The organization behind the Giro d’Italia is considering bringing the start of Italy’s Grand Tour to America’s capital. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the opening prologue would be in Washington DC.
“For some time we have had the idea of holding the Giro's start in America. But now there exists a concrete interest from the city of Washington DC,” explained race director Angelo Zomegnan.
The plan has received preliminary interest from Washington DC's Mayor Adrian Fenty. The Mayor has been a long-time cycling advocate, and has been known to race his bike on occasion. Though nothing has been decided, after the DC prologue, the route might include two to three stages along the east coast. Philadelphia and New York City are two possible cities.
Starting the Giro in the US would mark the first time in history that a Grand Tour has brought its start outside the European continent.
Before this can happen, the organization will have to find workable solutions for a whole new set of logistical problems that will present themselves. The biggest issues will be dealing with jetlag and the relative high cost of flying the riders, staff, and equipment. The eight hour flight between New York and Milan along with a six hour time difference that have the potential to affect performances.
Cycling has undergone a dramatic globalization in the past years with the emergence of the Tour of Qatar and the ProTour's newest non-European race, the Tour down Under. Qatar, Turkey, and Scotland have all put in bids to hold the start of the Tour de France.
VeloNation is working on an exclusive interview with the individuals behind the Giro's potential start in the US.