Saudi investment fund wants to acquire RCS: Giro start in Saudi Arabia suddenly more likely

The 2025 Tour of Italy route presentation has been postponed until next year. Riders will know where they are headed on January 13. There were concerns about the start in Albania: it should occur in the capital, Tirana. RCS Sport CEO Paolo Bellino assured Il Giornale that there is no problem. "The postponement of the presentation of the 2025 Giro is just a technical issue for us; the Albania project will continue without any problem," the Italian said.

But other than the start in Albania, rumors have surfaced that the Giro d'Italia will take a trip outside Europe. For example, in the future, the start would be in Saudi Arabia. The reason? The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, better known as the PIF, is said to be interested in a financial takeover of RCS Sport. If that plan comes to fruition, it will certainly not be illogical to see the Tour of Italy in the Middle East in no time. If the Giro starts in Saudi Arabia, it will be the most remote starting location in the Tour's history. In 2018, the Giro started outside Europe for the first time with La Grande Partenza in Israel.

The PIF has been trying to influence foreign sports authorities for some time. The sovereign wealth fund has acquired English soccer club Newcastle United, for example, but it has also bought substantial shares in tennis and golf. It also interferes with the music and video game worlds. The PIF is far from uncontroversial: its chairman is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2018, he was accused of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; he later confessed to being complicit. However, his position as head of state earned him immunity.