The first three stages of the #GirodItalia, in Albania! 🔥 Stage 1⃣ : Challenging final circuit Stage 2⃣ : 13.7 kilometer ITT with a tough climb Stage 3⃣ : First real mountain, Qafa E Llogarasë (10,7km: 7.4%) (@stefanorizzato)
Giro d'Italia saga comes to an end: 2025 Tour of Italy will start as previously planned
CyclingMonday, 23 December 2024 at 16:28
As previously mentioned, the Giro d'Italia will start in Albania in 2025. The first grand tour of the year postponed its route presentation in November by a month, after which the rumors exploded for weeks. Was Albania not good enough? Was it going to be Saudi Arabia? Sicily? Or northern Italy? The organization gave a definitive answer on Monday in Tirana, Albania.
The first three stages were made public, and it gets challenging immediately on day one. After the start in Durazzo, a final circuit in Tirana with two ascents of the Surrel will immediately provide elevation. Sprinters won't have to count on pink, but GC riders and punchers can dream.
On day two, we start and finish in Tirana with a 13.7-kilometer individual time trial. There is one climb along the way. The third day is again not for sprinters but climbers. The climb of the Qafa e Llogarasë is no piece of cake, with over sixteen kilometers at a 6.5 percent average. The finish will be downhill, just like on day one.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is happy that the Giro start in his country is confirmed. I am proud of RCS Sport's choice and that we have successfully defeated the richer countries." Paolo Bellino of RCS Sport says Albania will welcome the Giro peloton for a week, including three stages and the days leading up to the tour. "We have broken the cliché of a start for sprinters," reports RCS boss Mauro Vegni.
The full route of the Giro will be announced in mid-January. Some big names have already committed to participating, including Primoz Roglic, Pello Bilbao, Derek Gee, Adam Yates, and Juan Ayuso. Tadej Pogacar, the defending champion, will not come to Italy, and Remco Evenepoel is recovering from a crash during training. As for Jonas Vingegaard, there is still great uncertainty.
Stages 1, 2 and 3 Giro d'Italia 2025
Read also
Il Lombardia 2024
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Alvarado leaves Brand behind in the sand in Mol and achieves four out of five in Superprestige
How is Wout doing? Van Aert caught illness from kids, but new return date looks realistic
Farewell to lead-out Selig: "In the past, you could still have a beer and enjoy life"
Latest Cycling News
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Alvarado leaves Brand behind in the sand in Mol and achieves four out of five in Superprestige
How is Wout doing? Van Aert caught illness from kids, but new return date looks realistic
Farewell to lead-out Selig: "In the past, you could still have a beer and enjoy life"
Popular Cycling News
Lance Armstrong refused to speak with Tom Boonen for years: "And I was only 20 years old, you know..."
Mathieu van der Poel makes one remarkable observation after show in Zonhoven: "I can't achieve that on the road"
Mathieu van der Poel responds to absence of duel now Wout van Aert won't compete due to illness
Sven Nys doesn't hold back about Thibau: "The swings in his performance are very extreme in certain situations"
Cyclo-cross rankings 2024/2025 | Vanthourenhout keeps World Cup lead, Alvarado moves up
Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024