Mats Pedersen (left) celebrated just ahead of Wout van Aart (right). © ANSA / GEORGI LICOVSKI

“Grande Partenza” in Albania: Pedersen wins Giro opener

Former world champion Mads Pedersen won the opening stage in Albania at the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia.

09 May 2025

From: dpa/tu

After 160 kilometers between the coastal city of Durres and the capital Tirana, the Dane won the "Grande Partenza" in a thrilling bunch sprint by a narrow margin ahead of Belgian Wout van Aert, thus claiming his second stage victory in a Tour of Italy. Orluis Aular of Venezuela finished third. Just five kilometers from the finish, there was a serious crash that injured Spaniard Mikel Landa, among others.

Two more stages will take place in Albania on Saturday and Sunday before the racers continue on to Italy. After a largely flat first two weeks, the mountain challenges don't begin until the third week. The second stage features a 13,7-kilometer individual time trial with a start and finish in Tirana.

Pedersen in the pink jersey. © APA/afp / LUCA BETTINI

The Giro is the first Grand Tour of the year, before the Tour de France in July and the Spanish Vuelta at the end of August. The Tour of Italy, with 20 stages remaining, concludes in Rome on June 1. In memory of the late Pope Francis, the pros will then ride through the Vatican for the first time.

Primoz Roglic of the Red Bull team and Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates are among the favorites for the overall victory.