Bernal, Sagan, Ganna and Viviani among the names set to race 30 laps of a 2.1km circuit in Dubai on 6 November.
RCS Sport announces the first ever Giro d’Italia Criterium, organised with the support of MadeinItaly.gov.it, Dubai Sports Council and Expo 2020 Dubai. The 30 lap short-format race will take place on 6 November on a 2.1km circuit in Dubai, as part of the Expo 2020 Dubai – the first World Expo ever hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, where the ‘Made in Italy’ campaign is showcasing Italian excellence.
Among the high-profile riders already confirmed on the entry list are 2021 Giro d’Italia winner and 2019 Tour de France yellow jersey Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), three-time UCI Road Race World Champion Peter Sagan (BORA hansgrohe), winner of the Maglia Ciclamino (Points Classifications) of the last edition of the Corsa Rosa, nine-time Grand Tour stage winner Elia Viviani (Cofidis), 2021 Giro d’Italia winner of the KOM Classification Geoffrey Bouchard and the two-time UCI ITT World Champion Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), winner of six stages of the Giro d’Italia.
Organised in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council and Expo 2020 Dubai, the race will see riders tackle a criterium circuit in the shape of the Giro d’Italia’s ‘Amore Infinito’ infinity symbol. The race will take place near the Expo 2020’s Italian Pavilion – a centre showcasing the beauty of ‘Made in Italy’ products and experiences, where the Giro d’Italia trophy will be on display. The Pavilion will also host a ‘meet and greet’ session with the race’s competitors the day before the event, providing fans the opportunity to speak to their favourite riders. That evening, on 5 November, riders will also attend a gala dinner in celebration of the inaugural race, with a top rider sat at each table.