Giulio Ciccone and the Giro – What Narrative Might We See This Year?

Giulio Ciccone has had quite the ride. Heading into the 2025 Giro d’Italia, he’s been enjoying a standout season, marked by significant achievements including a recent second-place finish in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and a stage win in the Tour of the Alps. 

Many of his fans will note that we’ve not been seeing the best of him in recent years, what with missing the past two editions of the Giro due to health issues, and having a winless streak for nearly two years prior to his 2025 resurgence. But if this season has proven anything, it’s that Ciccone is back to his aggressive, climbing-best form, and there’s every chance the 2025 Giro could be the catalyst of that. 

Competition at the Giro

The narrative certainly seems to be in his favour early doors. But that’s not to say there isn’t competition that many people will be betting on. Over the last year or so, British racer Adam Yates has been a mainstay in UK online casino sportsbooks, with fans both in the UK and across the world drawn to his consistent performances and aggressive showings on mountainous terrain.

In Slovenia, Primoz Roglic also remains a dominant force, known for his climbing prowess and time-trial abilities, and the Spanish prodigy, Juan Ayuso, has also clinched people’s attention with his quick rise through the ranks. If Giulio Ciccone wants a 2025 to remember, there are top athletes in the Giro startlist he will have to beat to do it. But as we noted earlier, the emphasis is there.

Ciccone Writing His Own Script

There’s no doubt that Ciccone has been underperforming for the last two years, and no one will know that better than Ciccone himself. In the 2023 Tour de France, for instance, he was expected to be a key contender in the mountain paths, but despite his climbing pedigree, Ciccone struggled with consistency and wasn’t able to match the performances of rivals like Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. He faded out of that race’s key battles, and that has been a common theme that has haunted him in numerous other competitions.

Performances like this  – or lack thereof – have added fuel to the fire of critics questioning his ability to perform at the highest level, but rather than hide away from the fire, Ciccone has warmed himself by it. If his races so far in 2025 are anything to go by, this is a racer who is standing up and biting back, and the Giro d’Italia feels like his best chance for redemption. All he has to do is stay focused and maintain the level of form he’s shown so far this season.

Will Ciccone Win the 2025 Giro?

It’s important to note, of course, that the Giro is Ciccone’s home race, and this not only provides him with increased motivation, but a home advantage that can be crucial in pushing cyclists over the line. Looking back to 2019, for instance, it’s fair to say that Ciccone was in his infancy as a truly competitive climber, and yet he still won the prestigious blue jersey, proving that even then he had the potential to conquer the toughest climbs in the world. 

The 2019 Giro marked a breakthrough for Ciccone, and since then, he will have only had one thing in his sights: to win the competition and cement his legacy as one of the best Italian riders in the world. The Italian crowd will push him forwards in that respect. Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where a home crowd has pushed a local rider to claim an unexpected win, and there’s every chance the same could happen for Ciccone, especially since this win – given his form so far – wouldn’t be that unexpected. 

Conclusion

But as we mentioned before, there is stiff competition. Riders like Yates and Ayuso will have something to say about Ciccone's ambitions, and Roglic will be many fans’ main talent to watch at the Giro. They won’t hold back in making themselves major threats, so to claim victory, Ciccone will need to stay calm, focused, and fight hard to make his 2025 script a happy one.