UAE could host the start of a Grand Tour as soon as 2027 - Heavy rumours emerge over upcoming Giro d'Italia starts
Cycling
The 2025 Giro d'Italia will be starting in the space of just over a week, and more details are beginning to come out regarding the upcoming editions. Whilst it is not yet confirmed, there are heavy rumours that there could be a Grande Partenza in the Arabian peninsula for the first time ever in 2027.
Gazzetta dello Sport has reported this Tuesday that there is a very high likelihood that the Corsa Rosa will be starting from the northeastern city of Trieste in 2026, and that in 2027 there may be another big surprise when it comes to the location of it's start. In 2025 the country of Albania is having the start of the race, and in 2027 the first stages may be taking place in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
The UAE has been heavily investing in the sport over the past years, financing what is now the most successful team in the sport UAE Team Emirates - XRG, and every years bringing in big stars for the World Tour-level UAE Tour. The rise of racing in the Middle East has been exponential, and in recent years Saudi Arabia is also making a big push to get itself in the sport - sponsoring Team Jayco AlUla, forming the AlUla Tour, and also reportedly being a very big part of the financing behind the One Cycling project that may come about in 2026.
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It’s not just a color.
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) April 23, 2025
It’s a promise.
A symbol around the world.
It’s the Maglia Rosa.
A new chapter begins.
.
Non è solo un colore.
È una promessa.
Un simbolo nel mondo.
È la Maglia Rosa.
Un nuovo capitolo inizia.#GirodItalia / Iuman - Intimissimi Uomo @CastelliCycling pic.twitter.com/2EELgC4Pv2
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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