From Pink Pog to Pink Pedersen: Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen has become the first rider to pull on the coveted maglia rosa of this year’s Giro d’Italia, as he took victory at the end of the 160km opening stage finishing in Tirana, Albania.
His victory was the product of a masterclass by his team as Lidl-Trek upped the pace on the two climbs of the Surrel on the finishing circuit in the Albanian capital, forcing many of the pure sprinters out the back of the peloton.
Wout van Aert was second and Orluis Aular third, with Tom Pidcock sprinting well for fifth and most of the favourites for the overall title finishing safely in the bunch.
But there was bad news for several of the GC contenders as Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) shipped a minute and a half, mirroring his awful start to last year’s Giro, although in that edition he clawed his way back into contention in the second half of the race to finish sixth overall.
Derek Gee (Israel Premier-Tech) also lost a minute and Mikel Landa, the Spanish Soudal-Quick Step veteran, crashed out in the final 5km, his Giro hopes in tatters.
The Giro d’Italia continues tomorrow with the first of two time trials, a short and largely flat 13.7km run through Tirana which may provide an early battleground for the likes of GC favourites Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso.
Follow all the action with The Independent’s live blog:
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 1 LIVE
- Season's first Grand Tour gets underway in Durres, Albania
- Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen and Tom Pidcock among the favourites to take maglia rosa
- All the contenders as Primoz Roglic eyes second Giro title
- Mads Pedersen becomes first Dane to wear pink with victory in Tirana
Giro over for Mikel Landa
16:33 , Flo CliffordMikel Landa has had to be stretchered away from the scene of his crash, inside the final 5km, and that’s the end of his Giro.
Hugely disappointing for the veteran, a constant inside the top ten in Grand Tours, and his Soudal Quick-Step team. They have sprinters in Ethan Hayter and Paul Magnier so will now switch to focusing on stage wins for them, but what a loss. Hopefully he’s on the mend soon.
'You always have to be afraid of Wout' - Pedersen
16:28 , Flo CliffordPedersen is asked about Van Aert, whose excellent but probably quite frustrating season continues with yet another near-miss after a succession of second and fourth places during the Classics.
“You always have to be afraid of Wout, he’s a really good bike rider and it’s not a given to win when he’s in the group so you have to handle that with respect and a bit of fear as well. But today I had the legs to finish it off for the team.”
'Absolutely amazing' to wear pink - Mads Pedersen
16:25 , Flo Clifford“This is my favourite [stage] now,” a smiling Mads Pedersen says on TNT Sports. “To win the stage and go in the pink jersey is absolutely amazing, especially after teamwork like this, it’s really incredible that the team works that hard and I can pay them back with a win.
“That was the exact plan, to push really hard on the climb and make it a smaller group, and then a sprint.
“It’s the first leader’s jersey I have in a Grand Tour so that’s something nice.” Possible some slight understatement there.
Top five on stage one as Pedersen takes pink
16:16 , Flo Clifford1. Mads Pedersen
2. Wout van Aert
3. Orluis Aular
4. Francesco Busatto
5. Tom Pidcock
2019 champion Richard Carapaz and British climber Max Poole are also in the top ten. That’s not a mix of names you see in the same top ten all that often.
Big losses for Gee and Arensman
16:12 , Flo CliffordA day to forget for a couple of the GC hopefuls. Derek Gee crosses the line nearly a minute back; Thymen Arensman and Josh Tarling ship a minute and a half.
Mads Pedersen wins stage one
16:11 , Flo CliffordA dramatic bunch sprint ends with Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert crossing the line nearly neck and neck!
The Dane looked so strong but Van Aert came up at the last - but it’s Pedersen who takes pink at the end of a near-flawless day for Lidl-Trek.
Final kilometre!
16:10 , Flo CliffordUnder the flamme rouge and there’s a hodgepodge of riders here, GC contenders and sprinters alike... Lidl-Trek are back on the front with Pedersen behind Vacek.
