Giro to start in Naples

The 96th edition of the race starts on Saturday May 4 and will end on Sunday May 26.

Exactly 50 years after the Corsa Rosa last started in the southern Italian city, the race will commence in Piazza Vittoria before finishing on the Via Caracciolo, overlooking the bay of Naples.

Race director Michele Acquarone said: “The Giro d’Italia always give its partners an opportunity to show themselves to the world. Between now and May 2013 we’ll do as much as possible to promote Naples and the Grande Partenza of the 2013 Giro d’Italia.”

Naples hosted the opening stage of the race in 1963 and has also hosted 35 stage starts and 41 stage finishes.

The Giro d’Italia finished in Naples in 1968 when Eddy Merckx won his first of five overall victories.

Mario Cipollini won the last stage finish in Naples in 1996.