GIRO 2025 – Step 1: course, profile and favorites

It’s time! The 108th edition of the Giro d’Italia will open up to an unprecedented note: a departure from the Pays des Aigles, marking the very first foray for a large tour in Albania. This inaugural stage will announce the start of the triptych outside the Bel Paese. More than a curtain raising, this start in terms of the port of Durres Until the capital of Tirana will not be unwinding from twists and turns. What to offer a hectic first epilogue, in order to put a name on the first carrier of the pink jersey of the ” Pink race ” 2025.

From Durrës, a historic port city of the Albanian coast, to reach Tirana, the country’s capital, the peloton will have to cross 160 kilometers sown with pitfalls. A first day combining 1,870 meters of slope, intermingling flat terrain, long ascent and tactical urban circuit. The range of possible winners is wide enough to designate the first Maglia Rosa of this 108th edition of the Giro d’Italia.

This first step will be relatively short and full of promises. With an atypical layout and an open, very clever finish is the one that will give off a clear favorite. The script is far from being written in marble. It must be said that the sequence of two intermediate sprints after an hour and a half of racing could open the 108th edition of this Giro on a frantic pace. Just after the second, at kilometer 68, stands the Grace (13 kilometers at 5.1 %). A long ascent that certain versatile teams could use to blunt the purest sprinters on this 2025 tray. The Strava segment announces a maximum slope at 8.3 %, which is more in agreement with the visual exploration of this 2nd category, than with the 11 % displayed on the official profile of the above stage.

Page 70 of the Garibaldi explains this maximum portion at mid-place that can be judged less than 10 % displayed.

A quick descent will follow where vigilance will be in order.

New, the ” Red Bull KM “will offer 6-4-2 seconds to the first three runners who will cross the line line of this bonus sprint. Will its placement in Sauk, will 48 kilometers from the finish line be enough to arouse the appetite of certain leaders? Nothing is less certain. Especially since its location at the top of a prime price rises brought in the game The Punchers / Sprinters, eager to wear the first pink tunic.

The final of this first stage will be judged on an urban circuit in the Albanian capital. After having crossed the finish line for the first time, the runners will start two laps of a 22 -kilometer circuit.

The coast of Surrel (6.9 kilometers at 4.6 %) is intended to blur the tracks of the final scenario. The foot of the difficulty will be the most demanding, with a portion of one kilometer to 8.3 %. Be careful, however, the Strava segment below, which seems to be a little poorly calibrated. One thing is certain, the 13 % announced by the Garibaldi seems to be glued to the reality on the ground this time.

The second portion will be much more within the reach of large versatile thighs. Unfortunately, StreetView only offers visibility over the last 500 meters.

At the top, there will only be 11.2 kilometers to go, including 6.5 downhill where it will be impossible to go up places.

4.7 kilometers of the finish : The 2016 StreetView views suggest a straight line, where the plans go in the direction of a large roundabout. Viewers will be set at 26.8 kilometers from the finish line during the first of the two passages.

4.3 kilometers from the finish : a grip on the left that will be spontaneously.

4 kilometers from the finish : taken by the right side highly recommended.

3 kilometers from the finish : time neutralization zone

2.3 kilometers of arrival : a turning point on the left to recover a two lanes.

2 kilometers from the finish : A very rapid turn which has no difficulty, it taking it quite naturally.

On a real billiards, the runners will tumble on the quays along the Lana.

550 meters from the finish : A last turn that will have to be tackled in the first of Cordées, given its proximity to the arrival.

200 meters from the finish : This is the last moment to be deposited at the ideal place.

View from the finish line

Very first step is naturally nervous. Climatic conditions should not help calm tensions within the peloton. In a day mainly in a southeast wind, estimated at 9km/h, the most incisive inclinations could be rewarded. The peloton will have to expect to cope along the way with small constant spams. Nothing too bad, only 0.2 mm/h, but sufficient to bring a palpable agitation at the end of the final.

With a difficulty located 11 kilometers from the finish, the outcome of the stage is promised to an explosive final. Some sprinters like Kaden Groves or Sam Bennett expect an aggressive race, to blow up the purest sprinters and promote the designs of a reduced sprint without them. In large condition, these two names are able to switch to victory. At his bonus, “Sammybe” was able to be present at the top of Surrel. When the Australian showed at the start of the season to be among his most versatile men; Although slower in a completely flat final configuration.

Whatever happens, the Lidl-Trek will certainly try to tighten the tone and muzzle the attacks of punchers, to promote the ambitions of Mads Pedersen. The Danish, author of a thunderous spring, aligns with this Giro of Italia with the firm intention of leaving with stage victories and the Cyclamen jersey on the shoulders. To do this, his team will have to put him in perfect conditions in Tirana to already get ahead of the scarecrow of this peloton.

All the versatility of this stage will be based on the desire to eliminateOlav Kooij. The member of the Visma – Lease A Bike is undoubtedly the man that nobody wants in a stage concluding with a massive or reduced sprint. The whole question will rest around the recovery of his gender injury – Wevelgem. Barely recovered from a clavicle fracture, a month ago, the Dutchman must align himself with the objective of his season. Winning the first pink jersey will not be an easy task, since it will have to deal with a relatively low train. Composed of only Eduardo Affini and Wout van Aertthe sprinter deemed to be dependent on his lead-out will have to redouble ingenuity. So much more with a pilot fish that said that he had not had the ideal preparation when approaching the event. Sick and not very confident when it comes to rubbing, WVA could let her teammate fend for himself.

The first steps have their share of surprise. Last year on the Tour de France, Romain Bardet had managed to thwart the plasses of the peloton and get his first yellow jersey. This Tirana stage has everything to see a surprise winner. Quick men like Paul Magnier have shown a few limits to the Eschborn – Frankfort, which can open the door to men in shape and fast as Filippo Fiorelli or Giovanni Lonardi. The two Italians do not have to be ashamed of the competition, but will have to try not to take names on their luggage racks like Matteo Moschetti or Max Kanterwho have been full of confidence.

Impossible not to mention B plans like Quinten Hermans For the Alpecin – Deceuninck or Andrea Vendrame For Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale. The probable bad weather could push them to engage in a descent from Surrel with an open tomb and open the field of possibilities in the last hectometers of this opening stage.

Overall, we think that teams of leaders and teams like Lidl Trek will run to try to let go of sprinters. Difficult to believe that a Fretin Milan or a Sam Bennett can resist. Kaden Groves should pass him, just like Paul Magnier. There remains the uncertainty Olav Kooij, which returns from injury and is surely not in full possession of its means.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ MADS PEDERSEN

⭐ ⭐ Olav Kooij – Kaden Groves

⭐ Paul Magnier – Wout Van Aert – Andrea Vendrame