As anticipated, race organisers RCS Sport today confirmed that the first three stages of next year’s Giro d’Italia will take place in Ireland, making history as the first time for the race to visit the country.
At a high profile launch held today in Titanic Belfast, Giro chief Michele Aquarone spoke about the historic initiative, which will see the race begin in Belfast on May 10th of next year.
“The Giro start will build on Ireland’s long experience of hosting major world sporting events,” he said. “It will also celebrate Ireland’s past successes in many of Italy’s most prestigious races, from Sean Kelly’s serial wins in Milan-Sanremo (1986 and 1992), and the Tour of Lombardy (1983, 1985, 1991), to Stephen Roche’s magnificent Giro d’Italia victory in 1987.”
Precise stage details will be confirmed at a later point, but the start and finish of day one will take place in the region’s capital, beginning at Titanic Quarter and finishing at Belfast City Hall.
Day two will also run from Belfast to Belfast, starting and finishing at those same venues. Day three on Monday May 12h will begin at The Mall in Armagh and cross the border en route to a finish in Dublin City Centre.
Stage distances, climbs and other details have not been revealed at this point in time.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Michele Acquarone and his fantastic team at RCS Sport,” said Darach McQuaid of Shadetree Sports, the company which helped secure the race for Ireland. “The event they organise is truly spectacular.”
The Giro start will only be the second time for a Grand Tour to visit the island of Ireland. The Tour de France began in Dublin in 1998. Next year’s Tour will start in Yorkshire, meaning that two out of cycling’s three Grand Tours will take place in islands in the north of Europe.
More from today’s launch will follow later…