Ireland is the scene for the early stages of this year's Giro d'Italia and the famed cycling event has had a colourful history since its inception in 1909...

• Inspired by the Tour de France which began earlier that decade, the first Giro was set up by renowned Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport whose editor saw the need for a cycling tour of Italy. But it only came into being because one of the paper's rivals Corriere della Serra was about to steal their thunder. Gazzetta's owner decided to cough up the cash required and organized the first race for May 1909 with the added help of donations.
• Luigi Ganna (pictured) was the first winner of the Giro d'Italia winning a 5,325 lira prize or about the equivalent of €3 according to today's exchange rate.
• The pink jersey worn by the race leader only became tradition from 1931 and that particular colour was chosen because it matched the paper that Gazzetta dello Sport was printed on.

• The most successful riders in the Giro's history are Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi and Belgian Eddy Merckx who have won the General Classification five times each. In the 1920s and 30s Binda dominated the event. On his way to winning his fourth Giro in 1929, he was booed by crowds at the finish in Milan and the following year the Gazzetta made him an offer he couldn't refuse by paying him over 20,000 lira not to compete the following year. He would return to win the Giro one more time in 1933 becoming the first man to win the event five times.
• The winner's trophy is an iconic piece of design and is known as the Trofea Senza Fine and has been awarded since 1999...

Tinkoff-Saxo's Nicolas Roche with team-mates during the team presentation ©INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry