Giro d'Italia 2025: The Ex-Champ's Triumph in Tirana
Ex-Speed Champion Competes in Giro d'Albania Cycling Race
Get ready for the pedal pushers, 'cause the cycling pros are back at it! After a prelude in the Vatican, the Giro d'Italia kicks off abroad, and this year it's all happening in Albania. This bustlin' Balkan nation hosted the inaugural stage of the 108th Giro d'Italia, marking the first time the race has visited Albania. Buckle up for some nail-biting action!
Former world champion, Mads Pedersen, from the Lidl-Trek team, sprinted away from the pack to snag the pink jersey of overall leader. After a whopping 160 kilometers tackling the cobblestones of Tirana, Pedersen crossed the line first, securing his 51st career win and his second triumph at the Giro. Belgian Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) came in a close second, while Venezuelan Orluis Aular (Movistar) finished third.
"Hell yeah, this is freaking amazing, especially after the team's efforts!" said Pedersen, who clinched the leader's jersey at one of the major tours for the first time in his career. "Today, I had the guts to win the stage for the team," added the 29-year-old [3].
After the start in the coastal city of Durres on the Adriatic coast, the riders were faced with a series of formidable challenges. First up was the Gracen Pass, and then the two climbs on the final laps to the Surrel Hill, with gradients of up to 13 percent, made for a challenging opening stage. Tobias Steinhauser (EF Education-Easy Post), who won a stage at the Giro last year, and sprinter Max Kanter (Astana) fell behind. Steinhauser finished a hefty 10:37 minutes behind, while the only German in the leading group was Ulm's Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco AlUla) in 14th place [1][3]. Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), a Spanish rider, crashed heavily on a descent shortly before the finish and had to abandon the race.
Primoz Roglic, the Slovenian favorite for the victory, finished with the leading group on the first stage. In the upcoming weeks, the Jolly Green-clad rider will likely have to fend off attacks from the young Spanish rider Juan Ayuso from Pogacar's UAE team.
The Giro will remain in Albania for stages two and three before jetting off to Italy. On Saturday, there will be a 13.7-kilometer individual time trial through Tirana for the riders. So far, the first two weeks of the race are shaping up to be a bit tame, offering up a smorgasbord of sprint stages and a few medium-difficulty mountain stages, as well as two short time trials. But fear not, cycling enthusiasts, week three promises some brutal, heavy mountain stages that will surely shake things up in the fight for the pink jersey. After 3413 kilometers, the Giro will conclude on June 1 in Rome, with the pros honoring the late Pope Francis by riding through the Vatican for the first time [1].
Cycling factoid: This year's challenging opening stage in Albania was 164 kilometers long, treated riders to significant terrain changes, and ended with a sprint finish won by Mads Pedersen [2].
Sources:[1] ntv.de, tsi/sid[2] BikeExchange[3] velonews.com[4] cyclingnews.com[5] reuters.com
- The 108th Giro d'Italia started in Albania, marking the first time the race has been held in this country, known for its lively Balkan nation.
- On the opening stage of Giro d'Italia 2025, former world champion Mads Pedersen from the Lidl-Trek team secured his second win at the Giro, donning the pink leader's jersey for the first time in his career.
- After a tough series of challenges, including the Gracen Pass and the Surrel Hill with steep gradients, rider Tobias Steinhauser from EF Education-Easy Post finished nearly 10 minutes behind the winner, while the only German in the leading group was Felix Engelhardt from Team Jayco AlUla.
