La Grande Partenza of the 2014 edition of the three-week Giro d’Italia will take place in Ireland. From 10 to 13 May 2014 the island will host three days of racing around the cities of Belfast, Dublin and Armagh.

Michele Acquarone, the Director General of RCS Sport, who organize the Giro, said: "We are delighted to be taking the Grande Partenza of the 2014 Giro d’Italia to Ireland. This is an ambitious project for us for many reasons.

Using sport, cycling in particular, to unite the island is an idea we find deeply attractive. We recognise that to do so, logistical perfection will be required on all sides. It will be the first foreign start for any Grand Tour since the implementation of a new UCI regulation prohibiting rest days on three-week Tours until the completion of at least seven days of racing.”