Slovenian cyclist Roglic eyes Giro victory with Pogacar out of contention
Get ready for a gripping Giro d'Italia as we witness the fierce battle between Primoz Roglic and his main rivals! The 35-year-old Slovenian racer, who's previously been in Pogacar's shadow, is all set to claim the pink jersey for the second time. Roglic's Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team is stacked with big names like 2022 winner Jai Hindley and last year's runner-up Dani Martínez.
Roglic aims for both the Giro and the Tour this year, with the latter still a thorn in his side after failing to complete the Tour five years ago. He's looking sharp, as shown by his win at the Tour of Catalonia in March, edging out home favorite Juan Ayuso on the final stage in Barcelona.
Ayuso is one of Roglic's major contenders on the Giro, with the young Spaniard having already snatched a win in Italy this season at Tirreno-Adriatico. However, this year's Giro promises challenges far tougher than anything the racers have faced so far.
With a staggering 52,200 meters of climbing over the 3,413-kilometer race, this year's Giro will be more demanding than the 2024 edition, with a final stage honoring the late Pope Francis with a Vatican ride. Riders will kick-off the race in Albania, following a challenging third stage that starts and finishes in Vlore, then make their way up mainland Italy from Lecce in the deep south.
Most of the extra 10 kilometers of climbing come in the two stages preceding the finale in Rome. Stage 19 tests riders with three category one climbs in the 166km between Biella and Champoluc. The penultimate stage 20 features the challenging Colle delle Finestre climb, which boasts an 8-kilometer gravel section. Initially, heavy snowfall raised concerns that the climb might be removed, but the roads have been cleared, and safety measures are currently being implemented.
The Colle delle Finestre climb is crucial for the overall standings, presenting an HC challenge with an average gradient of 9.2%. This final GC day could lead to dramatic changes in the general classification, as riders arrive exhausted after a grueling final week. Keep your eyes peeled for some nail-biting action on the 2025 Giro d'Italia!
© 2025 AFP
[1] https://www.pelotonmagazine.com/giro-d-italia/2025-giro-route-revealed-return-traditional-levels/[2] https://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-colle-delle-finestre-giro-ditalia-2025.html[3] https://www.ignitesports.com/giro-ditalia-2025-route/[4] https://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/giro-ditalia-2025-route-revealed-pink-jersey-finale-in-rome/[5] https://bar Rückenwirbelstangen.de/tipps/giro-ditalia-2025-colle-delle-finestre-alles-wichtige-wissen/
Roglic, the Slovenian cyclist, aims to defend his pink jersey in the challenging 2025 Giro d'Italia, with tough climbs like the Colle delle Finestre presenting HC challenges for riders. The young Spaniard, Ayuso, is also a major contender, having already won an Italy race this season at Tirreno-Adriatico. France may also host nail-biting action as the race concludes in Rome, a final stage that features a grueling week and a total of 52,200 meters of climbing over the 3,413-kilometer race.