Into the final 2km
16:09 , Flo CliffordRed Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe come to the front. Are they looking to shepherd Roglic to safety, or does he fancy a stage win and the pink jersey already?!
Crash at the back (5km to go)
16:07 , Flo CliffordA nasty crash on a descent as the riders swing left; Jay Vine is one of the riders down and Mikel Landa, Soudal Quick-Step’s big hope for the GC, is down on the pavement looking hurt; it looks like Vine may have gone over the top of an Israel Premier-Tech rider who hit the deck first.
Fingers crossed nobody is badly hurt but it doesn’t look good for Landa.
GC contenders losing time (8km to go)
16:02 , Flo CliffordDerek Gee, Israel Premier-Tech’s big hope for the GC, is 25 seconds off the back, caught out in that split. Arensman is likely even further behind but the cameras haven’t picked up on him yet, or his time gap.
Lidl-Trek aren’t exactly piling on the pace, but Gee is losing a couple of seconds here and there. A bad start to his three weeks.
10km to go
16:01 , Flo CliffordGiulio Ciccone takes the KOM points as he leads Mads Pedersen and co over the top. Lidl-Trek are still controlling this brilliantly. But the best laid plans don’t always go to plan...
A gap has opened up further down the bunch. Van Aert and Pidcock are still close to the Lidl-Trek train.
Arensman dropped! (12km to go)
15:59 , Flo CliffordThymen Arensman has been dropped?! The Dutchman has had a strong season so far but is falling off on the first day of climbing. Not a good sign for Ineos’ main GC hope.
It’s a replay of last year’s Giro when he shed bucketloads of time in week one. Last year he managed to make up significant chunks of that time as the race went on, but it’s hardly an encouraging start.
Wout van Aert also looked to be in trouble, slipping down the bunch, but he’s hanging in there.
Ciccone comes to the front (13km to go)
15:56 , Flo CliffordCarlos Verona drops off, job done for Lidl-Trek, and it’s Giulio Ciccone who takes his place, sheltering Mads Pedersen. Bad news for the other fast men in this bunch with the climber on the front.
Less than 2km to the top of the climb and Wout van Aert moves steadily up to tag onto the back of his big Spring Classics rival Pedersen.
Tarling has been dropped! Something of a surprise.
Kaden Groves dropped (14.5km to go)
15:53 , Flo CliffordKaden Groves, one of the punchier sprinters, fights to stay in position and is spat out the back.
Lidl-Trek are still blasting up this climb and the peloton is all strung out behind. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe slot in behind them, keeping Primoz Roglic out of trouble. Wout van Aert is well positioned, a couple of wheels behind, as is Tom Pidcock towards the front of the bunch.
Back onto the climb (17km to go)
15:48 , Flo CliffordThey’re rapidly back onto the approach to Surrel climb and the pace looks blistering as the teams jostle for position.
Wout van Aert had slipped back quite a bit but is working his way back up now.
Josh Tarling is looking after Egan Bernal for Ineos Grenadiers on a nervy approach to the climb; it’s a big bunch all swarming onto it together. 7km to the top at an average of 4.5%.
First passage of the finish line (22km to go)
15:44 , Flo CliffordSam Bennett and Olav Kooij have been dropped on the climb; this is not going to be one for the pure sprinters. Lidl-Trek are still on the front, protecting Mads Pedersen.
The riders roll across the finish line for the first time. 22km to go on one final lap of Tirana. They cross Mother Teresa Square - she was born in Albania and has an airport named after her too, as per TNT Sports comms.
Lorenzo Fortunato boosts hopes of blue jersey at Giro d'Italia
15:37 , Jack RathbornLorenzo Fortunato, of XDS-Astana, earns the points in a boost to his hopes of claiming the blue jersey.
28.1 km remaining
Giro d'Italia 2025 - Stage 1
15:27 , Jack RathbornHere we go, more than 3km of climbing, the average incline is a gruelling 5.3%.
