Brescia wants to host the final stage of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, according to Tuttosport, the same year of a possible start in the United States.
The northern Italian city in Lombardia intends to request the final stage of Italy’s three-week stage race, second to only the Tour de France in importance. The race typically has ended in Milan in recent years, but last year it ended in Rome to celebrate its 100th anniversary and this year it ends in Verona’s Arena.
Prior to last year, the Giro d’Italia last skipped Milan in 1989, when Frenchman Laurent Fignon won in Verona.
Organiser RCS Sport had two difficult moments in Milan with its races last year. The Giro d’Italia’s stage in Milan was neutralised at the riders’ request due to tram tracks and traffic along the circuit. And, at the start of Milano-Sanremo on March 21, police fined race officials’ cars parked at Castello Sforzesco.
RCS Sport has already awarded Brescia two stages in this year’s race. It hosts the finish of stage 18 from Levico Terme, a 151-kilometre flat stage, and the next day’s start, a mountain stage over Passo del Mortirolo (1854m) that finishes in Aprica 32.6 kilometres later.
The 2012 edition may start with two stages in Washington, DC, the first time any of the three Grand Tours would start outside of Europe. The United States’ capital city wants to hold a prologue and circuit race, both passing many of the nation’s monuments.
Race director Angelo Zomegnan said in early November that there is a possibility of the race starting in the USA thanks to the interest from DC. The Giro d’Italia’s first foreign start was in San Marino, 1965.
This year, it starts with three stages based around Amsterdam, in The Netherlands.