The time of year is almost there - we're counting hours until the start of the first Grand Tour of 2025. All key protagonists are already present in Albania where the Grande Partenza will take place on Friday.
And the organizers didn't hold back when it comes to parcours, having prepared two hard climbing stages and a time trial in the country's debut on world cycling scene. A perfect set up for Wout Van Aert who realistically can aim to wear pink at the weekend.
Along with whole Visma | Lease a Bike, the Belgian took a first stroll along the Albanian roads this evening. While the roads Van Aert visited during his 70-kilometer ride north of Tirana won't be a part of the Giro d'Italia, it is never a bad idea to get a taste of local asphalt.
Friday's stage starting in Durrës will cover three categorized climbs - first the Gracen (12 km at 5.9%) and then twice the Surrel (7 km at 4.5%) on a circuit near the finish city Tirana. While for purer climbers this will be too much of a treat, the versatile rider of Wout Van Aert's caliber can certainly dream about spriting for victory at the end of the day.
And as if it wasn't enough, the Belgian is also favourite in Saturday's 13.7-kilometer time trial in the streets of Tirana...
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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