First time in 21 years stage race avoids Milan, returns in 2011
Milano was host for a stage of the 2009 Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Next year's Giro d'Italia will skip Milan for the first time in 21 years. City officials are talking with organiser RCS Sport to ensure the race returns in 2011, according to news agency RCD.
"Unfortunately, we found out that Milan is not in the 2010 edition," said president of the provincial council, Bruno Dapei. "It's fine because it opened up an important channel of dialogue and collaboration with the organisers."
The last time the Giro d'Italia skipped Milan was in 1989, when Frenchman Laurent Fignon won the three-week race. The city usually hosts the finish of the race's final stage.
"It's an important event for our area and one which the province believes in," Dapei continued.
RCS Sport had two difficult moments with its races this year in Milan. The Giro d'Italia's stage in the city was neutralised on the day of the race due to tram tracks and traffic along the circuit. At the start of the one-day classic, Milan-Sanremo, on March 21, traffic police ticketed official race cars parked at Castello Sforzesco.
RCS Sport will present the official route Saturday in Milan. It has already announced that the race, May 8 to 30, will start with three stages in the Netherlands.
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