For the first time outside of Europe

The Tour of Italy on the “infinity” circuit at the “Dubai Expo”

  • The event is added to the Dubai calendar of sporting events for 2021. From the source

  • Ahmed Al-Khatib: “Organizing the first (Criterum) race of the Tour of Italy at (Expo 2020 Dubai) confirms the UAE’s interest in sports.”

  • Paolo Glicenti: “The Tour of Italy is a true expression of the feeling we want to give the Expo: the connection between people.”

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Expo 2020 Dubai will host a major sporting event on November 6, which is the Tour of Italy, or the Giro d'Italia Criterome, for bicycles.

This is the first time that the race has been held outside Europe since its first edition in 1909.

The circuit extends to 30 laps on a circuit specially designed for the championship, with a length of 2.1 km.

The race will witness the participation of a number of the world's most prominent riders, including the 2021 Giro d'Italia champion and the yellow jersey holder in the Tour de France in 2019, Egan Bernal, of the Ineos Grenadines team, and three-time UCI Road Race Champion Peter Sagan. , of Team Bora Hansgrohe, winner of the purple jersey in the points standings at the last edition of Corsa Rosa and crowned in nine Grands Prixes, Elia Viviani, of Team Cofidis, winner of the climbing order of the last edition of the Tour of Italy 2021, Jeffrey Bouchard, and World Anti-Time Champion Twice cyclist Filippo Gana of the Ineos Grenadines, who has also won six stages in the Tour of Italy.

The race is organized in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council and Expo 2020 Dubai, and will see the riders race on the circuit, which is designed in the form of the "infinity" symbol that resembles the logo of the Tour of Italy.

The race will be held near the Italian Pavilion, which showcases the aesthetics of “Made in Italy” products and experiences, and will display the ancient Tour Italia Cup.

The CEO of Real Estate Development and Delivery at Expo 2020 Dubai, Engineer Ahmed Al Khatib, said that organizing the first “Criterum” race for the Tour of Italy at Expo 2020 Dubai confirms the UAE’s interest in sports and organizing events that contribute to encouraging the community to engage in sports interaction and enhance the modern style of life. Full of happiness and positive energy for members of society, stressing that "the race will highlight the status of sporting events and their distinguished presence within Expo 2020 Dubai."

Al-Khatib praised the support of the race by the Made in Italy brand, Dubai Sports Council, Expo 2020 Dubai and RCS Sport, stressing that the participation of the world’s elite cyclists in the race will give it a distinct impetus, and will contribute to the greater promotion of “Expo 2020 Dubai” activities and the march of Progress and prosperity for the prestigious position of the Emirates at the global level.

The Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, Saeed Hareb, said that the event is added to the calendar of events in Dubai, which is full of sporting events and championships for the year 2021. Dubai already hosts five international cycling events each year, and the “Criterum” race will be from the Giro d’Italia International. A completely new addition, especially as it is being held at Expo 2020 Dubai, where the world gathered in the largest show in history.

He added, “The Giro d’Italia is an exciting short-distance race featuring the most iconic cycling stars. So we are really excited about this one-of-a-kind event and are excited to be working alongside our longtime partners (RCS) to bring this event to cycling enthusiasts, and to promote the many benefits of cycling as a sport and leisure activity, cycling has grown rapidly. In Dubai and the United Arab Emirates since we started organizing the (Dubai Tour) in 2014, we are currently continuing with the Emirates Tour, and we are confident that these events will give an additional boost to the popularity of this sport here.”

The Commissioner-General of the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020, Paolo Glicenti, said that the Tour of Italy is "a true expression of the feeling we want to give to the Expo: connecting people, connecting minds, connecting countries together, and that the Tour of Italy combines the beauty of our country and its landscapes." Its cities, villages, and bicycles as a sobering proof of our penchant for exploration, travel and new territories.

This is the ideal spirit for Italy’s participation in the Dubai Expo.”

• “Organizing the first (Creatorum) race of the Tour of Italy at (Expo 2020 Dubai) confirms the UAE’s interest in sports.”