Chris Lyttle MLA said: “This is fantastic news that such a well-known international sporting event will be starting in Northern Ireland. With the World Police and Fire Games taking place this summer, I hope Northern Ireland will be seen as a good place for other sporting events to be held.
“With the growth of cycling in recent years and the rise of sporting stars like Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, I hope that hosting this event next year will lead to even more people taking up the sport.
“As we try get more people out of cars and getting more active, what better advertisement for cycling will there be than the Giro d’Italia?”
ENDS