JERSUALEM, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The 101st Giro d'Italia, one of the most prestigious road cycling races in the world, started Friday in Israel with a total of 176 cyclists from 22 teams.

The first three stages of the 21-day race are being held in Israel and then the race will return to Italy and end in Rome.

The event was launched for the first time outside Europe. It was also held for the first time in Israel and it was also the biggest sporting event in Israel's history.

The first stage was a 9.7-kilometer (6-mile) time trial, which began Friday just outside Jerusalem's Old City. The Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin who rides for Team Sunweb won the opening stage.

"Thousands of police, border and security officers are preparing to protect public order, the participants and the spectators," the Israeli police said.

The 167-kilometer (104-mile) second stage will whiz down the Mediterranean coast from Haifa to Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Stage 3, with a lengthy 229-kilometer (143-mile) route, will start on Sunday from Beersheba in the Negev Desert down to Israel's southern tip of Eilat along the Red Sea.

The event totals 3,546.2 kilometers (2,203.6 miles) with 44 kilometers (27 miles) of vertical elevation.