The Tour of Italy 2025 starts this Friday, May 9 from Albania and will end on 1is June in the streets of Rome.
What is the course?
The route of the Tour of Italy will, as often, demanding. The big start will be given this Friday from Durrës, Albania. The runners will stay three days in the western part of the Balkan peninsula with among others a first individual time trial around Tirana (2e Step, 13.7 km) which should create the first differences between the favorites. The event will then join the Puglia and gradually go up the “boot” with more or less steep stages which could suit sprinters. The end of the first week will be marked by a passage on the now famous white paths of the Strade Bianche, near Siena (9e stage, 181 km).
The second week will start with the second and last individual, all flat, between Lucca and Pisa (10e step, 28.6 km). Large thighs and sneakers should then have the opportunity to stand out. Before the leaders really went on stage for the terrible third week of racing. On the program? Four large mountain stages including an arrival in Bormio (17e STEP, 154 km) passing through mythical Passo del Mortirolo (12.6 km to 7.6 %) and another in Sestrières (20e STEP, 203 km) with the Finestre Dantesque glue (18.5 km at 9.2 %)-CIMA COPPI of the event, that is to say the culminating point-and its last eight kilometers in gravel. The justice of the peace – no doubt – of this Giro di Italia.
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Who are the favorites for the general classification?
Last year, Tadej Pogačar splashed the Tour of Italy of his talent, crushing competition without forcing. For this 2025 edition, the race promises to be much more open. Two names insistently come back when we mention the favorites: Primož Roglič (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) and Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG). The Slovenian – which has already won the event, on the wire, two years ago – and the Spanish – younger, more fiery – clashed on the Tour de Catalonia last March. And it was the first city that had imposed itself, very little. Suffice to say that they should offer us a good battle with their respective armada.
But they will not be alone. Behind them, many outsiders will be keen to take advantage of the slightest opportunity, the unpredictable character of the Giro di Italia, to thwart the forecasts: Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal (ineos grenadiers), Richard Carapaz (EF Education – Easypost), Derek Gee (Israel – Premier Tech), Mikel Landa (Sudal Quick Step) and Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain – Victorious) – The hope of all of Italy.
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What can we hope for from the French?
In the general classification, not much. Romain Bardet (Team Picnic Postnl)-comfortable last year on the Tour of Italy-seems a little too just to play the very first roles, even if it should be among the nineteen best runners when the road is. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)-who discovers the Giro Di Italia this season this season-should not be able to mingle either with the fight for the podium-and even for the top five-, the fault of several falls-including one that caused a fracture of the hand on the Tirreno-Adriatico-which embarrassed its preparation. However, he should have the opportunity to show up in the third week.
The sprinter-puncher Paul Magnier (Sudal Quick Step) will be followed for his first big round. He will have several opportunities to make his speed of speed speak, both on flat and sample steps. He may well be one of outsiders In the point race by points. Finally, other tricolors may well take their faces of the game on a stage, in escaping, like Dorian Godon (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale Team) and Quentin Pacher (Groupama – FDJ).
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What to expect from Romain Bardet for his last big tour?
A last big tour before the Dauphiné Critérium and sports retreat. Romain Bardet tackles the Tour of Italy with the desire to end his career on a good note. The climber of the Picnic Postnl team can legitimately hope for a good general classification – like last year (9e) – After his encouraging Alps (10e). However, it should be set back from favorites and large outsiders.
Regardless, its main objective on the other side of the Alps is to raise your arms to enter the closed circle of the stages winners on the three large towers. The 34 -year -old French should have the opportunity, whether on the first hilly stage in Albania – as he had done on the Tour de France last year -, the steep roads of the first and second weeks or in the high mountains in the grand finale of this Giro Di Italia. One thing is certain, we should see him on the attack. It is his temperament.
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On which channel to see the race?
Cycling followers are now used to it. The Tour of Italy, which promises to be as exciting as it is indisticted, will be followed exclusively on the antennas ofEurostrort. The steps can be viewed in full with the sport option of Max.
