The 108th edition of the Giro d’Italia, the first men’s Grand Tour of the 2025 season, begins this Friday in Tirana, Albania, featuring Luxembourg riders Kevin Geniets and Michel Ries.
Over 21 stages spanning 3,433km, the peloton will traverse from Albania to Italy, finishing in Rome on 1 June. The race includes three rest days amid a route blending time trials, mountain challenges, and sprint finishes.
Last year’s Giro was decisively won by Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar, who claimed six stage victories and secured the overall title with an almost 10-minute lead. The podium was rounded out by Colombia’s Daniel Martínez and Britain’s Geraint Thomas, while Luxembourg’s Michel Ries achieved a respectable 25th place in the general classification.
The race opens with three demanding stages in Albania, featuring relentless climbs and descents that will test sprinters early. A 13.7km time trial on Stage 2 sets the tone, with 42.3km total against the clock in this year’s race.
After a rest day, the peloton moves to Italy for sprint-friendly stages and the first hill finish. The standout moment of week one is the Strade Bianche stage in Tuscany. Week two begins with a flat time trial, followed by opportunities for breakaways and the first major mountain stage.
The Giro’s trademark brutality peaks in week three, notably on Stage 16 – a 203km marathon with 4,000m of climbing. Legendary ascents like the Mortirolo and Colle delle Finestre will shape the podium before the race concludes with a sprint finish in Rome.
Luxembourg champion Kevin Geniets (team GROUPAMA-FDJ) will make his Giro d’Italia debut. The 28-year-old, entering his sixth Grand Tour, is expected to support climber David Gaudu in the mountain stages but may also have opportunities to join breakaways and chase stage results.
His compatriot Michel Ries (team ARKÉA-B&B HOTELS), 27, faces a pivotal moment in his career. With his team’s future uncertain due to ongoing sponsorship searches, strong performances could attract interest from other squads. A talented climber, Ries will likely target breakaway opportunities during the mountainous stages. Like Geniets, this marks his sixth Grand Tour appearance.
This year’s race promises an open battle for victory, with defending champion Tadej Pogačar absent. Top contenders include Primož Roglič (SLO, 35), Antonio Tiberi (ITA), Richard Carapaz (ECU, 31), and Juan Ayuso (ESP, 22).
Both Roglič and Carapaz already won the race once in 2023 and 2019, respectively.
