Rai set to retain Giro d’Italia rights – reports

Italian state broadcaster Rai is set to sign a two-year extension to its rights deal for ‘Grand Tour’ cycling event the Giro d’Italia, according to multiple reports.

The GirodItaliaCiclismo.com website said Rai and RCS MediaGroup, organiser of the Giro, have agreed terms on a contract that will cover the 2017 and 2018 editions of the race.

Rai’s previous four-year agreement expired following last year’s Giro and Urbano Cairo, president of RCS MediaGroup, in November said that commercial broadcaster La7 was interested in acquiring the rights.

The 2017 Giro will mark the centenary edition of the event. It will commence on May 5 in Sardinia before concluding on May 28 in Milan.