Albania made a bold decision at the national level by bringing the first stages of the Giro d'Italia to the Balkan Peninsula. In Albania, with a population of 2.7 million, the first three days of racing will take place before the cyclists head to Puglia in southern Italy.
"We beat larger and richer countries in the competition to host the start of the Giro, and we can't wait to showcase our country to millions of people worldwide. I have always said that Albania is a small Italy, and now with the Giro, we can be on the other side of the Adriatic Sea from Italy," said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, adding that the broadcast will reach 800 million people globally.
The opening stage (164 km) on May 9th will take cyclists from the city of Durrës to Tirana, where sprinters can showcase their abilities. The second stage is a 13.7 km time trial on the streets of Tirana, and on the third day, riders will pedal around the city of Vlorë, offering challenges for climbers. According to the Giro organizers, they wanted to avoid a situation where the opening stages are solely for sprinters, and it can be expected that significant gaps will form early in the tour.
This year's Giro will finish in Rome, and the full program will be released on January 13th. This marks the 15th time the Italian tour will start outside of Italy; the last time it began abroad was in 2022, with the start in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
Giro d'Italia 2025: Albania will host the Grande Partenza☝🏼
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) December 23, 2024
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Giro d'Italia 2025: l'Albania ospiterà la Grande Partenza☝🏼
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