The 2018 Giro d’Italia "could start in Japan," with four stages held in the Shizuoka area east of Tokyo, including one that climbs Mount Fuji -- the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776m, according to Stephen Farrand of CYCLING NEWS. Giro D'Italia Race Dir Mauro Vegni apparently "already travelled to Japan, with some kind of provisional agreement perhaps in place." A final contract could "even be signed in the coming weeks if a delegation from Japan visits this year's Giro d'Italia." Leading Japanese advertising agency Asatsu-DK is "involved in the plans for the Giro d’Italia in Japan and would help fund the costs via major sponsors." Also involved is Enzo Cainero, the event organizer from the Friuli region, "who has often helped to organise stages of the Giro d’Italia that end on the Monte Zoncolan climb." A start in Japan "would be the 13th time the Giro d'Italia starts outside of Italy but the first time outside of Europe." With Italian towns and cities "struggling to find stage finishes, cash-strapped RCS Sport has no qualms about looking abroad for extra funding, with reports that Berlin, Ireland and other European cities and regions are keen to host the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza in the future." There have been reports that the Giro d’Italia "could also start in Dubai or Abu Dhabi -- where RCS Sport organise races" (CYCLING NEWS, 5/11).
