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The 2009 Giro d’Italia is the 92nd running of the Giro d’Italia and marks the 100th year since the first Giro d’Italia. It will be held from 9-31 May. It started in Venice and will finish in Rome. There is also going to be a stage finish on Mount Vesuvius.

The Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy), also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. It is one of the three Grand Tours, and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.

The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France and, just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L’Auto, so Emilio Camillo Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d’Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan with eight stages totalling 2,448 kilometres (1,521 miles). Luigi Ganna was the first winner.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giro_d'Italia