Giro d'Italia will pay tribute to late Pope with symbolic start of final stage in Vatican City
Cycling
For third time in a row, the Giro d'Italia will conclude with a stage held in the capital of Italy, Rome. However, this year's edition will be special thanks to a "symbolic start" from the Vatican City in Rome to pay tribute to the late Pope Francis.
BBC reports that the final stage in Rome on 1 June will begin with a neutralised start - a non-competitive segment where the riders cycle slowly before the race begins - that will pass through the Vatican City before leaving through Porta del Perugino. This will be for the third time in history that Corsa Rosa visits Vatican City.
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The 21st and final stage of the Giro, which begins in Albania on 9 May, will then start officially and include eight loops of a 9.5 km circuit on the streets of Rome.
"This presence is renewed this year with an exciting symbolic start from Vatican City, a tribute to Pope Francis, his persona, and his message of hope in the Jubilee year," Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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