Thousands at Marine Highway for Big Start

Visitors from the USA and continental Europe were among those who joined Carrick residents for Giro d’Italia celebrations today (Saturday).
By The Newsroom
Published 10th May 2014, 20:23 BST
A four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RMA four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RM
A four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RM

Claire Swan, visitor information officer at Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre, said the service had one of its busiest days with over 200 people calling in.

Claire added: “That’s very good. We’ve had some from America, some English people over to the see the bike race and some Italian.

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“Local people have been in for the (Giro d’Italia) pink fingers and ponchos. We couldn’t keep up with demand.”

A four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RMA four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RM
A four-man group leads the front of the Giro d'Italia as it passes through Carrickfergus. INLT 20-401-RM

Claire noted that Carrickfergus Borough Council’s Tourist Information kiosk at the waterfront had also been “very busy”.

The castle, with the Grande Partenza (Big Start) time trials’ finishing line immediately in front of it, was a popular viewing point but the 20,000 crowd stretched along either side of Marine Highway.

A cloudburst as the cyclists made their way into the town did little to dampen the spectators’ enthusiasm as they roared on the international cyclists.

(Full coverage in Carrick Times, on sale Wednesday, May 14 2014.)

Related topics:CarrickUSAEurope