"Why not think of the Giro d'Italia open to the national teams?" - Mario Cipollini proposes overhaul of Grand Tour racing

One of the most recognisable names of Italian cycling in the 1990s, Mario Cipollini has taken to social media to propose his idea of a major overhaul of the nation's premier race, the Giro d'Italia.

“Mine is perhaps something extreme and perhaps visionary, but I think it would have strategic importance for the Giro d'Italia. I wonder: why not think of the Giro d'Italia open to the national teams?" Says the forty-two-time former Giro stage winner. "I think it would be an excellent reason to be able to relaunch and bring many people closer to this sport." 

"I think that the national team has an appeal, something transcendental, let us imagine above all in Italy that we can present ourselves with a team with the blue jersey, with the tricolour, going to fish out the jerseys of Coppi and Bartali and of that cycling that was something historic," Cipollini continues. “I think it could be an opportunity to relaunch and restore something historic, in a modern version, to fans of this sport, and above all to catalyze the interest of those who know it less."

The Tour de France, a race Cipollini won twelve stages of in his illustrious career, did previously have national teams enter the race back in the day between 1930 and 1961. Whilst it's perhaps unrealistic that such a thing would ever come to pass in the modern day due to team sponsorships and other such financial hurdles, Cipollini believes it would only take one race to make the change before others followed suit.

 "I understand that there are many economic interests, but I believe that, by putting ourselves there and working well, a solution could be found. In addition, it could create a precedent whereby who knows, maybe even the Tour de France would be forced to copy the Giro d'Italia,” Cipollini debates.

So what do you think? Would a Grand Tour involving exclusively national teams interest you? Would it even be feasible in the modern day? Let us know your thoughts.