Not one for the pure sprinters, this, Lidl-Trek front the peloton with six riders.
But there’s a presence from Ineos, Visma, and Red Bull with riders each.
34.4km remaining
Breakaway riders ready for two ascents in stage one of Giro d'Italia
15:16 , Jack RathbornWatch out, just 2km until the breakaway riders tackle the first of two ascents of the third-category Surrel.
Just 15 seconds in front of the peloton...
Points distribution for the first Red Bull km... One to keep an eye on throughout the Giro:
1. Tarozzi 15
2. Tonelli 8
3. Verre 5
4. Moniquet 3
5. Mosca 1
Tarozzi pinches first Red Bull sprint
15:07 , Jack RathbornWe enter the first Red Bull sprints... Six seconds, four seconds and two seconds for the first three past the line. Points on offer too... Though they are a different classification.
Some money on the line, too, with €2,500 each place...
It’s Tonelli who takes it out, and it’s very close, but Tarozzi looks to have nicked it on the line!
A little grin and the group eases back into the ride, a bit of drama there.
Gap creeping up (62km to go)
14:48 , Flo CliffordAlessandro Verre is out alone at the front at the moment, chased hard by his namesake Tonelli. The peloton, led by Dylan van Baarle for Visma-Lease a Bike, are taking the descent a little more gingerly and the gap is expanding again to 45 seconds.
Albania’s tourism ministry must be pleased with today’s live pictures as the helicopter tracks across the Gracen hairpins.
Peloton advancing (68km to go)
14:43 , Flo CliffordThe gap has absolutely collapsed over the course of this lengthy descent, with the breakaway stragglers all split up and only 20 seconds clear of the peloton halfway down.
Sylvain Moniquet wins sprint for KOM points (78km to go)
14:33 , Flo CliffordThe breakaway’s advantage dropped to under a minute but is now back out to around 1:25, although they’re down to four as Taco van der Hoorn has been shelled out the back.
Into the final 2km of this climb the escapees are beginning to attack each other, with Alessandro Tonelli putting in a couple of digs to get away, but chased back by his companions each time.
Manuele Tarozzi launches an long-range attack but is quickly outsprinted by the others and it’s Sylvain Moniquet who wins the scrap for the maximum king of the mountains point atop Gracen, followed by Verre, Tonelli, and Tarozzi bringing up the rear.
Bike change for Ayuso (91km to go)
14:12 , Flo CliffordTarozzi leads Moniquet, Verre, Tonelli, and Van der Hoorn across the line at Elbasan to hoover up some more points.
UAE’s Juan Ayuso gets tangled up in some crashing Picnic PostNL riders and needs a quick bike change, but looks okay.
The riders head onto the first climb of the day, the Gracen.
First intermediate sprint done (97km to go)
13:52 , Flo CliffordThe breakaway roll over the first of the day’s two intermediate sprints, at Paper, without any arguments, the Italian Tonelli leading Van der Hoorn, Tarozzi, Moniquet, and Verre over the line in that order.
We’ve got 8km to go to the second of the two sprints at Elbasan. The breakaway’s advantage is still only 1:30 as the peloton keep them on a tight leash.
Breakaway holding steady (117km to go)
13:30 , Flo CliffordNo fireworks yet, with the breakaway still with 1:30 or so on the peloton as they roll along the Albanian highways.
We still have a little under 30km until the first climb of the day, the Gracen.
12.9km long at a steady 5.2%, with the first half around the 6% mark, we could see some sprinters distanced if the peloton look to put the hammer down - but with so much of the stage left it feels more likely that the bunch will stay intact.
Five men up the road (150km to go)
12:47 , Flo CliffordAfter an early four-man move was brought back, five riders are off the front: Sylvain Moniquet, Italians Alessandro Tonelli, Alessandro Verre, and Manuele Tarozzi, and Taco van der Hoorn, the latter still making his way back to his best after a 16-month layoff for a severe concussion.
