Cycling fans in Amsterdam will have easy access to the first three stages of the 2010 Giro d'Italia, as the city will host the starts of all three stages.

According to a press release issued today by RCS, stage one will be an individual time trial, starting and finishing at Museumplein, one of Amsterdam's main squares.  Stage two will also start at Museumplein, and will finish in Utrecht.  Stage three will start in the Zuidas district of Amsterdam, and finish in Middelburg.

No word yet as to what happens after that.  A transfer to Italy after just three days of racing would make for a very early rest day, leading to speculation that stage four may also take place outside Italy, perhaps in Belgium.  This would follow the pattern of this year's Vuelta, as well as the 2006 Giro, which had four stages in Belgium before a transfer/rest day on day five.