"First stage in Italy, finishing in a sprint, my return to a Grand Tour — a chance not to be missed": Elia Viviani dreaming of Red Jersey at Vuelta a Espana 2025

Elia Viviani arrives in Turin this weekend with a simple, sharp objective: make the most of the rare early sprint and give himself a shot at the Red Jersey. The 2025 Vuelta opens on 23 August with a flat run from Turin to Novara, a stage that organisers and previewers expect to end in a bunch kick — precisely the kind of day Viviani has earmarked as his target.

After four years away from the three-week races, the 36-year-old sprinter is acutely aware that this Vuelta will be tougher than many of the editions he has raced before. “I arrive at the Vuelta knowing there will be few opportunities, like there were at the Giro and the Tour. At the end, there won’t be that many sprinters, so if I make it to a sprint, I’ll have a chance,” he explains in conversation with Bici.Pro.

Viviani has been carefully planning how to target that chance. “Saturday will be the key day. I’m going to treat it like a one-day race. I want to arrive fresh because for me Saturday is the Vuelta. Then day by day, we’ll see what comes,” he explained. The first weekend, particularly that flat opening stage, will be precious for fast men, given the route’s abundance of summit finishes in the later blocks.

Viviani’s build-up has reflected a focus on endurance and climbing rather than pure sprint preparation. “In Livigno I concentrated much more on the climbs, because we know it will be a tough Vuelta. I maintained the classic blocks for sprint preparation but reduced gym work. My approach to the first day won’t consider the three weeks—it will be like a single-day race,” he said. He spent three weeks at altitude with seven teammates before returning home to ride the Tour of Poland as a warm-up, followed by a solid showing in Hamburg, where only a puncture prevented him from contesting the finale.

Viviani is realistic about the challenge: “There will be a Pedersen on fire and also Philipsen. Pedersen, in particular, will be the reference for the green jersey and the sprints.” Mads Pedersen’s strong form in Denmark and Jasper Philipsen’s consistency on flat finishes ensure that the opening sprint will be fiercely competitive. Still, Viviani remains optimistic. “If I make it to a sprint, I could have some chances,” he said, highlighting that Lotto will support him with lead-out riders like Jasper De Buyst to put him in the ideal position.

The Vuelta is also part of Viviani’s wider seasonal planning. “I love the idea that it finishes in Madrid, where I’ve won before. If I finish it, I’ll enjoy myself until the end of the season. That could even give me more chances at the World Championships later in the year, because I could arrive in top form,” he noted.

He reflected on the gap in Grand Tours over recent years: “It has been missing a lot, on several levels. Certainly emotionally and in terms of objectives. For every rider, the season is structured around the three Grand Tours. Physically, I’ve missed it immensely.” He also knows that winning in Turkey earlier this year helped him regain confidence: “What I wanted was to get back racing and winning, and I did in Turkey. Once I win one, I always try to add another.”

While Saturday is the immediate goal, Viviani is mindful that the Vuelta is a three-week chess match: “I don’t want to spend 17 days on the wheel, hoping for four sprints. If there are days to try a breakaway, I might go for it,” he said. His approach is one of measured aggression, taking the opportunities when they come rather than sitting passively for rare sprint days.

On his future beyond 2025, Viviani offered a cautious but open answer: “The ideas are clearer and calmer than last year. We talked about one year, maybe another if everyone is happy. If the season ends with fireworks, why not race another year? But for now, it’s all about the Vuelta, with total focus.”

For fans, the key takeaway is clear: the opening flat stage from Turin to Novara may be the defining sprint for the 2025 Vuelta. Viviani is ready, supported by Lotto’s lead-out, and primed from a season-long build-up that balanced sprint sharpness with mountain endurance. Saturday will not just be a sprint — it will be the statement of his return to Grand Tour racing, and a potential red jersey to wear proudly in Madrid.