In the past decade, the Giro d’Italia has started abroad a number of times. The Grande Partenza has taken place in Seraing in Belgium in 2006, Amsterdam in 2010, Herning in Denmark in 2012 and Belfast last year. Apeldoorn in the Netherlands will host the start next year.
The most ambitious start yet though might take place in 2017. According to an article in Sport.be, the Giro organisers RCS have a preliminary agreement with the Japanese city of Shizuoka for the start to take place there.
It’s reported that Asatsu-DK, the third largest advertising company in Japan, would contribute to the total budget of €35m required. Such a massive budget would be required to pay for the transfer of the race cavalcade and also for payments to each team taking part to help ‘ease the pain’ of such a long transfer.
If it was to happen, the first four days of the race would take place in Japan, with the fifth and sixth days set aside for the transfer to Italy. A stage to Mount Fuji has been suggested as one of the four stages to take place.
“A final agreement with RCS has not been made yet, but by the end of 2015 it could be sorted,” said a Belgian source who has close contacts with the Japanese organisers.
There is growing interest in the Giro in Asia. It has been broadcast in Japan for years on J Sports, in China on LeTV and earlier this year, the organisation of the Giro also signed an agreement with the Japanese Sony Six channel for highlights of the Giro to be shown in India.
On April 1?
oui! Mais sans transfert en avion! Un Giro qui passe par San Francisco et New York! Deux villes Italiennes, au demeurant…
How many time zones is that they have to cross?
What??????