The 2025 Giro d’Italia will commence in Albania, marking the 15th time the iconic Italian race has started outside its home country, organisers confirmed on Monday. RCS Sport, the race’s organiser, will unveil the full route on 13 January in Rome, but the initial details highlight an exciting opening in the Balkan nation.
The race will begin on May 9 with a three-day stint in Albania, featuring two road stages and an individual time trial. The peloton will then cross the Adriatic Sea for a rest day in Puglia before continuing their journey through Italy.
Stage 1 will cover 164 kilometres from Dürres to Tiranë, including 1,800 metres of elevation. The second stage, a 13-kilometre individual time trial through the streets of Tiranë, will feature a Category 4 climb at the halfway point. The final stage in Albania will be a 160-kilometre medium mountain stage, with more than 2,700 metres of climbing before the race heads to Italy.
The opening stages are expected to create early opportunities for general classification (GC) contenders. Stage 3 includes two significant climbs, with the second—Qafa e Llogarasë—located just 40 kilometres from the finish line. This climb presents a prime opportunity for riders like Tadej Pogačar, this year’s Giro winner, to launch an attack for both a stage win and the coveted pink jersey.
While Pogačar’s team, UAE Emirates, has not confirmed his specific Grand Tour plans for 2025, the Slovenian, who made an impressive Giro debut in May, may choose to target the Vuelta a España, a race he has yet to win. Former Giro winner Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) has also confirmed his intention to race in 2025.
Race director Mauro Vegni emphasised that the design of the opening stages aims to foster early GC action, similar to this year’s dramatic start. “The route for the Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia 2025 is designed to offer a thrilling spectacle right from the beginning, combining the beauty of the landscape with a challenging course that will highlight the riders’ strengths, following the format we experimented with last year,” Vegni said.
The full race route will be revealed in January, but Albania’s inclusion promises a memorable start to the 2025 Giro d’Italia.
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