There’s always an electrifying buzz surrounding the unveiling of the next Giro d’Italia starting location. The excitement is justified – hosting the opening act of such an iconic race brings unparalleled prestige and honor to the chosen city or region. For a few days, the area becomes the gravitational center of the cycling world.
For the first five decades of the Giro, the city of Milan stood as the ultimate protagonist. From the inaugural edition held in 1909 until 1959, the Lombard city hosted the start almost every year, with rare exceptions in Rome (1911, 1929), Messina (1930), and Palermo (1949, 1954). Then, in 1960, the tradition expanded. Every region in Italy began dreaming of painting its roads pink for the Grande Partenza. To date, 18 Italian regions have had this honor, with Molise and Basilicata being the only holdouts. Lombardy leads the pack with a staggering 44 starts, followed by Sicily with nine and Liguria and Veneto tied at five each.
Over time, the allure of the Giro’s first stages went beyond Italian borders. Neighboring countries, captivated by the Giro’s magic, wanted their turn to bask in the glory and share this unprecedented experience with their citizens. San Marino was the first in 1965, followed by Monaco in 1966. Over the years, the distance from Italy continued to grow. In 1973, the Giro started in Verviers, Belgium – cycling royalty territory – marking the start of a new era. Other European nations followed suit, eager to host this grand spectacle. Athens (1996) gave the race a touch of ancient grandeur, while Nice (1998) brought a Mediterranean charm. The Netherlands have proven to be a favorite host, welcoming the Giro three times in the 21st century: Groningen (2002), Amsterdam (2010), and Apeldoorn (2016). Belgium returned to the spotlight in Seraing (2006), Denmark joined the club with Herning (2012), and Northern Ireland embraced the pink movement in Belfast (2014). The Giro even ventured further afield with the fascinating start in Jerusalem (2018) and most recently, in Budapest, Hungary (2022).
Whether revisiting historic sites or charting new territories, the Giro d’Italia continues to prove that its spirit knows no bounds.
