Ireland is to host the opening three stages of the Giro d’Italia professional cycling race next year, with Irish tourism interests North and South hoping for a windfall of €50 million from the high-profile event.
The Grand Partenza or Big Start will take place in Belfast in May 2014 with further stages taking in Armagh city and Dublin before the 200 cyclists and support teams fly back to Italy for the rest of the three-week event.
Modest estimates put the value to both parts of Ireland at between €45 million and €50 million based on projected visitor expenditure and longer-term benefits arising from global TV exposure.
Publicity
Politicians, Giro organisers and Irish cycling stars assembled in Belfast and Dublin yesterday for publicity events to mark the securing of the race. It is only the 11th time since its inception in 1909 that it will go outside Italy.
The Giro has been lured to Ireland by a range of incentives from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council, the Stormont Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Mediolanum International Funds/Life.
Northern authorities are investing £4.2 million (€4.85 million), which is expected to generate £10 million (€11.55 million) for the local economy.
It is hoped further long-term benefits will follow as a result of Ireland’s exposure to a global audience of 800 million across 165 countries.
British interest in the Giro will be strong, with its cycling stars Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome likely to be competing.
The event begins on May 10th next year in Belfast, with the first two stages being held in and around the city.
The riders then move to Armagh on May 12th for the start of the third stage, which finishes in Dublin that evening.
Dublin hosted the opening stages of the Tour de France in 1998 and the race returns to England in July 2014.
Stage details
The precise details of next year’s Giro stage routes in Ireland have yet to be announced and will be concluded at a later stage. Giro officials and logistics experts will return to Ireland next month to finalise the routes.
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said staging the Giro was a coup for Ireland, North and South.
“This prestigious event will be seen by millions of sports and cycling fans everywhere, presenting us with a fantastic opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland around the world as a top location for sporting events, as well as a wonderful holiday destination,” Mr Gibbons said.
His comments were echoed by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí, who both hailed the announcement as “a great day for Ireland”.
Stephen Roche attended the Belfast announcement yesterday, accompanied by Stormont Minister for Tourism Arlene Foster and Michele Acquarone, head of the Giro and managing director of Italian race organiser RCS Sport. He was joined at the Dublin announcement by Seán Kelly.
Capitalising on event
Roche said that while the economy and Irish tourism would benefit, his wish was that Irish cycling would capitalise on the event in ways that did not happen following the visit of the Tour de France 15 years ago.
“The Tour de France came here and went and have you seen any difference? I hope some ways of developing cycling can come on the back of it and maybe sponsors may come on board for a new Tour of Ireland.”
He believed that because of the weather conditions and the length of the stages, the Giro was probably more gruelling than the Tour de France.
“They are totally different but in the Tour de France you get good weather and bad weather.
“In the Giro you get good weather, bad weather and horrific weather.”