | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 12 | Rigoberto Urán | Rigoberto Urán | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 13 | Marco Canola | Rigoberto Urán | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 14 | Enrico Battaglin | Rigoberto Urán | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 15 | Fabio Aru | Rigoberto Urán | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Rafał Majka | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | Lampre–Merida |
| 16 | Nairo Quintana | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Lampre–Merida |
| 17 | Stefano Pirazzi | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| 18 | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| 19 | Nairo Quintana | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| 20 | Michael Rogers | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| 21 | Luka Mezgec | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| Final | Final | Nairo Quintana | Nacer Bouhanni | Julián Arredondo | Nairo Quintana | Ag2r–La Mondiale | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |

### Notes

* In stages 3, 4, and 5, Luke Durbridge, who was second in the young riders classification, wore the white jersey, because Michael Matthews (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.
* In stage 4, no rider wore the red jersey after Marcel Kittel, who was first in the points classification, withdrew from the race.
* In stages 6, 7, and 8, Rafał Majka, who was second in the young riders classification, wore the white jersey, because Michael Matthews (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.
* In stages 7 and 8, Maarten Tjallingii, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the blue jersey, because Michael Matthews (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.
* In stage 17 and 18, Rafał Majka, who was second in the young riders classification, wore the white jersey, because Nairo Quintana (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.
* In stages 19, 20, and 21, Fabio Aru, who was second in the young riders classification, wore the white jersey, because Nairo Quintana (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the leader of the General classification | Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification |
| Denotes the leader of the Points classification | Denotes the leader of the Young rider classification |

### General classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 88h 14' 32" |
| 2 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | + 2' 58" |
| 3 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 4' 04" |
| 4 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 5' 46" |
| 5 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 6' 32" |
| 6 | Rafał Majka (POL) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 7' 04" |
| 7 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | Belkin Pro Cycling | + 11' 00" |
| 8 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 11' 51" |
| 9 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Sharp | + 13' 35" |
| 10 | Robert Kišerlovski (CRO) | Trek Factory Racing | + 15' 49" |

### Points classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | FDJ.fr | 291 |
| 2 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek Factory Racing | 265 |
| 3 | Roberto Ferrari (ITA) | Lampre–Merida | 186 |
| 4 | Elia Viviani (ITA) | Cannondale | 174 |
| 5 | Ben Swift (GBR) | Team Sky | 135 |
| 6 | Luka Mezgec (SLO) | Giant–Shimano | 128 |
| 7 | Enrico Battaglin (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 108 |
| 8 | Tyler Farrar (USA) | Garmin–Sharp | 103 |
| 9 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | 96 |
| 10 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Belisol | 94 |

### Mountains classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Julián Arredondo (COL) | Trek Factory Racing | 173 |
| 2 | Dario Cataldo (ITA) | Team Sky | 132 |
| 3 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 88 |
| 4 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Belisol | 79 |
| 5 | Robinson Chalapud (COL) | Colombia | 73 |
| 6 | Jonathan Monsalve (VEN) | Neri Sottoli | 68 |
| 7 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | 57 |
| 8 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | 46 |
| 9 | Jarlinson Pantano (COL) | Colombia | 43 |
| 10 | Franco Pellizotti (ITA) | Androni Giocattoli–Venezuela | 42 |

### Young riders classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 88h 14' 32" |
| 2 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 4' 04" |
| 3 | Rafał Majka (POL) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 7' 04" |
| 4 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | Belkin Pro Cycling | + 11' 00" |
| 5 | Sebastián Henao (COL) | Team Sky | + 56' 24" |
| 6 | Georg Preidler (AUT) | Giant–Shimano | + 1h 05' 03" |
| 7 | Mikel Landa (ESP) | Astana | + 1h 23' 06" |
| 8 | Marc Goos (NED) | Belkin Pro Cycling | + 1h 30' 43" |
| 9 | Jan Polanc (SLO) | Lampre–Merida | + 1h 45' 31" |
| 10 | Paweł Poljański (POL) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 2h 04' 29" |

### Trofeo Fast Team classification

| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ag2r–La Mondiale | 264h 30' 55" |
| 2 | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | + 19' 32" |
| 3 | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 27' 12" |
| 4 | BMC Racing Team | + 1h 08' 24" |
| 5 | Movistar Team | + 1h 13' 52" |
| 6 | Astana | + 1h 26' 51" |
| 7 | Team Sky | + 1h 28' 05" |
| 8 | Lampre–Merida | + 1h 47' 02" |
| 9 | Team Europcar | + 2h 04' 31" |
| 10 | Trek Factory Racing | + 2h 14' 58" |

### Trofeo Super Team classification

| | Team | Points |
| 1 | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step | 327 |
| 2 | Bardiani–CSF | 303 |
| 3 | Trek Factory Racing | 294 |
| 4 | Team Sky | 294 |
| 5 | Ag2r–La Mondiale | 285 |
| 6 | Lampre–Merida | 280 |
| 7 | Giant–Shimano | 278 |
| 8 | Tinkoff–Saxo | 262 |
| 9 | Androni Giocattoli–Venezuela | 224 |
| 10 | BMC Racing Team | 211 |

### Minor classifications

Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders do not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. These awards are based on points earned throughout the three weeks of the tour. Each mass-start stage has one intermediate sprint, the Traguardi Volante, or T.V. The T.V. sprints give bonus seconds towards the general classification, points towards the regular points classification, and also points towards the T.V. classification. This award was known by various names in previous years, and was previously time-based. It was won by Italian Marco Bandiera. The Premio della Fuga, rewards riders who take part in breakaways at the head of the field. Each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders receives one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. Andrea Fedi won this classification.
Other awards include the Fighting Spirit (Combativity classification), which is a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. This classification was won by Julián Arredondo. The Azzurri d'Italia classification is based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage. It was won by Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni. Teams take part in the Fair Play classification where teams are given penalty points for minor technical infringements. This was won by Cannondale. A new classification, the Energy Prize classification was introduced this year and awarded points to the rider with the fastest time in those last 3 km gets 4 points, the second 2 points and the third one point. The first winner of this was Enrico Battaglin.