Belfast welcomes Giro d'Italia riders at opening ceremony
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Members of Belgian team Lotto-Belisol are introduced to the spectators who crowded outside Belfast's City Hall ahead of the Giro d'Italia's big start
Thousands of spectators were in Donegall Square in Belfast City centre to get a first look of the riders before the 97th Giro d'Italia
Irish rider Nicolas Roche, whose father Stephen won the race 26 years ago, is introduced to the fans in Belfast
There are 22 nine-man teams taking part in the 2014 Giro d'Italia, which starts in Northern Ireland on 9 May and ends in the port of Trieste on 1 June
The Giro d'Italia riders received a warm welcome at the opening ceremony outside the City Hall in Belfast on Thursday evening
The trophy to be presented to the winner when the gruelling 3,345km race ends in Italy on 1 June
A Giant Shimano team member takes a 'selfle' in front of the huge crowd at the Giro d'Italia 'Meet the Riders' ceremony in Belfast
Many of the spectators dressed in pink for the 2014 opening ceremony in Belfast's city centre. The pink jersey is worn by the Giro d'Italia race leader
A member of the Italian-based Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team is greeted by spectators during the Giro d'Italia opening ceremony
Twenty-two teams were introduced to the crowd in Belfast ahead of the big start of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, one of cycling three Grand Tours