There are races that smell of July the fade of July, the sunflowers and the firm’s din. And there is the Giro. Whoever, since 1909, is written as a cycling opera, halfway between Verdi and Dino Buzzati. A race where pink is not a tenderness but a test, slow cooking of men in the salt water of the dolomites, the Bianche Strade or the Via Santa Caterina. The Giro d’Italia is the discreet charm of sporting agony in the perched villages, on the roads in laces and in the legs that collapse. And this year, the 108th edition – from May 9 to June 1, 2025 – promises a fireworks in three acts.
Cycling. Tour of Italy 2025. The Giro route unveiled
Act i – history, patina, heroes
Before being a multilingual television event, the Giro was a challenge launched by the Gazzetta dello Sportprinted on pink paper. It was a question of opposing workers’ and mountainly Italy to its Roman and aristocratic version. From 1909 to Coppi, from Bartali to Pantani, via the fallen like Riccò (best young 2008, 3 stages) or poets like Chiappucci, the Giro produced more tragic figures than serene triumphs.
Even today, the race keeps this epic scent, with its ruined roads and malicious descents. It is not a straight line towards glory: it is an asphalt Stations, a novel of which each step would be a chapter of fatigue.
Act II – The route: Italy (and Albania) to the hard
The GIRO 2025 begins in the East. Very to the east. Three days of opening in Albania, a first in the history of the race. Durrës, Tirana, Vlorë… Exotic names for a large tense, trashy, nervous departure. The ascent of Llogara, from the 3rd stage, could already break a few fragile legs and reveal who came to a tourist.
Then, after a day of rest and crossing of the Adriatic, the race comes into the heart of the matter. Deep Italy: Lecce, Matera, Naples, Siena. The sunny southern precedes white hell: the 9th stage towards Siena and its 29 kilometers of dirt roads, the white roadswill fly over the too rigid ambitions. The punctures will speak stronger than the watts.
The second time trial, from Lucca to Pisa, 28.6 kilometers long (step 10), will decide between climbers and rollers. But the Giro is above all an expectation – that of the last week.
And there, everything is played in a cruel crescendo: San Valentino, Mortirolo, Champoluc, then the final organ – the With windowsits 18.5 km at 9.2 % including the last 8 on paths of stone and dust. A monument of suffering. The Giro will be played here, in this ode to raw effort. The next day, the arrival in Rome, almost peaceful, will salute those who have survived.
Act III – The actors of the drama
Primoz Roglic : The man with a smile at an angle. Slovenian returns where he had already triumphed in 2023, ready to confirm that time has not yet broken his domination. He is favorite. He is used to it. But beware of the wear and tear of power.
Juan Ayuso : 22 years and all his teeth. The Spaniard is the comet who goes up. Fast against the clock, skillful in the mountains, surrounded by an army (Del Toro, Adam Yates), he is there to take over from Pogacar on the Iberian throne.
Mikel Ruralthe magnificent damned, returns again and again, armed with its solid illusions like the Basque granite. At Soudal Quick-Step, he is the romantic alternative to the cold calculations of his rivals.
Simon Yatesfresh at Visma Lease A Bike, embodies English elegance and chronic fragility. He can win everything … or lose everything in a wet turn.
Antonio Tiberithe little Italian prince, wants to vibrate the boot. Regular, intelligent, fast against the time, he has the profile of a podium.
And then there are the second brilliant roles, the Arensman, Hindley, Bernal or Derek Gee, a Canadian runner as improbable as courageous.
And on the French side? David Gauduincome from an encouraging Vuelta 2024, advances as an outsider. Wounded, fallen, but still standing, he hopes to shine in the last week. Romain Bardethe dreams of a baroud of honor and can always aim for a stage.
The whole list of participants to discover IC
The other jerseys: cyclamen, azzurro, white …
Among sprinters, the fight will be open. No Jonathan Milan, no Merlier. Olav Kooij (Visma) seems to the headlining, but will have to deal with Mads Pedersenthe elegant Danish punker, or Kaden Grovescapable of surviving bumps. The young Paul MagnierFrench novice, will discover the pangs of the Grand Tour with ambition.
