The countdown is nearly over. On May 9th, the 108th Giro
d’Italia gets underway, and with it, the battle for the maglia rosa. Tadej
Pogacar may be absent, but this year’s start list is stacked with talent. From
seasoned Grand Tour winners to riders seeking redemption and breakthrough
moments, the 2025 Giro is wide open. So, who will rise to become the star of
this year’s race?
Primoz Roglic
At 35 years old, Primoz Roglic remains one of the most
fearsome GC riders in the world. A four-time Vuelta a España winner and the
2023 Giro champion, Roglic knows exactly how to manage a three-week race. Two
years ago, he wrestled pink from Geraint Thomas on the final day time trial in
dramatic fashion.
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Now riding for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, Roglic has taken
a measured build-up to the Giro. He started his year quietly with eighth at the
Volta ao Algarve, before showing glimpses of his vintage form at the Volta a
Catalunya. There, he went toe-to-toe with Juan Ayuso, exchanging stage wins
before sealing overall victory with a 20km solo attack on the final day in
Barcelona.
If Roglic brings that same aggression and form to Italy, and
avoids the crashes that have so often interrupted his Grand Tour campaigns, he’ll
be the man to beat.
Is the Giro Roglic's to lose?
Juan Ayuso
Juan Ayuso finally has the chance to lead UAE Team Emirates
– XRG without the looming presence of Tadej Pogacar. The 22-year-old Spaniard
has long been touted as a future Grand Tour winner, and 2025 might just be the
year he delivers. Ayuso will be co-leading UAE alongside Adam Yates, and they
have (as always) an incredibly strong team.
After a disappointing 2024, where illness forced him to
abandon his debut Tour de France, Ayuso has bounced back strongly. He won Tirreno–Adriatico
in dominant fashion and was runner-up to Roglic at Volta a Catalunya, matching
the Slovenian up until the final day of the race.
With podium finishes at the Vuelta already under his belt,
Ayuso arrives in Italy with growing confidence. If his form continues, he could
be Roglic’s biggest threat.
Tom Pidcock
Few riders in the peloton boast a skillset as diverse as Tom
Pidcock. The Olympic mountain bike champion and former cyclo-cross world
champion is making his Giro debut, and it comes as part of a major career
reset.
After a difficult 2024 with INEOS Grenadiers, Pidcock made
the bold move to join ProTeam outfit Q36.5. It raised eyebrows, but the switch
may have come at the perfect time. With full leadership duties, fewer
expectations, and a Giro route suited to his style, the Yorkshireman has a real
opportunity to shine.
“I believe the whole team is going with a mission to show
ourselves as Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team,” he said in a team press release. “For me
personally I come with high ambitions and with the form I’ve carried from the
Ardennes I know the legs will be there. Of course, there are many
opportunities, but we are going to plan well and pick our moments.”
This Giro could be Pidcock’s moment to remind the cycling
world of his brilliance.
Wout van Aert
For Wout van Aert, 2025 has been a season of recovery so far.
After missing most of 2024 due to two separate crashes, first at Dwars door
Vlaanderen and later at the Vuelta a España, the Belgian has yet to hit top
form.
Can Van Aert rediscover his best form?
His spring results were modest by his own high standards:
fourth at both Flanders and Roubaix, with sprint losses to Remco Evenepoel and
Neilson Powless at Dwars door and Amstel Gold Race. Inevitably, the Belgian
media have questioned whether Van Aert is on the decline.
But context is key. Few riders can return from such a
disrupted year and immediately challenge the best. This Giro is Van Aert’s
first, and perhaps his best, chance to complete the Grand Tour stage win
hat-trick, having already won at both the Tour and the Vuelta.
With a reduced GC focus for Visma, Van Aert has freedom to
hunt stages, and the class to take them. Let’s hope we see vintage Van Aert, and
potentially some time in pink.
Mads Pedersen
Lidl–Trek’s Mads Pedersen has emerged as one of the most
complete riders in the world. While known for his sprint and classics pedigree,
Pedersen has shown surprising climbing strength in 2025, especially at Paris–Nice.
A podium at both Flanders and Roubaix has underlined his consistency, even if
that elusive Monument win still escapes him.
Pedersen comes to the Giro not as a second-choice, but
because the team has earmarked Jonathan Milan for the Tour de France. That
frees Pedersen to chase stage victories in a race that suits him. With a
versatile route and several punchy or reduced sprint finishes, the Dane could
well add multiple stages to his palmarès.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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