The North is still basking in the afterglow of the Giro d'Italia's visit last year. But is another visit from a Grand Tour on the cards already? Above, Toby Watson's shot of Marcel Kittel was the photo of the race for us 12 months ago.
Just twelve months on from the huge success of the Giro d’Italia starting on Irish shores, consideration is being given to bringing the race back in the not too distant future.
Tentative talks have already taken place between those in Italy and Ireland who made the Grande Partenza happen last year.
And the tourism authorities in Northern Ireland, whose financial backing made the race’s visit here possible, have now gone on the record saying the race was a massive success for the local economy and the North’s global image.
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And they very clearly want it back, according to Kathryn Thompson of Tourism Northern Ireland in an interview with UTV News.
“The impact of last year was that over 227,000 spectators were at the event,” she said of the local impact.
Related reading - Photographer Toby Watson’s top 10 shots from the 2014 season; superb stuff
Homeboy: Philip Deignan got such a big welcome at the official presentation, he was genuinely taken aback. It looks like the race might be coming back within the span of his career (Photo: Toby Watson)
But the international reach for the North – the crucial factor in driving tourist visits on the back of the exposure the racing brought – was much more significant.
“It was broadcast into 56 million houses around the world and had an economic impact of over £12 million,” added Thompson.
“So when you look at an impact like that; we would certainly welcome the opportunity to consider the race returning to Northern Ireland in the future.”
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Darach McQuaid of Shadetree Sports, the cycling promotions company that brought the key players in the North, Republic and Italy together to plan and fund the race, felt a time frame of around five years was realistic for another visit.
The people of Ireland, north and south, went nuts for the racing; a slightly wet couple of days doing nothing to dampen the Irish welcome that seems to have impressed the Italians greatly.
“Following the big success of the Grande Partenza last year, Mauro Vegni the race director told me it was without a shadow of a doubt the best big start they ever had in the 106 year history of the event,” McQuaid said.
“Since then, we’ve gone into discussions, and they’re very much open to coming back to Northern Ireland. So it’s a real prospect.”
Related reading - They came, we saw, we nailed it: The iconic photos of Ireland’s magnificent Giro d’Italia
McQuaid is also heavily involved in the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia planned for the North for June 21st.
A legacy event of the Giro's trip to Ireland, it was awarded to the North by RCS Sport, which owns the race and the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia global franchise.
News that the return of the race has become a realistic prospect comes as last year’s Grande Partenza emerged the big winner at Tourism Northern Ireland’s annual awards.
It took the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism gong. It also won best event at the European Sports Summit Awards.
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