Girodc2012 official bid
History is made but once.
The Giro d'Italia's first American Stages
No Grand Tour has ever started outside of Europe - not once, in over 100 years. Washington, D.C. will make history by being the first non-European city to host this great race. Here's what people are saying:
"There would be nothing better than having the prologue down National Mall in D.C. I think it would be the biggest thing for the Giro; it would put the world’s eyes on the Giro."
Christian Vande Velde
2008 Maglia Rosa Winner (Prologue)
"I believe it would be one of the most fabulous events ever to happen in Washington, D.C. from an athletic discipline standpoint..."
Adrian M. Fenty
Mayor
District of Columbia
"Hosting this race would not only provide the District with a tremendous economic boost, but further legitimize its status as an international destination for world-class sporting events, conventions and tourism."
Gregory A. O’Dell
President & CEO
Washington Convention and Sports Authority
"...but not only is the idea feasible, it is electrifying. Imagine a timed prologue moving past the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial. It would be an exceptional promotion both for cycling and for the Giro d’Italia."
Angelo Zomegnan
Race Director
Giro d’Italia
Giro History
The Giro d’Italia, also simply known as the Giro, is a three week road-bicycle stage race held in May/early June in and around Italy. It is one of the three grand cycling tours, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
The maglia rosa, or pink jersey, is worn each day by the rider with the fastest overall time up to that point of the Giro. The maglia rosa is similar to the yellow jersey, or maillot jaune, used in the Tour de France.
The rider who wears the maglia rosa will frequently change over the course of the race depending on many factors. But the glory and enhanced exposure for any rider that wears the maglia rosa, his team, and that team’s sponsors, serves as tremendous incentive to fight and retain the coveted pink jersey from day to day. The cyclist with the lowest time at the end of the Giro’s last stage wins the Giro.
