The 2015 Giro d’Italia will begin in San Lorenzo al Mare with a team time-trial to San Remo, organisers announced yesterday.

The 98th edition of the race begins with an 18km test on May 9 and finishes on May 31.

The first three stages will take place in the region of Liguria, with a second stage from Albenga to Genoa, which is expected to end in a sprint finish and the third – from Chiavari to La Spezia – a hilly stage designed to test the overall contenders.

Italian champion Vincenzo Nibali, who last Sunday won the Tour de France, is interested in racing the Giro, a race he won in 2013.

Nibali, who also won the 2010 Vuelta a Espana, said in the organisers’ route announcement: “The Giro d’Italia is very important for me and I would like to send my regards to everyone.

“I have a very special bond with this race because it’s the race that launched me on to the Grand Tour scene.

“I can say I wish to come back in 2015.”

The 2014 Giro d’Italia began in Belfast.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.