Giro to visit both sides of border

The 2014 Giro d’Italia will start in Northern Ireland and will have at least one stage finish in the Republic.

Following months of speculation, the details of the race — second only to the Tour de France in terms of prestige — look set to be unveiled in Belfast and Dublin this Thursday.

Titled ‘the Giro d’Italia lands in Ireland’ and billed as an ‘official presentation of a new collaboration between RCS Sport [race organisers] and the island of Ireland,’ the twin launches will come as a huge boost to the respective local economies.