PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2025 stage 21 - Kooij, Groves and Pedersen take on final sprint battle

The Corsa Rosa is the first Grand Tour of the season and this year it will include a start in a nation that will for the first time in it's history host a Grand Tour, Albania; and also several mountain stages in it's second half whilst the first half will feature some tricky stages including one that goes through a lot of the Strade Bianche course. We preview stage 21.

The race will finish with a flat stage in Rome, 141 kilometers with the sprinters having their final shot at glory. It's a day of celebration as the riders finally reach the end of the race and can enjoy a short and flat day around the capital, with the final circuit fitting the sprinters.

The circuit will be rather fast, a little technical at times, but we will without a doubt see a bunch sprint next to the Circo Massimo.

A very hot day and some wind from the southwest. Coincidentally this means there will be a tailwind into the final circuit, which may encourage attacks and a possible surprise breakaway win.

Kaden Groves - Alpecin has given the impression of being the strongest team when it comes to the flat days in this race and I believe they may do it again. Kaden Groves has been improving form throughout the race and in regular conditions, he will be a very big contender to win the final day.

Olav Kooij - Visma is on a high and couldn't ask for a better finale. Still, with Kooij in the race, tomorrow is still a work day and can end up in another win. With the sky-high confidence, the Dutch team may still deliver another shot.

Mads Pedersen - Lidl-Trek worked towards four victories from Pedersen, who has then spent many days working tirelessly for his teammates to try and win stages. Fatigue will be very high, but at the same time he won stage 13 after days of working at the head of the peloton, so we can't take that much into consideration for the Dane. He won't be the fastest in a pure bunch sprint, but will always be taken into consideration.

Casper van Uden showed incredible speed all throughout the race and can certainly still ride to another victory. In that final sprint we must also consider Max Kanter, Gerben Thijssen, Giovanni Lonardi, Corbin Strong, Sam Bennett, Ben Turner, Matevz Govekar, Orluis Aular, Matteo Moschetti and Maikel Zijlaard.

Whilst most riders will be happy to reach Rome and try to have a calm last day, or help their sprinters achieve some results, we can't exclude the possibility of a breakaway or late attack succeeding IF there is the intention. There are tons of quality rouleurs who can absolutely make this happen if the right group goes up the. You could argue that men like Kasper Asgreen and Nico Denz may already be satisfied; but you can't say the same of Taco van der Hoorn, Mathias Vacek, Stefano Oldani or Mirco Maestri. Riders like Edoardo Affini and Dries de Bondt may have leadout duties, but if not, they can be very dangerous.

*** Kaden Groves, Olav Kooij
** Casper van Uden, Mads Pedersen
* Wout van Aert, Max Kanter, Sam Bennett, Ben Turner, Matteo Moschetti, Maikel Zijlaard, Orluis Aular

Pick: Kaden Groves

How: Regular bunch sprint