“Cycling today is nothing like my era” - Miguel Indurain sees 2025 Giro d’Italia as too close to call after stage 17

Miguel Induráin is, quite simply, one of the greatest cyclists in history. A two-time winner of the Giro d’Italia in 1992 and 1993, there are few people more qualified to assess the state of the race. Speaking after Stage 17, the Spanish cycling legend shared his thoughts on how the final stretch is shaping up and offered insight into the general classification battle.

“Yes, it’s true—the race is incredibly close. There are a lot of riders still in the mix. It looked like Del Toro was in control, but he had a bad day yesterday. Still, he’s recovered well. It’s all still open—three interesting days remain before we crown the winner in Rome,” Induráin told Cycling Pro Net after Stage 17.

Despite his deep knowledge of the race, Induráin refrained from naming a clear favorite to win the maglia rosa. “No, it’s hard to call. Del Toro looks strong, he’s bounced back well. He’s young, ambitious, and has a powerful team behind him—with Simon Yates and the experience of a well-organized squad. But Carapaz always performs well on the long climbs, and he’s got the experience that counts in the final week. Yates, too—he knows how to manage a three-week race. It’s going to be a fascinating Giro right to the end.”

When asked to compare the modern Giro to his own racing days, Induráin was quick to point out how much the sport has changed. “No, no—today’s cycling is totally different from my time. Now the stages are shorter, faster, more intense. Teams have to manage things much more precisely than we used to.”

This sentiment has been echoed by many legends of the sport in recent years, as the peloton has become younger, more aggressive, and the racing less predictable.

Induráin is at this year’s Giro not just as a spectator, but as a participant in the race’s growing side events. He’s taken part in the “Giro E”—a parallel event featuring electric bikes—and has been revisiting some of the legendary climbs that defined his own victories.

“Yes, I was invited to the Giro to ride some short stages of the Giro E on an e-bike. We went up the Mortirolo, and did yesterday’s stage as well. I’ve seen a lot of old friends here—Chiappucci, Bugno, Astarloa—so many familiar faces. It brings back memories. It’s been 30, even 32 years since I won the Giro in ’92 and ’93. Climbing the Mortirolo again, riding these roads... it’s like reliving the past.”

Even decades removed from his peak, Miguel Induráin’s voice carries weight in the cycling world—and his analysis echoes what many fans are feeling: the 2025 Giro is still wide open, with no obvious winner and everything still to play for in the final mountain stages. As the race barrels toward Rome, one thing is certain—anything can still happen.