The 93rd edition of the Tour of Italy in 2010 will start in the Netherlands on May 8 before embarking on a 3,416.5km journey around the Italian peninsula and ending in Verona on May 30.

The 93rd edition of the Tour of Italy in 2010 will start in the Netherlands on May 8 before embarking on a 3,416.5km journey around the Italian peninsula and ending in Verona on May 30.

That was the course unveiled in Milan on Saturday with 21 stages and plenty of tough climbs.

Reigning champion Denis Menchov, the Russian Rabobank rider, was among the guests at the official presentation alongside former winner Damiano Cunego and Italian stars of the past such as Mario Cipolini.

There was also a chance for Italy to get to know Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen, a Dutch actress and presenter who will be the face of the 2010 Giro and who also happens to be the girlfriend of new Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder.

The opening stage will be a timetrial around Amsterdam which will also host the start of the next two stages, ending in Utrecht and then Middleburg before the riders take a flight to Italy.

It will be the ninth time the Giro has begun outside of Italy, the first time being in 1965 when it started in San Marino.