Europe - Cycling the Giro routes

Does anyone know if it is possible to ride the Giro d'Italia routes as an independent or is it necessary to be part of an organized tour? I'm hoping to travel around Italy in May and would like to do some of the climbs but not be tied to a cycling tour package. Does anyone have experience doing this?

Some of the routes are not pleasant under everyday traffic conditions (they can be major through roads with a fair amount of auto traffic). The mountain passes, on the other hand, tend to be low motor-traffic roads--though there are exceptions and some roads are popular on weekends with motorcyclists-going-fast. They vary quite a bit as to the availability of water along the way, and whether or not there's shelter/restrooms/food at the pass. You can certainly do the passes without going with a group. Just be safe and be willing to turn back if the weather turns bad.

Does anyone know if it is possible to ride the Giro d'Italia routes as an independent or is it necessary to be part of an organized tour? I'm hoping to travel around Italy in May and would like to do some of the climbs but not be tied to a cycling tour package. Does anyone have experience doing this?
I've had lots of experience riding independently around Italy. While I haven't specifically tried to follow Giro stage routes, lots of times my day of riding has used some of the same roads. Here's my report about lots of mountain roads in northeast Italy (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/e/08b/index.htm#northeast_Italy_high_passes_08sep) + some in northwest (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/e/07a/index.htm#northwest_Italy_07sep). My advice:
Listen carefully to what dorkypants is saying.

Example of the variations in traffic: Giro d'Italia stage 17 in 2007 in northwest Italy started in Lienz Austria and had three climbs: N side of Passo di Monte Croce Carnico, E side of Ravascletto, W side of Monte Zoncolan. Mt Z is normally very quiet (and the steepest long climb the Giro has ever done). Ravascletto has moderate traffic. But Passo M Croce Carnico gets lots of serious traffic -- no problem for the Giro racers, because the road is closed for them. My strategy was to make a loop route that included only the low and moderate traffic climbs, and I was happy with that.

Keep in mind that lots of roads used in Giro stages are chosen for reasons other than that they're good for cycling. "Political" reasons like to advertise certain tourist cities. Or because they're convenient for lots of spectators to come and go. If you want to try to ride a couple of complete Giro stages just for personal achievement, OK -- but I wouldn't use the Giro as a "guidebook" of the best riding in Italy.

Ken