The 106th edition of the race is scheduled to take place from May 6 to 28 and the route was unveiled today in central Milan.

It will not leave Italy and features a typically challenging closing week.

That mountainous individual time trial, measuring 18.6 kilometres, is the penultimate stage and could be crucial in determining who wins the pink jersey. 

The solo route starts at Tarvisio and finishes in Monte Lussari after an uphill stretch of 7.5km with an average gradient of 12 per cent.

Rome's Imperial Forums will be the backdrop for the final finish line the next day.

Six of the 21 stages are longer than 200km, while three have elevation gains of more than 5,000 metres.

Two rest days are planned.

Stage 19 looks to be the queen stage - a 182km path from Longarone to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo which has 5,400m of elevation and consecutive climbs. 

The mountainous individual time trial will be the next day.

Jay Hindley, the Australian Bora-Hansgrohe rider who won this year's Grand Tour, was among the guests at the route announcement.

French points winner Arnaud Démare and Dutch mountains classification winner Koen Bouwman were also present.