Future, the special-interest media group and world’s leading provider of cycling content is to partner with the 2011 Giro D’Italia as the official media partner. Future will also produce the official guide to the race using a team of international race journalists from Procycling magazine and Cyclingnews.com.
Alongside the Official Tour de France Guide and Amgen Tour of California guide, this will be the third official race guide produced by Future, which has held the licence to publish the event guide since 2000. Working in partnership with the Giro D’Italia, the new official guide will be produced in the UK and will be available in the UK and the US from April 4th 2011.
In addition, Cyclingnews.com, the world’s biggest cycling website will be the official media partner for the annual Giro D’Italia. Cyclingnews.com will feature a dedicated Giro section with race reports and live coverage, as well as exclusive and in-depth previews on the 2011 race route, interviews with cyclists and race partners and announcements direct from the race. BikeRadar.com and Procycling will also feature exclusive race-related content, reaching thousands of cycling enthusiasts.
The Giro d’Italia was voted stage race of the year in the 2010 Cyclingnews reader poll and has become the most innovative and spectacular major stage race on the calendar. This year’s race starts in Turin on May 7 and ends in Milan on May 29 and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.
The 3496km route visits most of the country, including the island of Sicily for a mountain finish on the slopes of the Etna volcano. The decisive final week includes stages in the Dolomites and the Alps. Big name riders set to ride the Giro d’Italia include British sprinter Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador and home favourite Vincenzo Nibali.
Katherine Raderecht, Group Publisher of Future’s sports portfolio said:
“Publishing the official Giro D’Italia race guide is a fantastic strategic step for us; adding a third official race title to our portfolio, and helping us to extend our reach further into the European and US market.
We plan to make the 2011 Giro D’Italia race guide an invaluable resource to fans of the race, as well as a great platform for marketers looking to align themselves with the race at a key point in the cycling season.
Future publishes the best cycling magazines and websites in the world and actively engages with millions of cycling enthusiasts, and this addition will help to strengthen that and engage with even more cycling fans.”
The official Giro D’Italia guide goes on sale 4th April.
About Future:
Future plc is an international special-interest media group, listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events. We hold market-leading positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Classic Rock, Guitar World and Official Xbox Magazine. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, and techradar.com. Future sells more than 3 million magazines each month; we attract more than 20 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events. In addition, Future exports or syndicates publications to 90 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.
For further information:
Please contact Jen Campbell – 01225 732269 or jen.campbell@futurenet.com
