Washington could host Giro

Race organisers look further afield for starting point

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 4th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Washington could host Giro

Giro d'Italia

For a while we've had in mind the idea of starting the Giro in America

Angelo Zomegan
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Washington D.C. is a possible contender to one day host the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia, according to race director Angelo Zomegan.

The three-week race is traditionally based all around Italy but has started outside the country eight times, with the 2010 event set to begin in Amsterdam.

None of the three Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España) have ever opened in a country outside Europe, despite the Tour de France considering a start in Montreal, and Giro organisers are hoping to branch out further with starting points in the future to raise the international profile of the race.

Washington D.C. is one of the locations that has come under discussion, with the capital's Mayor Adrian Fenty strengthening the bid as a devout cycling fan.

"For a while we've had in mind the idea of starting the Giro in America," Zomegan told Gazzetta dello Sport, whose publishers run the Giro.

"Now, there is concrete interest from Washington."