Cycling race Giro d’Italia to start in Belfast and go through Dublin

Plans confirmed this week at events in Belfast and Dublin

Over its 109 year history, the Giro d’Italia has only begun outside of Italy ten times. In 2012, it began in Denmark; this year it is beginning in Naples, Italy on May 4.

The last time Ireland hosted a stage in a Grand Tour cycling race was in 1998 when the Tour de France began in Ireland for three days.

"It's not that there's more money abroad, but that there are more options," Giro director Michele Acquarone told Cycling Weekly. "In Italy we are limited to the 20 regions to host the start."

The Belfast Telegraph reported in October that hosting the start of the Giro d'Italia is financially worthwhile, noting that Belfast would have an estimated cost of $5.8m, but have a $15m economic return.

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Nster.com