Cycling: 'historic' 2011 Giro to end in Milan
Time trial to cap events for 150th anniversary of Italian unity
30 July, 15:12
(ANSA) - Rome, July 30 - Next year's historic Giro d'Italia,
coinciding with the 150th anniversary of Italian unification,
will end with an individual time trial in Milan, organisers said
Friday."It will be a real race, not a parade," said Andrea Monti, editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the sports paper that organises the round-Italy stage race. The time trial on May 29, 2011 will run through the heart of the city from Piazza Castello to Piazza Duomo.
It will be the 74th time in 94 editions that the Giro will end in the Lombard capital.
"The Giro was born here," observed Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti.
"This is a city with a passion for cycling. It will be a (stage) of great symbolic value in the year of the celebration of Italian unity".
Moratti said the Giro finale would also help promote the Universal Exposition (Expo) in the city in 2015. The Giro will start with a team time trial in Turin on May 7.
The world's second-biggest stage race will be used to promote the 150th anniversary events.
In 1861 Turin became Italy's first capital.
Florence took over as capital in 1865 before it moved again to Rome six years later after the city was captured from the Papal States.
photo: Giro reigning champion Ivan Basso in Milan in 2009
