Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 1 Preview: Giro Makes First Visit To Albania
Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 1 Preview: Giro Makes First Visit To Albania
Even after 107 editions, something new is happening at the Giro d'Italia in 2025 - the race is visiting Albania for the first time. Learn about Stage 1.
For more than a century, the Giro d'Italia has given countless cyclists the opportunity to see the amazing landscape of Italy in a way most will never experience.
That again will be the case this year, but even after 107 editions, the race is find new host cities and new terrain to challenge the competitors.
The Giro d'Italia 2025 will run from May 9 through June 1 and take the riders on a journey of more than 3,400 kilometers over 21 stages.
Among the noteworthy firsts this year will be the race's debut in Albania. It will be the first time the Giro has crossed into Albania and will mark the country's first professional cycling race of Category 1 or higher.
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The first three stages of the 2025 race will take place in Albania, before the excitement shifts to southern Italy for an early rest day and the continuation of the trek. As has been a tradition, the race once again will end in Rome.
For viewers in Canada, FloBikes coverage of Stage 1 will begin at 7 a.m. Eastern and is expected to conclude around 11:35 a.m. EDT.
Here’s what to know about Stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia 2025, which will take the riders on a 160-kilometer trip from Durres, one of Albania's oldest cities, to Tirana, the capital of Albania.
How To Watch The Giro d’Italia 2025 Stage 1
For Canadian viewers, the 2025 Giro d'Italia is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
Highlights, race replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
Stage highlights, replays and more breaking news, including recaps and rider interviews, will be on both platforms.
In the United States, Max is the official provider for the Giro d’Italia 2025.
Stage 1: Giro d’Italia 2025
Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia 2025 sees the race visit Albania for the first time. The first three stages of the race will happen in the new host country, before things shift back to Italy.
This year's race will get underway in historic Durres (or Durazzo), a seaside location with narrow alleys and stone houses founded in the seventh century BC. Cyclists and fans will get their first taste of the areas Mediterranean cuisine and first look at the Albanian terrain.
The opening stage is considered to be hilly, a consistency across most of the first 10 stages, a span that also includes two individual time trials.
The journey from Durres to Tirana is flat to start, for about 70 kilometers, actually, before the first climb of the year takes them more than 13 kilometers and as steep as 5.2%.
There are three climbs overall, including the famous Surrel, a 4.9-kilometer hill that starts with a gradient of 8.1%.
The stage actually includes two identical laps, and the 11.3-kilometer homestretch after the second time over Surrel is all downhill.
Is the Day 1 finish going to be a sprint, or will it be a day for the attackers?
Kilometers To Miles: How Long Is Stage 1 Of The Giro d’Italia 2025?
Stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia 2025 is 164 kilometers, or approximately 101.9 miles long.
Giro d’Italia 2025 Stage 1 Profile
Here is what the elevation looks like for Stage 1:
Who Won Stage 1 Of The Giro d’Italia In 2024?
The opening stage in 2024 was a 140-kilometer trip from Venaria Reale to Torino.
It was the biggest win of Narvaez's career but only temporarily slowed Pogacar's momentum. Pogacar went on to win six stages and the general classification, all part of a historic season for the young Slovenian.
While there will be opportunities for sprint finishes in 2025, it is important to note that the 2025 course is heavier on the climbs than any race since 2020.
When Does The Giro d’Italia 2025 Start?
The Giro d’Italia 2025 starts May 9 and will conclude June 1.
The schedule includes 21 stages and three rest days (May 12, May 19, May 26).
Every day, the cyclists start together. Every stage varies in distance and physical demand, and the characteristics of each stage determine what type of rider should excel or how the race should finish.
For example, some stages feature flat finishes, and that means the sprinters likely will be battling for those stage wins.
How Long Is The Giro d’Italia 2025?
The course for the Giro d’Italia 2025 can be found here.
The race is 21 stages. Total kilometers for 2025 is 3,413.3.
What Is The Schedule For The Giro d’Italia 2025?
Here is the complete schedule for the Girl d’Italia 2025.
How Many Teams/Riders Compete In The Giro d’Italia?
Traditionally, there are 22 teams and up to 176 competitors in the Giro d’Italia. This race will include 23 teams.
Here’s the list for 2025:
- Alpecin - Deceuninck
- Arkéa - B&B Hotels
- Bahrain - Victorious
- Cofidis
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
- EF Education - EasyPost
- Groupama - FDJ
- INEOS Grenadiers
- Intermarché - Wanty
- Israel – Premier Tech
- Lidl - Trek
- Movistar Team
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- Redbull – Bora - Hansgrohe
- Soudal Quick-Step
- Team Jayco AlUla
- Team Picnic Postnl
- Team Polti VisitMalta
- Team Visma | Lease A Bike
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team
- UAE Team Emirates
- VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizane’
- XDS Astana Team
Who Won The Giro d’Italia In 2024?
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 as part of a memorable season that saw him become the first rider since 1998 to win the Giro and the Tour de France in the same season.
He then added a win at the 2024 World Championships in Switzerland to became the first cyclist since 1987 to win the Giro, TDF and a world championship in the same season.
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