Washington requests 2012 Giro start

I am an avid cyclist and having a stage of a Grand Tour in DC would be GREAT! But a stage of the Giro in DC? No Way! I'm in favor of the USA Cycling Association and Congress developing a Tour of America.

Let's get more cycling going in our country ( indonesia ) ,our have all the mountains, rivers and more and more ...

You may be right about your take on Americans, but you have Italians to thank about this because they are actually reaching out to see if this would work. If it weren't for the Giro folks taking steps to discuss this, there would be no talk of this at all. I am a Washington area local since 1971 but we have nothing on Italy when it comes to beauty and architecture. I also think the logistics and the whole idea is just too much. After all, it's the Tour of Italy, not the tour of the World.

It's pretty ridiculous and arrogant of Americans to think that the good we would be doing the Giro by starting in DC would outweigh the negatives. Yeah, our precious monuments are going to "wow" a country so "starved" of beautiful monuments and architecture like Italy, right? Yeah, that's it, I'm sure riding past the Lincoln memorial makes up for ten hours in a cramped 747 the night after a road race, only to arrive in time to clip back in for another long stage in Italy. Makes perfect sense to me. I think its bad enough starting in Holland.

This is such a joke! One of the most violent cities in this country with more corruption then any other city in the US. It's a political stunt only and should not be allowed. The Giro to start in DC it's a complete disgrace to even suggest it!

Seattle, Washington would be perfect! For the climbs, there are the Olympics, the mountain passes over the Olympic Mountains, and then the water front courses along Puget Sound and Hoods Canal, and complete the race with laps around the Space Needle.

Hold the race so that it fits in with SeaFair in August. This is the best time of year to do anything outside in Seattle. There are so many great activities include the hydorplane races, the sailing ships, and more. Seattle would be great at hosting an activity this large, and would have the infrastructure to support it. I have worked in France, and see many of the great comparisons in both city's. Viva "Le Tour De Seattle."

Well supposedly Lance & company is getting closer to bringing a big stage race back to Colorado. I know that doesn't do much for you guys on the east coast but it sure would be a great addition for us. Our roads are generally not as steep as the climbs back east but we make up for it with altitude.

As far as the Giro in DC is concerned the way I see it is that any big race coming to the US helps to expose more people to cycling and that can't be a bad thing long term.

Hello ladies and gents.

Be on the lookout for a poster going by the name of willy voet. I think PJ is back! I was looking on the yahoo UK coverage of this story and there was a poster on there going by that handle. It had all the markings of PJ, aka Tom Morris.

Just imagine a large contingent of spandex clad athletes showing up for dinner at the white house after a long stage. Knock knock! "Uh yeah, we're here for the dinner. No no! President Obama invited us."
HaHa! I would foresee a stage race either in August/September or March/April. This way it doesn't interfere with the TdF.

#8 I totally agree. Let's get more cycling going in our country before we start having stages here from tours from other countries. Can you imagine the security that would be needed if we had the first stage of the Giro in Washington DC??? The security would have to do a much better job than what they did at the state dinner with the gate crashers. No, it just doesn't make any sense to me.

On a different thread, Matt & James had a keen idea of incorporating established rides in the states and linking them into stages, thereby making small events larger. The established big events could double as end of a stage and a TT stage the following day.
Perhaps impetus of interest, Giro organizers will prompt the states to develop a respected tour?
As for a Giro stage in the states...*scratching my head*
Logistically all efforts would have to be doubled by promoters, with brutal burden to riders health.

Maybe if Obama lobbies for it, it will happen. Kind of like the Olympics in Chicago....

The Italians are not laughing, they are actually considering this according to the article. This idea, as logistically crazy as it is, seems to be gaining traction. Reading between the lines, it seems the Giro director is reaching out and wanting something like this to happen. Hard to believe something like this will actually take place but if it does, I am there...

I hope the Italian's just laugh in their face. Plus, from a logistical point of view it's just plain stupid.

I posted two times and they didn't come thru. I hope this one does. James, what you said brother!! I opined about just that regarding the T of C expanding in another discussion. It's a no brainer and with the right sponsor mix and willingness of the Tour Directors to expand, the T of C could be a pretty good race year in and year out. Put it in the proper place on the Calendar (and that can be a sticky issues with the weather in May in California), have it be at least two weeks long and you may have something that will bring in more of the top international riders who use this as a TDF tune up...and for other purposes...

Personally speaking and this is selfish, I would love to see a major race in the DC area. As someone who has lived here since 1971 and raced in many local races, including the National Capitol Open on the Elipse in front of the White House, I would be out there with bells on rooting for the riders.
Now, do I think this makes sense? No. If I am the Giro Tour Director I am looking for major bucks from the host city back to the Giro to justify such a logistically nightmarish move.
On an aside, I used to race with the mayor's brother Sean back in the days of old. That family has running and riding/racing in their blood. They own a nice running store in the city. The mayor is a workout nut himself, riding and running races still...Anyway...

Ooorrr,

How about we get a freakin legit stage race of our own and start it/end it from our capital? Hello!!! This country needs a true Pro Tour type stage race. With all the mountains we have with the Appalachian, Rockies, and Tetons, uh couldn't we have something here? Really we have a good one in the making with the tour of California. All they need to do is add some more stages to it. Just as long as they do something stupid like have it the same time as the TdF we should be good!

Can't we just ship Washington DC and the mess that goes with it to Italy?

Would have said it was too outrageous to take seriously, but we already have major league baseball playing regular season games in Japan and the NFL playing in England. Stil can't believe it will actually happen.

Simply stupid. What else would we expect to eminate from our Nation's capitol??

I love the idea of hosting cycling's greatest athletes in my hometown. That said, it is stupid to host the Giro d"italia. Maybe the Tour of California could hold it's prologue in Moscow next year.

That's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Its the Race of Italy!! Why would the athletes want to have to deal with flying across the world in the middle of a grueling stage race, deal with jet lag, etc? Give me a frackin break....