Giro shuts down talk of swapping with the Vuelta – 'We're not even going to think about the idea'
On Monday, the routes for next season's Giro d'Italia and Giro d'Italia Women were announced in Rome, just days after renewed debate over the arrangement of Grand Tours on the calendar. Specifically, Tadej Pogačar had weighed in, saying he'd like to see the Giro and Vuelta swap places.
"We're not even going to think about the idea," said RCS CEO Paolo Bellino, having clearly thought about the idea. "The Giro d'Italia has a traditional date in May and we don't want to change it. Every Grand Tour has its own history and importance, also thanks to its date in the calendar."
The biggest reason for switching around the Italian and Spanish Grand Tours is weather, with the Giro frequently threatened by wintery conditions, while the Vuelta often experiences uncomfortably high temperatures.
"I'd love to change the Giro dates, but only by a week," Bellino conceded. "I'd like to see the Giro embrace the June 2 Italian national holiday. It'd also mean we climb into the high mountains a week or so later and some years that can make a big difference for the weather. But that's the only date change I want to make. There will be no switch between the Giro and the Vuelta."
