Giro d’Italia LIVE: Stage one set for fierce fight to claim maglia rosa as race begins in Albania

Stage one preview: Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert hunt win on 160km route to Tirana

The 2025 Giro d’Italia begins in the Albanian port city of Durres, before heading south and wrapping around to the finish in the heart of the capital city, Tirana.

It is a hilly opening day with a category two climb (13km, 5.1 per cent) halfway through the 160km route, and a loop that twice takes on the category-three Surrel climb before a fast descent to the finish.

On the surface it looks like a day for one of the puncheurs in the pack, like Wout van Aert or Tom Pidcock, even if the Yorkshireman has said victory on the opening day is “unlikely”. But there are two intermediate sprints shortly before the first climb which will lure the fastest riders to the front, and if their teammates can drag them over the tough Gracen climb then the sprinters will be the ones to beat come the finish in Tirana. Watch out for the 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen, who has the legs to clear the climb and out-sprint the rest in a shootout to the line.

Flo Clifford9 May 2025 11:05

Good morning

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Giro d’Italia!

Grand Tour racing kicks off this season in Durres, Albania, with a hilly 160km stage perfect for puncheurs - if the sprinters don’t have a say in the matter. It should be a interesting start to one of the most open Grand Tours in recent years.

We’ll have all the build-up and action from today’s stage, so follow along here.

Flo Clifford9 May 2025 11:00