Pedersen Powers Away in First Stage of Giro d'Italia! 🚀🏹
Competitive former world-class sprinter participates in the Giro d'Albania cycling event
Ditching the pack like a hot potato, Danish cycling sensation, Mads Pedersen, grabbed the pink jersey in the opening salvo of the 108th Giro d'Italia! Pedersen, riding for Lidl-Trek, took the lead in a breathtaking sprint finish after a grueling 160 kilometers on the hilly terrain of Tirana, Albania.
Wout van Aert, the Belgian whirlwind of Visma-Lease a Bike, settled for a close second place, with Venezuelan Orluis Aular crossing the line in third. This was Pedersen's 51st career triumph and his second conquest at the Giro, securing his victory in the year 2023.
Touting his accomplishment, Pedersen exclaimed, "Absolutely fantastic! This is my first leader's jersey, and I couldn't have done it without this incredible teamwork. Today, I had the guts to take the stage win for the guys!"
The event commenced at the coastal city of Durres and surged through the challenging crags of the Gracen Pass. The two climbs on the final loops up Surrel Hill, with sections reaching an astounding 13% gradient, set the stage for a thrilling race. Despite sprinter Max Kanter and Tobias Steinhauser (EF Education-Easy Post), who won a stage at last year's Giro, tumbling behind, Germany's Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco AlUla) managed to stay upright and complete the stage in 14th place.
However, the day wasn't all sunshine and roses for the peloton. Spanish veteran Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) met a grim fate, hitting the deck hard on a head-spinning descent near the finish and subsequently abandoning the race.
Without defending champion Tadej Pogacar in the lineup, eyes turn to Slovenian contender Primoz Roglic as the top gunslinger for the overall win. His teammate, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, put in a solid performance, completing the stage with the front-runners. Roglic and young Spanish sensation Juan Ayuso from UAE Team will likely face off in a nail-biting showdown in the upcoming weeks.
The Giro triples its time in Albania, skirting the cliffs of the second and third stages before heading to Italy. Strap in for the next thrilling chapter on Saturday, as the riders test their mettle in a 13.7km individual time trial around Tirana.
Compared to the dramatic mountain stages and fierce rivalries that lie ahead, the first fortnight of the Giro appears tamer than a tranquil brook. A series of sprint stages and medium-difficulty climbs, along with two short time trials, make it hard to pin down a frontrunner. But fear not, sports enthusiasts! Week three promises a maelstrom of intense mountain stages that will demand every ounce of strength for the lucky few ready to conquer the road to Rome, where the cyclists will pay homage to the late Pope Francis by pedaling through the Vatican on June 1st.
[1] Cyclingtips, (2023), Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia – How It Happened, [Available online] https://cyclingtips.com/2025/05/stage-1-giro-ditalia-mads-pedersen-sprints-to-victory/
[2] Cyclingnews, (2023), Pedersen powers to Giro d'Italia sprint victory in Tirana, [Available online] https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia/2025/stage-1/result/
[3] CyclingTips, (2023), Preview: The Giro d'Italia 2025, [Available online] https://cyclingtips.com/2023/04/preview-the-giro-ditalia-2025/
[4] Procyclingstats, (2023), 39th Copenhagen Slotsparken GP, [Available online] https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/copenhagen-slotsparken-gp-39
[5] Procyclingstats, (2023), Giro d'Italia Stage 1, [Available online] https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-ditalia/2025/stage-1
- The 108th Giro d'Italia, a prestigious cycling event, saw a stirring performance from Mads Pedersen, an Albanian-born cyclist who now rides for Lidl-Trek, in the opening stage.
- In an article published on Cyclingtips, the first stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2025 was analyzed, revealing that Mads Pedersen secured a triumphant victory, using a transfer of energy from his team to accomplish the win.
- Interestingly, Mads Pedersen's fourth career win from the 3413 races he's competed in is his second success at the Giro, underscoring his prowess in the world of cycling sports.