They already have 1:50 on the bunch and that looks like the break for now.
Primoz Roglic gives a cheery wave to the camera as it picks up him riding back onto the bunch.
Attack from the flag drop
12:38 , Flo CliffordImmediately, as expected, riders are keen to get in the breakaway.
It’s an Italian rider who ignites proceedings, keen to get some airtime at his home race, Alessio Martinelli (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizane) kicking off the early moves.
Flag drop!
12:35 , Flo CliffordAfter 9km of neutralised start we’re underway in Durres!
160km to go until the finish line in the Albanian capital Tirana and the first pink jersey of the year is secured.
Giro d’Italia to pay tribute to Pope Francis with stage start in Vatican City
12:20 , Flo CliffordThe final stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia will be dedicated to the late Pope Francis with organisers planning a special start in the Vatican City.
The Giro has only twice previously passed through the papal enclave despite regular visits to Rome which is in line to host the finish of the three-week race for a third consecutive year.
However the peloton will roll out from the Vatican on 1 June, with riders leaving via Porta del Perugino to commence the stage proper after paying tribute to the late pontiff.
Giro d’Italia to pay tribute to Pope Francis with stage start in Vatican City
Neutral roll-out
12:13 , Flo CliffordThe riders are rolling out in Durres for the neutralised start! 9.2km before the start of racing, and the Giro d’Italia, proper.
'We all start from zero' - Primoz Roglic
12:11 , Flo Clifford“It’s nice that people thinking that [I’m a favourite],” says Primoz Roglic. “We all start from zero, there is 21 days that we have to prove you’re the fastest one at the end.
Asked about his rivals, he says, “I was close at Catalunya with [Juan] Ayuso, a bunch of other guys, it’s not fair to mention each and every one but they all have qualities. For sure they will all be super ready [to compete].
“The time trial is important, how important we will see at the end of the race! It’s one of the days that will count for GC.”
Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan retires from cycling after losing love of the sport
12:10 , Flo CliffordOne of those who will not be on the start line - despite a recent uptick in form with Ineos Grenadiers - is Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan, who shocked the sport with the news of his retirement earlier this week.
The 30-year-old retires with immediate effect after falling out of love with the sport during a difficult last couple of seasons on the road, amid team friction and acrimonious splits with Belgian squad Lotto-Dstny and then Aussie squad Jayco-AlUla at the end of last year.
Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan retires from cycling after losing love of the sport
Giro d'Italia stage one start time
12:03 , Flo CliffordTV coverage has begun over on TNT Sports and discovery+, with T-10 minutes until the first stage gets underway at 12:10pm BST.
Brit-watch
11:55 , Flo CliffordThere are also plenty of Brits in action over the next three weeks - 12, five more than in last year’s edition.
Chief among those is Tom Pidcock, who leads Swiss team Q36.5 and is one of the favourites for a stage victory - including on today’s opening stage in Albania, which could see him pull on the famous pink jersey for the first time.
There’s also time-trialling specialist Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers); sprinter Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step); the Yates twins, Simon (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Adam (UAE Team Emirates), who will target the general classification; debutant Paul Double (Jayco AlUla), and exciting young climber and possible future GC hopeful, Max Poole (Picnic PostNL).
Rounding out the Brit list are domestiques James Knox (Soudal Quick-Step), James Shaw, Owain Doull (both EF Education-EasyPost), Mark Donovan (Q36.5), and Ben Turner (Ineos).
Giro d’Italia start list: every rider in the season’s first Grand Tour
11:45 , Flo CliffordEven without Tadej Pogacar defending his title there are plenty of big names in action, from the likes of all-rounders Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen to the veteran Romain Bardet, riding his final Grand Tour.
There are five former Grand Tour winners on the start line: hot favourite Primoz Roglic (2023 champion), his teammate Jai Hindley (2022), Richard Carapaz (2019), Egan Bernal (2021), and Nairo Quintana, a veteran who won on debut 11 years ago.
