Budapest had been scheduled to host the start of the 2020 Giro d’Italia, with three stages planned before moving to Italy for the rest of the Grand Tour.

The coronavirus pandemic led to Hungary declaring a state of emergency, which caused the race to be reschedule.

The start of the race was amended, with Sicily replacing Budapest.

Organisers RCS Sport have now agreed to take the start to Budapest in 2022, with a presentation of the opening three stages held today in the Hungarian capital.

Attila Valter, who became the first Hungarian cyclist to wear the race leader's jersey this year, assisted with the presentation.

"It brings me great satisfaction to be back in Hungary to announce the Grande Partenza of the Corsa Rosa for 2022," said Paolo Bellino, RCS Sport chief executive.

"From this nation that loves sport, and that will certainly appreciate the Giro d'Italia, we can only expect a unique welcome. 

"We have continued in these two years to work with all the Hungarian institutions in order to propose the debut stages of the 105th Giro d'Italia that for the fourteenth time will start from abroad. 

"Three stages, two for sprinters and an individual time trial in the heart of Budapest, will highlight the beauty of Hungary and the Giro itself thanks to images broadcast across 200 countries around the world."

The opening stage is due to take place on May 6, with the peloton riding 195 kilometres from Budapest to the citadel of Visegrád.

The stage will conclude with a sharp climb, which will decide the opening pink jersey of the race.

An individual time trial had been due to open the 2020 race, but a revised plan will see the discipline contested on stage two in 2022.

The time trial is scheduled to begin in Pest in Heroes Square and will pass the Hungarian Parliament building.

Riders will cross the Danube river, before cycling up a 14 per cent gradient and cobblestones to Buda Square.

Hungary’s hosting of the race start is set to conclude with a flat 201-kilometre stage from Kaposvár to Balatonfüred, Hungary's famous spa town situated on the northern shore of Lake Balaton.

The stage is expected to finish with the first bunch sprint of the Grand Tour.

The first rest day of the race will follow on May 10.

Racing is due to resume in Italy the following day.

Organisers are planning to unveil the remainder of next year’s route in phases.

Sprint stages are set to be released on Monday (November 8), with hilly stages outlined the following day.

Mountain stages are scheduled to be presented on November 10, with the"Grande Arrivo" released on November 11.

Máriusz Révész, Government Commissioner for Active Hungary, welcomed the opportunity to host the race start.

"The Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia has an enormous impact of nation branding campaign on the country image that could contribute to the revival of tourism," Révész said.

"That is why the Hungarian Government has decided to support the Grande Partenza in Budapest in 2022, under the same conditions as last year. 

"We hope that the epidemic will subside next spring and the Grande Partenza will help restart tourism. 

"Fortunately the Italian organizers of RCS Sport were also committed and they continued the negotiations with greater constructiveness than normal."

The Giro d'Italia is due to take place from May 6 to 29.

Colombia's Egan Bernal is the reigning champion.

All three Grand Tours are scheduled to begin abroad in the 2022 season.

Denmark will host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France, having originally been planned to host in 2021.

The Netherlands will stage the start of next year’s Vuelta a España, with Utrecht and North Brabant due to host the event.