Earlier today Italian media conglomerate Il Sole 24 Ore reported that tomorrow would bring official news that the Giro d’Italia will take its start to Washington DC for its 2012 edition. Today VeloNation spoke to one of the key players in the US Stage working group, Mark Sommers, who confirmed that there will be a reception tomorrow at the Italian Embassy, and that key players would attend, but that an official announcement as predicted by Il Sole 24 Ore was not imminent.
“Tomorrow’s reception will include Mayor Fenty, Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata and Giro organizer Angelo Zomegnan, and Washington Convention and Sports Authority CEO Greg Odell, but we will not be making an official announcement about the race coming to Washington DC at that time,” explained Sommers.
He detailed that the purpose of the gathering tomorrow will be to provide an update on the working group’s efforts to bring this mega-event to the United States and introduce it to potential sponsors. He further reiterated that both sides were “committed to making this happen”.
Il Sole 24 Ore has modified its story, dropping the original assertion that tomorrow would see an official announcement being made.
Zomegnan has visited Washington DC three times in as many months and, for this visit, also has with him legendary Italian frame builder Ernesto Colnago and his Sales Manager Diego Colosio. Both were spotted taking in a ‘Grand Tour’ of their own at Washington DC-based high end cycling center CycleLife earlier today.
Several cities have been mentioned in the running for stages of the Italian Grand Tour, but the working committee has confirmed to VeloNation that the US portion would consist of the team presentation, prologue and stage one, with all three taking place within the Nation’s Capital.
The US Stage working group expects to come forward with official news at a later date.
Sommers is coy when asked flat out whether the Italian Grand Tour will make an appearance on US soil in 2012, but with the equivalent of Italian cycling royalty attending tomorrow evening’s festivities, it appears to be not a question of if, but when.