The organisers of next month's Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia, starting and finishing in Belfast, say the number of entries has already exceeded expectations. And they have added some big time glamour with news that 2010 Giro leader Richie Porte of Team Sky will ride the event (Photo: Sirotti)
A legacy event of the Giro d’Italia’s visit to Irish shores north and south last year; the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland has just added some Team Sky glamour to the proceedings.
Paris-Nice winner Richie Porte is to jet in to participate in the event on June 21st.
And the in-form Tasmanian will not only ride the sportive with the Irish and international competitors, but will also be on hand to meet and greet those present.
Porte is a former leader of the Giro; his wearing of the iconic Maglia Rosa in 2010 was one of his first major international results.
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And he went on to finish 7th in the race and claim the young rider classification.
Belfast went nuts for the Giro last year, and a great event seems to be in store for next month when the legacy of the race's visit is celebrated there.
This year he has been in stunning form, winning the Paris-Nice, Tour of Catalunya and Giro del Trentino stages races.
He has also won the Australian time trial title this year and will lead Team Sky in Giro 2015, which starts next Saturday.
Related reading - Routes and maps for ‘Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland'; with registration now open
Porte said he was “really delighted” to be coming to the North for next month’s event.
“Seeing the spectacular success of the Giro d’Italia there last year left me wanting to come and visit and ride my bike and experience the scenery. And this event gives me the perfect opportunity to do this.
“The Giro starts next Saturday and I am honoured to be leading Team Sky with the aim of wearing the leader’s jersey in the final stage and taking the overall victory.”
Porte has been in absolutely flying form this season and should add a huge amount to the event next month (Photo: Sirotti)
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Darach McQuaid of Shadetree Sports, which helped bring the Giro to Ireland and has also been central to securing the Gran Fondo legacy event for at least the next three years, said having a rider of Porte’s calibre coming next month was “very special indeed”.
“We are confident he will enjoy the testing and scenic route we have designed for the Mourne Route and have no doubt his participation will assist us in our goal to create a worldwide interest in Northern Ireland as a cycling destination.”
Related reading - They came, we saw, we nailed it: The iconic photos of Ireland’s magnificent Giro d’Italia
McQuaid called on Irish fans using Twitter to adopt Porte during his bid to win the Giro, which has no Irish riders in the field this time around.
“The hashtag will be #AdoptRichieNI and we will be creating competitions all throughout the Giro offering our riders and fans opportunities to win cool Giro related prizes whilst supporting Richie,” McQuaid explained.
There will be some fantastic scenery on offer for those riding next month's event.
Tourism Northern Ireland director, Susie McCullough, said “the legacy of last year’s Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza is still very much alive” across Northern Ireland.
“It has just been given another great boost with the news that one of the top riders in the world will join us for next month’s Gran Fondo,” she said.
“Registration for the event on 21st June has exceeded expectations and I am confident that Richie Porte’s involvement will deliver a further boost to efforts to stage another sporting spectacular and prove, yet again, Northern Ireland’s ability to host world class events.”
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