The cross-border start to the world-famous cycling event will be held over three stages from May 10 until 12 with the stages set to will involve routes through the Northern Irish cities of Belfast and Armagh as well as the capital of the Republic of Ireland Dublin.

The start of the 104-year-old Giro is normally hosted in Italy but in recent times has been awarded to an outside country every two years.

It is a major boost for the British Isles because it means that two of cycling's Grand Tours will both make visits next year, with the 2014 Tour de France to start in Yorkshire.

Ireland did welcome the Tour de France in 1998 when the first three days of the race took place in the country and this is another major boost for the sport in the country.

"Belfast will provide spectacular backdrops for the 2014 Grand Partenza and will add something very special into the history of this great cycling event," said head of the Giro and the managing director of Italian race organiser RCS Sport Michele Acquarone.

Estimates suggest a figure of around £4 million ($6.4 million/€5 million) will be required to bring the event to Ireland but the commercial return could be in the region of £10 million ($16 million/€11.5 million).


Northern Ireland's Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the announcement.

"Plans are already in motion to make the occasion a fabulous celebration worthy of Italian cycling traditions and the maglia rosa itself," said Foster.

Ireland's Stephen Roche, who won the Giro in 1987, has also hailed the news.

"The Giro is maybe distinctive in that it is probably the second biggest event for me, in my opinion after the Tour de France," said Roche, who went on win the Tour de France and World Championship in 1987, shortly after his Giro win.

"When you consider the passion these people have, the passion these people have shown to us this morning, it is duplicated throughout the whole Italian nation.

"When you see all the people on the roadsides of Italy, the enthusiasm of poor and rich, they all come together for this event."

Last year's Giro was broadcast in 165 countries across all continents, reaching 125 million households and a global accumulated audience of 775 million people.

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