News of: Sunday, May 31 2009,
The annual bicycle race Giro d'Italia will start in Amsterdam, in 2010.
The 'Giro' is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy.
After a race along the canals in Amsterdam, the first round will finish in the Olympic Stadium (built for the Olympic Games of 1928, that were held in Amsterdam). This will be either May 7 or 8, 2010.
The start of this famous Italian bicycle race in Amsterdam means that the 3 important bicycle races in Europe will all start in the Netherlands.
The Tour of Spain (Vuelta a Espaņa) will start at the end of August in the east-Dutch town of Assen, and the Tour de France, the most famous of them all, will start in Rotterdam, July 2010.
Alderman Gehrels (Sports department) is very happy with the Giro d'Italia in Amsterdam, as this means a lot of extra visitors for Amsterdam, which is good for the economy.
