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Giro d’Italia to start in Jerusalem
The Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s most prestigious races, will begin today in Jerusalem – the first time a Grand Tour will start outside of Europe.
Today’s individual time trial stage in Jerusalem will cover a six-mile route that will take riders near the Old City and some of Jerusalem’s holiest sites. It will be followed tomorrow by a 104 mile section from Haifa to Tel Aviv and a 143 mile stretch from Be’er Sheva to Eilat on Sunday, the second-longest leg of the entire race. The riders will then travel to Italy for the remainder of the event.
The team presentation on Thursday evening took place on a giant pink stage in Jerusalem’s Safra Square and was hosted by the supermodel Bar Refaeli.
The Giro d’Italia is a 21-day race, totalling 2,203.6 miles, featuring 176 riders from 22 teams. In its 101-year history, the Giro has previously opened a dozen times outside Italy but never outside Europe.
The race is the biggest and most prestigious sporting event ever hosted in Israel. In a statement, the police said: “Thousands of police, border and security officers are preparing to protect public order, the participants and the spectators.” Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev revealed that the government has invested about NIS 30m in the race, believing local tourism will greatly benefit as a result.
This year the race features four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who is looking to become only the third person ever to win the three Grand Tour titles in a row. Only six men in history have won all three of the big tours – the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and the Giro.
Froome said: “The Giro is special and full of history, and I am looking forward to racing it again after almost a decade. I’ve had a different start to the season as I’ve obviously been aiming to try and reach my peak quite a bit earlier than usual. But the target of going for a third consecutive Grand Tour has given me new motivation.”
Amnesty International has accused Israel of trying to “sportwash” its reputation by hosting the event.