Keeping Cadence : Giro d’italia 2025
Fans of cycling and cycling enthusiasts are gearing up for the upcoming Giro d’italia. The Giro d’italia is one of the world’s top cycling races and 2025 is the 108th edition of this iconic race.
This 21 stage race takes cyclists on a sightseeing trip through Italy and Albania. The event usually takes place early May through to June. The upcoming Giro d’italia will start in Durrës in Albania on 9 May 2025 and take riders on an epic cycle to the finish line in Rome.
Distances Cycled Over the Giro
The first race was back in 1909 with a total distance of 2448km over 8 stages. This gives an average distance of round about 300km done in one stage. The cyclists had no support teams and would often cycle through the night. The riders would carry their own supplies and tools to fix their bikes should something happen. The phrase “my behind is killing me!” was coined by Luigi Ganna after winning the first race. The catch phrase is still used by journalists who cover the race.
The riders of today have it easy compared to the early riders of the race. The distance of the race has however increased over time with this year’s race being a distance of 3400km. So maybe they don’t have it so much easier…. The 108th edition of the Giro is stretched out over 21 stages with three rest days in between. The average distance per stage is now somewhere between 140 to 160km.
The Giro d’italia 2025 Stages
There are different types of stages and each team has an individual (or two) that specialises in the different types. The stages can be broken down into mountain, flat and time trial stages. Sprinters usually favour flat and time trials and riders that focus on climbing will take on mountain and hilly stages. Flat stages are the longest ranging from 130 to 200kms. Mountain stages are shorter due to the climbing, 100 to 170km. Time trials are the shortest ranging from 10 to 45km. Stage 9 features 30km of gravel which will bring some added excitement and is an ode to the old race.
Teams need to strategise to keep their top riders strong for the last part of the race that tests the stamina through tough climbs. The race features many famous climbs but here are the top three climbs in the upcoming race. Santa Cristina is the third toughest climb this year. The climb is 13.5 km long, with 1078m of climbing with a gradient of 8%. Blockhaus comes in at number two; the climb is 13.6km long, featuring elevation gain of 1141m and gradient of 8.4%. Kolovrat is a new addition on the Giro route and most challenging. The climb is a distance of 10.3km, with 950m of climbing over an average gradient of 9.2%.
Top contenders
The 2025 Giro d’italia will feature 23 teams with teams usually consisting of 8 riders. There are some big riders who have opted on not participating in this year’s race. One rider that comes to mind is last year’s winner Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian decided to not defend his “Pink jersey” and focus on the upcoming Tour de France later in the year.
2023 winner Primoz Roglic considered a strong contender to lift the title again in 2025. The Slovenian is riding for team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe with good friend Jan Tratnik. Primoz is in at 2.50 for the Giro.
Up and coming young Spaniard Juan Ayuso is also aiming to make his mark on the race. He cycles alongside team mate Adam Yates for UAE Team Emirates. He is considered a very strong participant and the one rider that can take on Primoz. His team has excellent riders with a lot of experience between them. Juan is in at 2.75 for the win.
Adam Yates is the leader of UAE Team Emirates. He has done some exceptional riding. Especially in the Vuelta a España, where he broke away from the pack to win solo in stage 9. He comes in at 6.50.
Types of Bets – Giro d’Italia 2025
When betting on cycling events like the Giro d’Italia 2025, punters can choose from a variety of betting markets:
- Outright Winner: Back a specific cyclist to win the entire race. This is the most straightforward bet in a multi-stage event.
- Stage Winner: Wager on which rider will win an individual stage. The cyclist doesn’t need to win the overall Giro.
- Top X Finishes: Bet on a rider to finish within a set range, such as the top 3, top 5, or top 10.
- Head-to-Head Bets: Predict which of two selected riders will finish higher in the general classification.
- Team Race Winner: Bet on which team will rank highest overall by the end of the race.
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It’s go time!
The race starts this Friday the 9th of May and the route takes them through Albania for a few stages before the riders take on Italy. There are many riders who could be great outside picks so be sure to look at our betting partners to see the odds of riders in the race. The race promises to be full of action with stunning scenery. But as which rider who will wear the Maglia Rosa at the end of the race is anyone’s guess.
Furthermore, for other major sports events have a look at our May 2025 Sport Preview where we list these for the month.