'All three Grand Tours have to be equal in length' - Luca Guercilena refutes the idea of cutting the Giro d'Italia to 16 stages

New Giro d'Italia director Luca Guercilena has refuted any idea of reducing the Corsa Rosa from 21 to 16 stages as part of reforms to modernise professional cycling, insisting Grand Tours should be the same length.

"I think Grand Tours should remain Grand Tours. The Giro d'Italia won't change. All three Grand Tours have to be equal in length, there can't be differences," Guercilena told Domestique at Il Lombardia.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme insisted on Friday that the Tour will not change in length, suggesting "That question concerns certain Grand Tours."

"The Tour de France lasts three weeks, four weekends, and that's perfectly fine," Prudhomme told RMC Sport and other French media. 

The UCI recently held the first meeting of a steering committee designed to lead the so-called 'Future of Road Cycling' reforms consultation and revealed they have appointed Deloitte as a strategic advisor.

Escape Collective reported that some leading figures in reform talks are advocating a reduction in the length of the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España to 16 or 17 days, while the Tour de France would remain a 21-stage race.

UCI President David Lappartient recently told BiciPro that any reduction in the Grand Tours was not on the horizon unless race organisers ask for it.

The Tour dominates professional cycling, generating 80% of team sponsor visibility, while the Giro and Vuelta often struggles to attract the biggest Grand Tour contenders. 

Guercilena has recently taken over as Giro race director from Mauro Vegni after leaving his role as Lidl-Trek team manager. He is determined to boost the international status of the Giro and RCS Sport's other races such as Il Lombardia, Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo.

"I think the idea that Grand Tours last for 21 stages is something to defend," Guercilena told Domestique.

"Pro cycling is about testing riders' endurance and a three-week Grand Tour guarantees that whoever wins is a special talent. If we change that, we dramatically change the sport. I don't think that's worth it.

"Riders train very carefully these days and so I believe that they can handle two Grand Tours in the same season."