Overview

• The 2025 Giro d’Italia starts today in Durres, Albania, marking the first time the race begins outside Italy since 2018.
• Defending champion Tadej Pogacar is absent, prioritizing preparation for the Tour de France, leaving Primož Roglič as the pre-race favorite.
• The field includes five former Giro winners, rising stars like Juan Ayuso, and notable sprinters and climbers targeting stage wins.
• The 21-stage race covers over 3,400 kilometers, with a challenging route that culminates in Rome’s Vatican Gardens on June 1.
• Today's opening stage, a hilly 160km route to Tirana, is expected to favor versatile riders like Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock.