It has been reported that the opening stages of the Giro d'Italia could take place in Belfast in 2014.
French media have said that the start of the Tour of Italy will head to Northern Ireland after the organisers of the Giro approved a £3.9m bid from the Northern Irish Tourist Board backed by the Government.
It is expected that the event would head to Belfast over the May bank holiday weekend.
The Giro, the first grand tour of the year, has seen stages take place outside of Italy on 10 occasions.
Last month it was confirmed that the prologue of the 2014 Tour de France will take place in Yorkshire.
