Giro d'Italia 2025: premiere in Albania and epic finale in Rome

The Giro d'Italia is one of the most important and traditional stage races in the international cycling calendar. Every year, it captivates millions of fans with spectacular panoramas, a passionate atmosphere along the route and epic battles for the coveted Maglia Rosa.

The 2024 edition already delivered a dramatic spectacle: in the end, the young and talented Slovenian Tadej Pogačar impressed with an impressive performance to take overall victory on his Giro debut. With several dominant performances in the mountains and an outstanding time trial, he left his competitors little chance and secured not only the pink jersey but also the mountain and points classifications. His triumph has noticeably raised the bar for the next edition – and expectations for 2025 are correspondingly high.

The 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia will now feature a real first: for the very first time, the tour will start outside Italy – in Albania. A historic start that emphasizes the cultural proximity of the two countries and at the same time sets exciting sporting accents.

The Giro d'Italia 2025 begins on May 9 in the Albanian port city of Durrës and ends on June 1 with a triumphant finale in the eternal city of Rome. In between, there are 21 stages that offer not only great sporting variety but also scenic diversity – and unforgettable images for both riders and fans. For the first time in the race's history, the starting signal will be given outside of Italy, in Albania: a country that, with its wild Adriatic coast, pristine mountain landscapes, and winding mountain passes like the Llogara Pass, offers the perfect stage for a spectacular Giro opening weekend.

After crossing the Ionian Sea, the route continues through the sun-drenched south of Italy, past olive groves, trulli houses and the historic Sassi of Matera. In the center of the country, the peloton can expect the soft lines of the Tuscan hills, dusty gravel roads around Siena and the culturally rich cities of Lucca, Pisa and Bologna. The further the race advances northwards, the more dramatic the scenery becomes: Trentino, Veneto and the Dolomites, with majestic Alpine passes such as Monte Grappa and the traditional Monte Bondone, not only offer extreme challenges for the riders but also breathtaking panoramas. The final week promises to be full of excitement – before the tour finally culminates in Rome, surrounded by ancient monuments and a vibrant city atmosphere.

The Giro d'Italia 2025 combines athletic toughness, strategic depth and scenic beauty in a unique way – a tour that challenges the heart and legs and whose images will be remembered for a long time.

The favorites of the Giro d'Italia 2025

This year's edition of the Giro d'Italia promises to be super exciting – with Tadej Pogačar pulling out, all eyes are on a new favorite: Primož Roglič. The Slovenian leads the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe team and, after winning the Giro in 2023 and three Vuelta titles, is the man to beat. Roglič brings experience, pace, and tactical finesse to the table, supported by a strong team with riders such as Jai Hindley and Daniel Martínez.

One of his biggest challengers is Adam Yates from Team UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The Brit has shown strong performances in the mountains in recent years and could prove his Grand Tour credentials in the Giro. He is joined by Juan Ayuso, a young, extremely talented compatriot who is also capable of taking on the role of captain.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost) is a returner with big ambitions. The Ecuadorian won the Giro in 2019 and is known for his aggressive riding style, climbing strength, and instinct in decisive moments. He is a force to be reckoned with on every mountain stage.

Also in the extended circle of favorites: Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) is making his Giro debut and could spring a surprise with his versatility. Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) and Egan Bernal, winner of the 2019 Tour, are also part of the British team's line-up and will be aiming for a top place.

Wout Poels (XDS Astana Team) is particularly dangerous in the mountains, while his teammate Fausto Masnada also has Grand Tour experience. For Team Movistar, Einer Rubio wants to prove his climbing skills once again – he is aiming for a top 10 finish.

From an Italian perspective, Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl–Trek) will be the focus of fans' attention – both are capable of stage wins or even more. Romain Bardet (Team dsm–firmenich PostNL) is also capable of an exploit at any time with his experience.

Who will be wearing the pink jersey at the end of the three weeks in Rome remains to be seen – but one thing is certain: the Giro d'Italia 2025 promises to be an open and high-class race with many possible scenarios.

The classification jerseys – these colors count at the Giro

Like every year, the riders at the Giro d'Italia not only compete for the overall victory, but also for the prestigious classification jerseys, each of which has its own significance. The most famous is the Maglia Rosa, the pink jersey, which is reserved for the overall leader – the rider with the lowest cumulative time. It symbolizes the top position in the race and makes its wearer the hunted number one. Then there is the Maglia Ciclamino, the purple jersey for the best sprinter. It is awarded on the basis of a points system that takes into account both stage finishes and intermediate sprints – ideal for riders who are fast at the finish and regularly among the leaders. For the climbers among the professionals, on the other hand, the Maglia Azzurra, the blue jersey of the best climber, counts. Here, the riders collect points on the various mountain classifications – the steeper and higher, the more points there are. And finally, there is the Maglia Bianca, the white jersey, which is awarded to the best young professional under the age of 25. This young talent ranking has already shown in the past who the up-and-coming stars of the scene are.