ROMA – A route with only one really tough uphill finish and many stages suitable for attacks from afar. Waiting to have the entire cast of interpreters – Roglic, Carapaz, Landa, Adam Yates and Ayuso the only safe ones among the big ones so far -, the Giro d’Italia 2025 he finally has a score. Two months late compared to the Tour, just 116 days before the start from Durazzo, the Corsa Rosa number 108 has revealed its entire route in Rome: so far only the first 3 stages have been known, all in Albania, for the fifteenth departure from abroad as always. Two time trials (42 km in total), two dirt road stages (30 km between Gubbio and Siena), a single peak over 2000 metres, the Colle delle Finestre (in addition to arriving in the same stage as Sestriere): the hardest mountains are all in the last week. Mortirolo will be Montagna Pantani (the Pirate would have turned 55 today). We start on May 9th from Durazzo, the last stop for the third consecutive year in Rome on June 1st. 15 Italian regions are involved in the process: Liguria, Molise, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia are missing. 3413 km in total.
The stages in Albania
The first stage, from Durres to Tirana, is not for sprinters: the last hill of a very nervous section takes place 11.3 km from the finish. The second stage (Tirana-Tirana, 13 km) will be the first of the two stopwatch of this Giro d’Italia. We start from the central Skënderbej Square to arrive not far from the Kryeministria (the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the great sponsor of the unprecedented Great Albanian Departure, present in the Auditorium). Last fraction beyond the Adriatic Valona-Valonaof 160 km, with two climbs, the hardest of which is the Qafa e Llogarasë (10.7 km at 7.4%, max 12%), which ends 38.4 km from the finish, and final downhill and flat. Then everyone by plane or ferry: the Giro arrives in Puglia.
The first Italian week
After a day of rest, the restart will be right in the Heel of Italy, with a section between Alberobello and Lecce, naturally for sprinters. The next day, a more challenging (but not too much) stage between Ceglie Messapica and Matera. On May 15, for the third consecutive year, the Giro returns to Naples (starting from Potenza). The first uphill finish – not very hard – will be at the end of the seventh stage, in Marsia, a winter resort above Tagliacozzoin Abruzzo: the start from Castel di Sangro, then, in the heart of the hamlet, the Valico della Forcella. The finish is hard only in the last 2.4 km, all at 10%. Saturday 17 May the eighth stage from Giulianova to Castelraimondo: a nervous day, with very little flat terrain. Sunday 18th one of the most awaited days, the Gubbio-Sienawith four stretches of dirt road borrowed from Strade Bianche: a five-star day, very suitable for maneuvers by top-ranking men.
The second week
After a day of rest, we start again on Tuesday 20th with the second and final time trial, the Lucca-Pisa, not very long (28 km), but suitable for specialists. We return to the mountains in the 11th fraction, between Viareggio and Castelnovo ne’ Montion the Reggio Emilia Apennines, at the foot of the spectacular Pietra di Bismantova. Halfway through the stage, the climb up to San Pellegrino in Alpe, then continuous ups and downs and even tough climbs up to the finish line. Nothing impossible, but in case of a bad day for someone the price could be very high. Stage for sprinters the following day between Modena and Viadana, but with a nervous start again on the Reggio Emilia Apennines. Friday 23rd the Rovigo-Vicenza, with a double passage on Monte Berico. Saturday 24th tribute to Slovenian fans with Treviso-Nova Gorica, last trespass. Then we return to the high mountains in the Fiume Veneto-Asiago: Grappa in the middle putting effort into their legs and creating the opportunity for an attack from very far away. The finale on the Plateau follows that of 2017.
The third week
After the last day of rest, here is the classic high mountain stage on the last Tuesday: the race will take place between Piazzola sul Brenta and San Valentino di Brentonico, in Trentino: four tough climbs (the Santa Barbara Pass is the penultimate) and the The uphill arrival at 1320 meters of the Bretonico plateau: fundamental. Another five-star mountain on Wednesday 28 May, between San Michele all’Adige and Bormio. There is the Mortirolo (once again halfway through the stage), but the arrival is not too demanding: those who want to make the difference must attack from afar. After a long toil, the sprinters are back on stage in the Morbegno-Cesano Maderno (Thursday 29th). We return to Valle d’Aosta the following day: the stage is Biella-Champoluc: Col Tzecore, Col de Saint Pantaléon and Col de Joux before the uphill finale. On May 31st, on Saturday, the queen stage of the race: Verrès-Sestrierewith three climbs, the Lys, the Colle delle Finestre (8 km of uphill dirt road, the Cima Coppi at an altitude of 2176) and the classic arrival on the hill of the 2006 Olympics. Very long transfer for the last stage, June 1st, to Rome (homage to the Jubilee) for the last day, as always for sprinters.
The Giro Women
The veil has also been lifted on the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 edition, the second organized by RCS Sports & Events which will take place from 6 to 13 July 2025. 939.6 km and 14 thousand meters of altitude difference (over 1000 more than the edition past) in the menu which includes an individual time trial, two flat stages, three medium mountain stages and two high mountain stages (three uphill finishes, Aprica, Valdobbiadene and Monte Nerone). it will be a race against time that will kick off the competition. The 13.6 km on the streets of Bergamo will give an initial shape to the general classification. The athletes who will aim for the final Pink Jersey will also have to pay attention to the second fraction, the Clusone-Apricawhile the Vezza d’Oglio-Trento could represent the first chance for fast wheels, despite the passage over the Passo del Tonale, Cima Alfonsina Strada of this edition with its 1883 metres. The first half of the Giro d’Italia Women will end with the Castello Tesino-Pianezze (Valdobbiadene), the first uphill finish of this edition. We will set off again in Veneto for the fifth stage, totally flat, from Mirano to Monselice, the last respite before a decidedly tough final triptych. The Bellaria-Igea Marina-Terre Roveresche (Orciano di Pesaro) will be a decidedly undulating stage with a classic finish and precedes the second uphill finish, that of Monte Nerone. The final ascent, with average gradients above 8%, is unprecedented for the Corsa Rosa. Grand finale on Sunday 13 July in Forlì-Imolaa stage with a difference in altitude of 2200 meters in which the 2020 World Championships circuit will be repeated with the ascents of Mazzolano and Cima Gallisterna. Elisa Longo Borghini is the defending champion.
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