The Giro d’Italia, Italy’s famous 21-day cycling race that spans 2,000 miles,start biking in the Netherlands in May before flying to Italy for the rest of the race.This year "The Giro" could start outside of Europe for the first time. Washington, DC is in considration for that honor. 

D.C. hopes to play first non-European host to an Italian cycling race.
A smorgasbord of potential sponsors and sports executives are invited to the Italian Embassy tonight to find out more about a major European cycling race that could come to D.C. in 2012.
The Giro d’Italia, Italy’s famous 21-day cycling race that spans 2,000 miles, could start outside of Europe for the first time. This year’s competitors will start biking in the Netherlands in May before flying to Italy for the rest of the race.
Mark Sommers, a lawyer who heads the 2012 Giro d’Italia Working Group, has been working with the race director over the past several months to even out details and lock down D.C. as the race’s starting point.
Tonight’s goal is to tell businesses and local movers and shakers what the race is all about. Washington Convention and Sports Authority is throwing the reception.
Verizon and Marriott -- potential sponsors that are recognized on the international level -- are invited tonight.
“We have not received any commitment from the Giro race director that says it’s official [here] at this point,” said Greg O’Dell, head of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.
“We are excited to try to bring this event here. Not only for the sporting event but for the economic impact it would have,” said O’Dell, noting the surge in hotel stays and restaurant business the event would bring.
O’Dell says projections on what the economic impact would be on the area have not been finalized yet, but says they would be “pretty substantial.”
The race was viewed by 300 million people in 2009, he notes.
While no route has been finalized, he said, it will highlight D.C.’s iconic images. One key element in locking down D.C. as a location is reassuring organizers that sponsors will be on board.
“They are looking to make sure that any group that would host this event can support it, making sure they have a viable plan to attain sponsorships to host the event,” he said.
Professional team players and sports ownership entities have been invited to the event on Thursday. While O’Dell did confirm or deny that Ted Leonsis will be there, he said “people associated with him,” will at least be.
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