The third edition of the Giro-E, a three-week race that aims to promote the use of e-bikes in everyday life, has been confirmed for next month. The event, which is run immediately before each stage of the Giro d’Italia, will start in Turin on May 8 and finish in Milan on May 30.

The Giro-E is generally described as a race, but while there are racing elements, it is in reality more of a cycle touring event.

The captain of each team – who is typically a former pro – sprints at the end of each day’s riding, but for the most part riders travel in a group.

The main challenge set for most participants is the daily ‘regularity test’ – a period of riding during which they must try and maintain an average speed close to the one dictated by organisers. Considering each stage uses the same finish line as the pros and on the same days, you can see why they might want to have a mechanism for influencing the riders’ speeds.

The Giro-E routes aren’t exactly the same as the pro race, however. There are different start towns and the stages are shorter, ranging from 70-115km.

This still means a total of 1,540km will be covered however, with 25,500m of climbing (around half of that achieved by the professionals, who will undertake 47,000m). Stage 14 will see the riders tackle Monte Zoncolan, while Stage 16 includes Passo Giau and Passo Pordoi.