The Grande Partenza is all but certain to take place in Albania. If so, the first three stages will be held in the Balkan country, with the first rest day scheduled as early as Monday, 12 May.
After crossing the Adriatic Sea, the Giro is expected to continue from Puglia, possibly from Bari or Brindisi, in the deep south of Italy. The pink caravan will then head north via Campania, Abruzzo, and Tuscany. Both the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts are reportedly included in the route, along with the Apennines. L’Aquila is a potential destination, where Pello Bilbao won a sensational stage from the breakaway in 2019.
There are two time trials in the pipeline, one of which is expected to run from Lucca to Pisa. The opening stage might also be a time trial, in the Albanian capital of Tirana.
Presumably, the 9th stage will be Strade Bianche-ish stage. The finale is said to feature five ‘sterrati’ before finishing at the Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Rumours suggest that the penultimate weekend will see the Giro drip its toe in Slovenia, the home country of Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic. A hilly stage to Novo Gorica would serve as stage 14, followed by a high mountain stage back on Italian soil with a finish in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Giro last visited Cortina in 2021. That stage was initially planned to tackle La Crosetta, Passo Fedaia, Passo Pordoi, and Passo Giau, but due to bad weather, the two middle climbs were deemed impassable. The eventual race winner, Egan Bernal, won the shortened stage solo.
If the above information is accurate, the final week will begin in northeastern Italy, near the Slovenian border, before heading west. This could potentially mean a return of the Passo dello Stelvio, possibly with a downhill finish in Bormio. The penultimate stage is certain to finish uphill in Sestriere, perhaps with the gravel roads of the Colle delle Finestre on the way.
The final stage of the Corsa Rosa will finish in Rome, almost certainly passing over the cobblestones of Vatican City.
Giro d’Italia 2025: profiles
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