2025 Giro reportedly set to start in Albania

The 2025 Giro d’Italia is reportedly set to kick off in Albania, marking another historic departure for the iconic race outside its homeland. The Giro has a storied history of international starts, with recent editions including Belfast hosting the Grand Partenza in 2014, where Orica-GreenEdge triumphed in the team time trial, and Jerusalem in 2018, when Tom Dumoulin claimed the first maglia rosa with a time trial victory.

According to a report from AS, Albania will host the opening stages of the 2025 edition, with the official announcement expected after the Giro di Lombardia on October 12. The unveiling is also set to reveal the routes for the initial stages through Albania, offering a fresh and exciting backdrop for the early action of the race.

The event, organised by RCS Sport, will confirm the rest of its route in Rome on November 15. Rumours suggest that Monte Crostis will feature prominently early on, presenting the peloton with a brutal 14 km climb at over 9%, setting the tone for a challenging Giro.

With the route shaping up to test the riders early, attention will turn to the line up. Will defending champion Tadej Pogacar return to defend his 2024 title, or will rivals like Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard look to emulate the Slovenian’s success on Italian roads? The Giro d’Italia 2025 is already shaping up to be a thrilling edition.