Turin, Dec. 23 (LaPresse) – It’s now official: the 2025 Giro d’Italia will start in Albania, which will host the first three stages of the "Corsa Rosa" from May 9 to 11. The Giro will kick off in Durrës, with the finish line in Tirana after 164 km, featuring the first climb of the race, the ascent to Gracen (Category 2, 13.5 km at 5.2%).
In Tirana, riders will tackle a 22.2 km circuit to be repeated twice, marked by the Surrel climb (Category 3), which they must crest for the final time less than 12 km from the finish.
The following day brings an opportunity to build on the gains made in the opening stage or to recover lost time, as Tirana hosts a 13.7 km individual time trial. It will be a fast race against the clock, but riders should beware of the Sauk climb in the middle section, which briefly spikes the gradient over a 1.5 km stretch. Time trial specialists who manage to endure the opening stage will have a chance to aim for the Maglia Rosa in Tirana.
The third and final stage in Albania will also be challenging, with a 160 km route around Vlora (Vlorë), where both the start and finish are located. The route is rugged, but the decisive moment will likely come on the Passo di Llogara (Category 2, 10.7 km at 7.4%), which riders must crest 39 km from the finish line, followed by 25 km of flat terrain.
After the three days in Albania, the Giro caravan will embark from Vlora’s port to return to Italy.
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