The Giro d’Italia 2025

The 2025 Giro d'Italia - a UCI World Tour event and one of professional cycling's three-week-long Grand Tours - promises to be an exhilarating race, showcasing the endurance of riders and the breathtaking landscapes of Italy and its neighbouring regions. The race kicks off on May 9 with a historic start in Albania, marking the first time the Giro has ever commenced there.

The Route

Week 1
The opening week features three stages in Albania: a sprinter-friendly stage in Durrës, a time trial in Tirana, and a mountainous stage in Vlorë designed for climbers. After these initial stages, the race moves across the Adriatic to southern Italy. The riders will tackle the Puglia stage, which starts in the unique town of Alberobello and ends in the stunning city of Lecce. This is followed by a 144km stage to the historic city of Matera in Basilicata, and then a westward journey to the Campanian capital of Naples.

Week 2
The second week of the Giro is a climber's paradise. The riders will face challenging stages through Molise and Abruzzo before heading into Marche. The race then takes on the iconic Strade Bianchi roads through Umbria and Tuscany, culminating in a dramatic finish in Siena. After a well-earned rest day, the riders remain in Tuscany for a time trial from Lucca to Pisa. The Giro continues with a 185km stage into Emilia-Romagna, followed by a 172km stage the next day. Stage 13 in Veneto ends with a short but steep climb into Vicenza. The week concludes with a stage that crosses the border into Slovenia, the third and final country of this year's Giro.

Week 3
The final week of the Giro sees the riders reversing direction and heading west into the Dolomites and Alps. One of the highlights is a summit finish at Brentonico after a challenging day featuring five King of the Mountains (KOM) climbs. Stage 17 includes the iconic Passo del Tonale and the legendary Mortirolo, ending in Bormio. This two-day stretch is expected to be decisive in determining the overall winner. A sprint stage in Cesano Maderno offers a brief respite before the riders tackle the Biella to Champoluc stage, which includes climbs like Col Tzecore, Col Saint-Pantaléon, Col de Joux, and the punishing ascent to Antagnod. The penultimate stage is a true test of endurance, featuring the infamous Colle delle Finestre with its savage gradients and gravel sections. The final showdown between the General Classification (GC) favourites wraps up at Sestrière. The race concludes with a time-honoured stage along the historic streets of Rome, the Eternal City.

The Riders

The 2025 Giro d’Italia promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with a star-studded lineup of riders vying for the prestigious Maglia Rosa. With last year’s winner Tadej Pogačar absent, the field opens up for other contenders . Leading the pack is 2023 winner Primož Roglič, riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Roglič will face stiff competition from UAE Team Emirates, featuring Spanish rider Juan Ayuso and British teammate Adam Yates. Also expected to make a significant impact is Visma-Lease A Bike with Jonas Vingegaard and his teammate Wout van Aert, who is now considered one of the top favourites. Also in contention are Nairo Quintana, Sam Bennett and former winner Richard Carapaz.

♢♢♢

With its challenging route and strong lineup of riders, the 2025 Giro d'Italia is set to be a thrilling race that cycling fans won't want to miss. The combination of gruelling climbs, picturesque landscapes, and a competitive field promises to make this year's Giro an unforgettable event.

• More at giroditalia.it

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