In 1987, Stephen Roche became the first Irish winner of the Giro d’Italia, and the second person to ever achieve the ‘Triple Crown’ (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and World Road Race Championship).
This year’s Giro d’Italia, the 97th race in 105 years, will be over 3,450km long.
But what is the Giro d'Italia and why is it coming to Ireland?
Here’s a quick guide to the Giro:
Giro d’WHAT?
The Giro d'Italia is an annual stage race that is run primarily in Italy. Along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana, the Giro is a prestigious three-week long international stage race on the Pro Tour Race calendar. It's usually held during late May and early June. Like the other Grand Tours, the modern editions usually consist of 21 day-long stages over a 23-day period that includes 2 rest days. The 2014 race includes 3 rest days.
When did it start?
The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1909, except when it was stopped for the two world wars.
Why is it coming to Ireland?
Every second year, the organisers of the Giro d'Italia take their Grande Partenza, or Big Start, overseas, and this year it's Northern Ireland's turn.
Which colours should we look out for?
Blue jersey – awarded to the leader of the mountain stages
White jersey - awarded to the leading young rider (under 25)
Red jersey – awarded to the rider who accumulates the most number of points during sprint and stage finishes
Pink jersey – the leader of the race (all of the stages are timed to the finish; after finishing the riders' times are compounded with their previous stage times; the rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the race and gets to wear the coveted Maglia Rose - pink jersey).
The Big Start
165 countries will be watching Ireland’s famous landscape, north and south, in all its glory:
Route Details:
Stage 1 - 9th May – a 22km Team Time Trial through Belfast taking in the Newtownards Road, Stormont, Queen's Bridge, the Ormeau Road, Stranmillis and the city centre.
Stage 2 - 10th May 2014 - 218km travelling from Belfast to Antrim, then to Ballymena, Ballymoney and Bushmills and on to the Giant’s Causeway taking in the coastline from Cushendall to Larne, Carrickfergus, and back to Belfast.
Stage 3 - 11th May 2014 - a 187km cross border section that will leave Armagh and travel to Richhill and Newtownhamilton before heading south, crossing the border at Forkhill en route to Dublin, via Dundalk, Castlebellingham and Drogheda.
Download this handy infographic of the Giro d’Italia Big Start 2014 here