In the mountains, the absence of a pogacar leaves the field open. Scaroni (Astana) is quoted as a favorite for the Azzurro jersey, but beware of Carapazif he abandons the general, or even Jefferson Cepedacapable of collecting points in escape.
The best young white jersey seems promised to Ayusounless a Isaac del Toro does not disturb the hierarchy.
The Giro, Mirror of modern cycling
The Giro 2025 is more than a route and a startlist. It is a struggle between two visions: that of the powerful (UAE, Visma, INEOS) against the adventurers, the solitary, the morning escaped and the dreamers of the classification bottom. It is also the theater where we measure the science of sports directors to the poetry of the panache.
In cycling sanitized by power sensors and energy gels, Italy still offers an unpredictable part. Bad roads. Earth passes. Fatal punctures. A bad wind on the plains of Veneto. And this glow – so rare – of strategic madness. The Giro is the race where you climb to get down. But also the one where we dream of going back. In the laces of Alpe San Pellegrino or the sands of Monteaperti, something indomitable persists.
The pink jersey, we do not conquer it. We deserve it. By dint of aches, loneliness, and a touch of grace.
YV
TEKAPE 1 (9 MAI) – Durres> Tirana (164 km) : first leg on the Albanian roads. An damaged loop with final circuit around Tirana. The opportunity for Punchers to seize the first pink jersey.
Etpe 2 (10 from) – Tirana> Tirana (13,7 km, Clm) : Tracking urban time trial with a bump at the end of the route. First differences to be expected.
TEKAPE 3 (11 MAI) – Vlora> Vlora (160 km) : Ascension of Llogara (10.7 km at 7.4 %), 39 km from the finish. Ideal for backpackers.
Etape 4 (13 Mai) – Alberobello> Lecce (187 km) : return to Italy, first chance for sprinters.
Etape 5 (14 Mai) – Ceglie Messapica> Matera (145 km) : steep final. Open day for sneakers and escaped.
Etape 6 (15 Mai) – Potenza> Naples (210 km) : Long day to Naples. Sprint expected.
Etape 7 (16 Mai) – Castel di Sangro> Tagliacozzo (168 km) : first arrival at altitude. Very irregular final climb.
Etape 8 (17 Mai) – Giulianova> Castelraimondo (197 km) : Passement pest profile. Opportunity for backpackers.
Etape 9 (18 Mai) – Gubbio> Sienne (181 km) : 29 km of white paths, final in the narrow streets of Siena. Day at high risks.
Step 10 (May 20) – Lucca> Pisa (28.6 km, CLM) : flat time trial. Large step for rollers.
Etape 11 (21 Mai) – Viareggio> Castelnovo ne ‘Monti (185 km) : Alpe San Pellegrino (14 km at 8.2 %) to animate the day.
Etape 12 (22 Mai) – Modène> Viadana (172 km) : For sprinters.
Etape 13 (23 Mai) – Rovigo> Vicenza (180 km) : Final in the steps rising.
Stage 14 (24 May) — Treed > Nova Gorica (186 km) : expected sprint.
Etape 15 (25 Mai) – Fiume Veneto> Asiago (214 km) : Long day with the climbing in the middle of the stage.
Etape 16 (27 Mai) – Piazzola on the Brenta> Valentine’s Day (199 km) : real mountain stage.
Etape 17 (28 Mai) – San Michele alla Adige> Bormio (154 km) : With the Mortirolo. History invites itself.
Etape 18 (29 Mai) – San Morbegno> Cesano Maderno (144 km) : transition, potentially for sprinters.
By over 19 (30 MAY) – Belliorno Champoluch (166 km) : 3 formidable passes. A queen step.
European 20 (31 Mount) – Vérès> Septiere (203 km : Finestre + Sestrière glue. On her own, she can decide everything.
Step 21 (June 1) – Rome> Rome (141 km) : parade for sprinters, final coronation.
Photo credit: DR
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