PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2025 stage 3 - Can Wout van Aert get his revenge on Mads Pedersen?

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 3.

Stage 3 is another very open day. The first half of the stage is not too difficult but there are some hard climbs on the second half that may see some GC fighting, a breakaway battle, outsider attacks or some sprinter teams trying to control the peloton as best as possible.

160 kilometers starting and finishing in the city of Vlorë (or Valona, as the Italians say). In the first half of the day there will be a 2.2-kilometer long climb at almost 10%, although at this point in the day, it will only serve to create some fatigue. Definitely, some teams will want to do damage on the climbs to eliminate a few sprinters from the battle. However this time around there is a more difficult climb to potentially make the difference.

5.1 kilometers at 6.8% with 65 kilometers to go, and it will be hilly until the base of the climb to Qafa e Llogarasë which is 10.6 kilometers long at 7.3%. Not a "brutal" mountain, but it is one where if someone fully wants to, they can make the difference - specially with the time-trial already opening up gaps the previous day. The climb will summit with 38 kilometers to go and they will then lose 1000 meters in altitude.

Only the last 17 kilometers are truly flat. Likely, a sprint between the survivors from the climb will be fighting for victory as the roads are flat and pretty simple so it's easy to organize a good chase, however the race can equally be very tactical and see an interesting fight between some GC contenders, climbers and classics specialists.

A slight western breeze, which will come as a head/cross-headwind throughout the decisive part of the stage. It's effect (specially on the main climb) won't be big, but it will make it a little harder for attacks or small groups to stay ahead.

Mads Pedersen - Pedersen can realistically win again the stage and take the race lead once again. Both things he's had already however, so I wouldn't say Lidl-Trek will commit in the exact same way, but instead give both Giulio Ciccone and Mathias Vacek freedom to attack (mostly on the flat section). If the pace isn't too high Pedersen stays in the peloton and will always be the main favourite to win the final sprint.

Wout van Aert - Bad signs today in the time-trial, which confirm the not-so-good form he had talked about. On the first day he struggled on the final climb and I think that he will be dropped this time around. The question is if he will be able to return afterwards, but it will be a tough ask.

We may see the same scenario as stage 1, and with this of course see similar faces. It's a very diverse field, so a few teams may try and help keep the peloton under control after the climb if possible. Riders like Filippo Fiorelli and Corbin Strong climbed very well on the opening day but were then harmed by the last crash... Diego Ulissi and Francesco Busatto will be explosive riders who can definitely fight for a good result whilst Orluis Aular is much more of a risk, but he seems to be in great form and I wouldn't count him out.

Some riders like Tom Pidcock and Pello Bilbao have the downhill where they can make the difference, but they aren't serious GC contenders here and they can take advantage of some freedom. The likes of Max Poole, Paul Double and Felix Engelhardt can also do the same with no doubt, they all look to be climbing well.

Of course the main GC men will be alive in case something happens, never forgetting Primoz Roglic, Antonio Tiberi, Egan Bernal, Michael Storer, Einer Rubio, many more... I wouldn't be surprised to see UAE trying something - Jay Vine will have freedom and can go for a stage win without being covered, but UAE can test BORA and try to put pressure with Brandon McNulty or Isaac del Toro, or even have Adam Yates and Juan Ayuso themselves go on the move and see what is possible. With a few riders seemingly not having great form at the start, GC outsiders may attack to try and take advantage of the situation, and we can always count on Richard Carapaz to give it a shot if he has the legs.

*** Mads Pedersen
** Mathias Vacek, Corbin Strong, Tom Pidcock
* Wout van Aert, Giulio Ciccone, Filippo Fiorelli, Diego Ulissi, Pello Bilbao, Paul Double, Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso, Michael Storer, Jay Vine, Isaac del Toro, Richard Carapaz

Pick: Mads Pedersen

How: Again a reduced bunch sprint