Giro d’Italia 2020 to begin in Budapest, Hungary as organiser RCS continues to spread its wings

The race will begin with three Hungarian stages which showcase the capital city which straddles the River Danube, before returning to Italy after a rest day and going on to finish in Rome

The 2020 Giro d’Italia will begin in Budapest in the latest move by the organiser, RCS, to expand the reach of the iconic race. It will be the 14th time the Grande Partenza has been hosted outside Italy in the race’s 111-year history, and the first time a Grand Tour has visited Hungary.

The race will begin with three Hungarian stages which showcase the capital city which straddles the River Danube, before returning to Italy after a rest day and going on to finish in Rome. The full route will be unveiled at a ceremony later this year.

The Italian Grand Tour is the only one of cycling’s three showpiece events to be organised by RCS, with ASO controlling both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. ASO has taken both of those races outside their home nations in the past, but RCS has shown notable ambition in recent years, taking the Giro beyond Europe to Israel last year and even holding preliminary talks in the US.

The decision to choose Hungary is likely to be linked with Kometa, and Italian-owned meat processing company which has invested heavily in Hungary in recent years. Kometa is the main sponsor of Alberto Contador‘s Spanish team, which is planning to step up to pro continental level next year and could well be invited to the Giro.

The 2019 Giro will begin with a challenging time trial in the north Italian city of Bologna on Saturday 11 May.