Giro d’Italia eyes more overseas starts after successful Albanian debut

The 2025 Giro d’Italia has only just begun, but organisers are already looking ahead, and it seems the trend of overseas Grand Departures is set to continue.

On Friday, the Italian Grand Tour got underway in Albania for the first time in its history, with Mads Pedersen taking the stage win and the first maglia rosa. The Albanian start marked a historic moment for the race, and according to reports, its success has sparked further ambitions to take the Giro beyond Italy’s borders more frequently in future editions.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, RCS Sport, the organiser of the Giro, views the success of the Albanian start as a catalyst to explore more "exotic" Grande Partenza locations. One of the countries reportedly being considered is Bulgaria, with early discussions suggesting serious interest.

This would not be unprecedented in the world of cycling. The Tour de France has regularly held overseas starts, including in Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands, and, most recently, Italy in 2024. The Giro d’Italia has also experimented with foreign starts in the past, including Israel in 2018 and the Netherlands in 2016, but the 2025 Albanian debut has revived enthusiasm for further expansion.

RCS Sport has reportedly also looked beyond Europe, considering a controversial and ambitious option: Saudi Arabia. While no formal plans have been announced, Het Laatste Nieuws reports that organisers had considered holding the 2026 Grande Partenza in the Middle East.

If confirmed, these developments could mark a significant shift in how the Giro is marketed and staged, extending its reach while also raising familiar debates around commercial interests, logistics, and the race’s Italian identity.