The Big Start of the Giro d’Italia could come to Essex if moves by the local council come to fruition. Authorities in the county have confirmed negotiations are under way to bring the race to England for the first time.
RCS Sport, the body which runs the Giro, is keen to take the race around Europe in a similar fashion to the Tour de France. To date the race has started outside Italy on 10 occasions, with Belfast welcoming the start in 2014 and the Gelderland region of the Netherlands set to host three stages of the 2016 event.
Gary Sullivan, the chairman of Active Essex, told Heart: “Active Essex are now starting talks with the Giro d’Italia to see if we can get them to come here.
“We have responsibility, and we take it very seriously, to make sure we can bring those world-class sporting events to Essex.
However, Sullivan expects the talks to go on for some time. He said: “It’s likely to be a lengthy negotiation. We think we can make a good argument for them to persuade them to come here to enjoy our hospitality and the Essex countryside, so I’m very confident.”
