Though hit by rain on all three stages, Belfast and then Dublin really welcomed the Giro d'Italia with open arms. The man who put the main players together, Darach McQuaid says some of the potential sponsors he has lined up for the pro Tour of Ireland loved what they saw this weekend. He added the potential backers are not put off by the June deadline for indicating to the UCI if the race is going to happen next year. McQuaid (right) pictured with Stephen Roche in Dublin yesterday (Photo: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
The man responsible for bringing the Giro d’Italia to Ireland this year, Darach McQuaid reiterated his belief that the Tour of Ireland pro race would return and said he’s very hopeful of making an announcement soon.
Advertisement
The event ran for three years from 2007 to 2009 but was scrapped amid the recession. It appears the major stumbling block in restarting it is a main title sponsor.
But following on from a phenomenal weekend for the sport in this country, McQuaid expressed his commitment and confidence that the race would become a feature on the UCI calendar again.
“Shadetree Sports is pushing very, very hard to re-launch the Tour of Ireland,” he explained. “Unfortunately the recession hit us bad and out title sponsor was the Government so that went away very sharp in 2009.
“But we’re coming out of that recession now and I can see both Governments north and south believing that cycling offers an economic return and brands are also looking at cycling.
“I’d like to be able to announce a new Tour of Ireland sponsor. We had some people on the Giro the last couple of days.
“You can well imagine they were blown away by the public and the riders and what excitement a cycling race can provide. So we are hotly pursuing these very excited board directors of several companies and we would be very hopeful of announcing something soon.”
There is a June deadline for potential races to be submitted to the UCI for consideration for 2015 and McQuaid has had discussions with representation from the sport’s governing body over the race’s mooted comeback.
“Philip Chevalier from the UCI was in Belfast and we had a discussion. The deadline is June, (that is) when they go to the road commission with a provisional 2015 road calendar. But I’m certainly not saying it’s a done deal. But we’ve had some people…the deadline doesn’t scare them.”
He also confirmed the race would hopefully get a 2.1 ranked UCI status.
Related News
In terms of the Giro, McQuaid said the race was central in the Northern Irish Government’s strategy of painting itself in a new light.
“They’ve been in a good place for quite a few years now but particularly since about 2010 when they started some major projects including the launch in 2012 of Titanic Belfast.
“They’ve had the MTV European Music Awards in 2011, last year they hosted the World Police and Fire Games and this year the Giro.
“So clearly they do see events as being central to their strategy of showing the country in its new post-Troubles phase and it’s been very successful.
“I remember going up there in the 70s and 80s and you’d be doing well to get a decent bag of chips,” he joked.
“I’ve been there a lot in the last couple of years and every week there’s a new restaurant opening, the hotel stock has exploded, it’s a really cool place to visit and I think their strategy is working.
“What I’ve heard from their minister and deputy first minister and a much broader group of people in the Government; they’re extremely pleased what the Giro has delivered, both in the lead-up.
“This isn’t just about the team presentation and the three stages and the legacy of it, it’s been a central part of their strategy to show Belfast in a new light.”
Mark Cavendish storming home for victory on stage 2 of the pro Tour of Ireland from Clonmel to Killarney in 2009. Darach McQuaid is hoping to revive the race in the afterglow of the Giro's trip to Ireland, north and south.
Topics
