‘There are towns in Italy that would sell their granny to get this event!’ - Madden

“If you are a golfer, this is like having Tiger Woods and his mates play on your course.”

Those were the words with which local cyclist and triathlete John Madden expressed the delight of the cycling fraternity on hearing that the Giro d’Italia will be travelling through the Ballymoney, Bushmills, Ballycastle and Cushendall area.

Mr Madden was addressing the large crowd which attended a Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) Giro d’Italia roadshow in Ballycastle Golf Club.

Mr Madden described as “surreal” the thought that the world class cycling legends he had travelled the world to watch were coming to ride the same roads that he and other cyclists ride on every day.

“Can you just imagine the magnificent aerial shots the helicopter cameras will provide of this area?

“ The Giro will showcase Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, Fair Head, Bushmills and much more.

“There are small towns in Italy, Belgium and France that would sell their granny to get this event!

“I would urge everyone to get involved,” he concluded.