There’s also Simon Yates, Vuelta a Espana winner in 2018, to bring the total of Grand Tour champions on the start line to six.
Giro d’Italia start list: every rider in the season’s first Grand Tour
Tom Pidcock reborn at Q36.5 and raring to unleash his talent on the Giro d’Italia
11:35 , Flo CliffordTom Pidcock is 25 and he’s almost completed cycling. The Yorkshireman is already a world and double Olympic champion on his mountain bike, a world champion on his cyclo-cross bike, and the winner of three classics on his road bike. He’s a world champion on the road too, albeit as a junior. So, barring a sudden pivot to the velodrome, that really leaves only one realm left to conquer.
There is no reason why Pidcock shouldn’t be a sensational stage racer, except perhaps for the fact that his multiple talents have made him hard to pin down. What is Pidcock’s role at the grand tours: stage hunter? General classification botherer? Super domestique?
At times while riding for Ineos Grenadiers he has seemed like all of those and none of them. His purpose was never clearly defined, nor was it prioritised. Pidcock’s four grand tour appearances to date have hardly been failures, with two top-20 finishes at the Tour de France and one famous stage victory atop Alpe d’Huez that will live long in the memory. And yet for a rider of his abundant talent, there is still so much more to be achieved at cycling’s three king races.
Read our appraisal of the Brit’s chances in Italy:
Tom Pidcock reborn and raring to unleash his talent on the Giro d’Italia
Major contenders for the Giro d'Italia
11:25 , Flo CliffordThere will be no repeat of Tadej Pogacar’s masterclass at the 2024 Giro d’Italia. “Pink Pog” will not be back to defend the title he barely worked up a sweat in securing last year, to the dismay/relief (delete as appropriate) of observers and the rest of the cycling world.
But in the absence of cycling’s present, this year’s Giro line-up features its past and future. The out-and-out favourites are Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Primoz Roglic, a four-time Vuelta champion and Giro winner in 2023, who may count himself unlucky to be only the second-best Slovenian cyclist of all time. The 35-year-old will go toe to toe with Pogacar’s disciple, young Spaniard Juan Ayuso, who is searching for his first grand tour title.
Read our run-down of the major contenders here:
Tadej Pogacar’s absence leaves Giro d’Italia field wide open
Stage one map and route profile
11:15 , Flo Clifford
How to watch
11:10 , Flo CliffordViewers can watch the Giro d’Italia on TNT Sports and discovery+. You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for £30.99 per month.
Coverage begins at 12pm BST.
Stage one begins at around 12.30pm BST and is set to conclude at around 4.15pm.
Stage one preview: Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert hunt win on 160km route to Tirana
11:05 , Flo CliffordThe 2025 Giro d’Italia begins in the Albanian port city of Durres, before heading south and wrapping around to the finish in the heart of the capital city, Tirana.
It is a hilly opening day with a category two climb (13km, 5.1 per cent) halfway through the 160km route, and a loop that twice takes on the category-three Surrel climb before a fast descent to the finish.
On the surface it looks like a day for one of the puncheurs in the pack, like Wout van Aert or Tom Pidcock, even if the Yorkshireman has said victory on the opening day is “unlikely”. But there are two intermediate sprints shortly before the first climb which will lure the fastest riders to the front, and if their teammates can drag them over the tough Gracen climb then the sprinters will be the ones to beat come the finish in Tirana. Watch out for the 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen, who has the legs to clear the climb and out-sprint the rest in a shootout to the line.
Giro d’Italia stage one preview: Map and profile of 160km route from Durres to Tirana
Good morning
11:00 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Giro d’Italia!
Grand Tour racing kicks off this season in Durres, Albania, with a hilly 160km stage perfect for puncheurs - if the sprinters don’t have a say in the matter. It should be a interesting start to one of the most open Grand Tours in recent years.
We’ll have all the build-up and action from today’s stage, so follow along here.
