I’m a little late with this, but I’ve been working on an impossible deadline for the past two weeks, so you’ll forgive me, I hope (and I’m still working on it, but a week must not go by without a new blog post!).
Next year’s Giro (May 9-June 1) starts in Belfast. With all the recent Grand Tour starts in the UK and Ireland it’s not hard to see where the cycling money is in Europe these days.
After a few days up there, the peloton flies down to the bottom of the boot for its long ride up the leg. There are plenty of mountain-top finishes (9), lots for the sprinters (8) and a couple of ITTs, plus one TTT. A nice mixed bag, I’d say.
Proving that the organizers have a healthy sense of irony, coupled with the weirdest timing ever, next year’s Giro is dedicated to Marco Pantani, probably the most juiced-up rider of his generation, if you include off the bike as well.
Still, I know I’ll be watching, maybe even live, if I’m deadline free in May.
The Vicious Cycle 
almost agree, check my review too http://bikingdiary.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/giro-ditalia-2014-first-look/
So why no Rome? Is it a political issue or just because it’s too much trouble logistically?
good question! I think it depends on how much is expensive having an arrival/departure in Rome
Gerry, you have been missing in action!
The gyro starting in Northern Ireland and finishing in Ireland should be a great one. Throw in a few pints of Guinness and this could make a trip to Dublin, to my wife’s stomping ground, very worthwhile. I’m glad Pat Mcquaid will not be welcoming the peloton to his home country. By the way, what do you think of Cookson doing a very good job of cleaning house. Seems all the cronies are quickly falling by the wayside. Now the director general and the lawyer for the UCI are gone. Very positive moves.
Luc, I’m glad someone has missed me! I’m getting seriously fat after all this HR training/racing. How about you?
I haven’t had any time to read about the whole Cookson election thing, to be honest. Hope he doesn’t replace one set of cronies with another, though…
Gerry,
Stage 2 goes past my parents house 🙂 If you fancy stopping by you are more than welcome to come and stay a couple of days there. I’m planning on riding some of the course in the days before. The stage itself is rather flat but if we take some detours we can incorporate some nasty little climbs 😉
Mark.
Mark, thanks for the offer! I probably can’t get up there at that time, though, at least not next year. Very tempting, however…don’t rent out that spare room just yet!