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Full Report on the 2025 Giro d’Italia: Highlights of the Stages and Route
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The Giro d’Italia is an incredible journey rather than merely another cycling competition. A mean strength test. A strategic game. And most importantly, an amazing journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery of Italy. It attracts the sport’s elite riders from around the world.
This year’s race started on May 9 in the Albanian port city of Durrës, a first for the Giro bringing an international flair to the opening weekend. The peloton then snaked its way across Italy, stage by stage, before the grand finale in Rome on June 1.
All in all? 21 stages. A punishing 3,443 kilometers. Over 52,000 meters of climbing. And countless moments of drama, heartbreak, and pure joy.
Route Overview
The 2025 Giro d’Italia provides an amazing mix of everything that makes this race so legendary. Across 21 thrilling stages from May 9 to June 1. the cyclists fought its way through roughly 3,413 kilometers of Italy’s most challenging and beautiful terrain. And with more than 44,650 meters of total climbing packed into the route, this was no ride in the park.
The Giro organizers created a race that challenged every aspect of a rider’s skill set, as they always do. Time trials, winding roads, high mountain passes, and gravel sections were just a few of the many obstacles and terrains that made the race more thrilling and challenging.
Lidl-Trek Team Riders in the 2025 Giro d’Italia
- Mads Pedersen – Team leader and one of the top sprinters.
- Giulio Ciccone – Skilled Italian climber and mountain stage specialist.
- Dan Hoole – Time trial expert.
- Patrick Konrad – Experienced Austrian rider in Grand Tours.
- Søren Kragh Andersen – Specialist in classics and late attacks.
- Jacopo Mosca – Key support rider in transitional stages.
- Matthias Vacek – Valuable contributor to the team’s peloton efforts.
Carlos Verona Quintana – Expert climber.
Lidl-Trek’s Performance in the 2025 Giro d’Italia
The Lidl-Trek team showed strength and excellence in a variety of stages during the 2025 Giro. They achieved an impressive five-stage victory by combining excellent teamwork with effective strategies.
Stage 1 (Durrës – Tirana)
After Durrës crushed Tirana in the first stage of the Giro, Mads Pedersen became the first rider from Denmark to ever wear the coveted pink jersey (maglia rosa).
Winning Team: Lidl-Trek.
Stage 2 (Tirana – Tirana)
Young British rider Joshua Tarling clinched victory in the time trial, while Slovenian star Primož Roglič took the pink jersey.
Winning Team: INEOS Grenadiers.
Stage 3 (Vlorë – Vlorë)
Pedersen reclaimed the pink jersey by winning the stage, outperforming Corbin Strong and Orluis Aular.
Winning Team: Lidl-Trek.
Stage 4 (Alberobello – Lecce)
Filippo Ganna launched an early solo attack before the climbs, but a coordinated effort from Jonathan Milan and Simone Consonni secured Milan’s victory, solidifying his status as one of the top contenders in the race.
Winning Team: Team dsm–firmenich PostNL.
Stage 5 (Ceglie Messapica - Matera)
Pedersen increased his lead by winning another stage. Matthias Vacek, a teammate, also gave a fantastic performance, showing the group’s adaptability in both climbing and sprinting.
Winning Team: Lidl-Trek.
Stage 6 (Potenza - Napoli)
Pedersen stayed in the main group during this lengthy and difficult stage, with his teammates giving him great support on the paved areas and last climbs. The team was able to keep the pink jersey even though competitors were making aggressive moves.
Winning Team: Alpecin–Deceuninck.
Stage 7 (Castel di Sangro - Tagliacozzo)
There were intense climbing battles on this stage, and Lidl-Trek climbers like Vacek were very helpful to Pedersen. The team created targeted attacks to keep their lead and control the time gaps against any possible GC threats.
Winning Team: UAE Team Emirates.
Stage 8 (Giulianova – Castelraimondo)
The plan for Lidl-Trek was very clear. get Mads Pedersen to the front and keep him there. The team carried out the plan perfectly, keeping up a steady pace and bringing Pedersen to the finish line in perfect time for the last sprint. What happened? The Dane wins again, and the team gets even more energy.
Winning Team: Team Jayco–AlUla.
Stage 9 (Gubbio – Siena)
Fireworks were all over this stage. The day was energetic, intense, and extremely competitive, with rival teams doing everything in their power to knock Pedersen off the top spot. But Lidl-Trek had other plans. With expert race management and perfect positioning, they shut down every attack, keeping Pedersen safe and in pink — his overall lead firmly intact.
Winning Team: Visma–Lease a Bike.
Stage 10 (Lucca – Pisa, TUDOR ITT)
Though labeled a medium mountain stage, this one had strategic value written all over it. Saving energy for the hard mountain days ahead was more important than simply surviving. Pedersen received excellent support from Lidl-Trek, who protected him from needless effort and assisted him in effectively handling the climbs so he wouldn’t fall behind in the GC rankings.
Winning Team: Lidl–Trek.
Stage 11 (Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Monti)
Now we’re talking real mountain territory. The peloton climbed into the clouds on one of the most punishing stages of the Giro. With big names launching attack after attack, the pressure on Pedersen was immense. However, Lidl-Trek stepped up to the challenge. Their steadfast help allowed Pedersen to maintain his calm. He once again stood up for the pink jersey in the face of overwhelming odds.
Winning Team: EF Education–EasyPost.
Stage 12 (Modena – Viadana, Oglio Po)
The timing of this flat stage was ideal, it was a rare respite from the mountain grind. Lidl-Trek took full advantage, setting a relaxed but controlled pace to keep the race under wraps. It wasn’t about winning today, it was about recovery, regrouping, and making sure Pedersen stayed out of trouble before the next battle.
Winning Team: Visma–Lease a Bike.
Stage 13 (Rovigo – Vicenza)
The mountains came back into play, and so did the strategy. Knowing what lay ahead, Lidl-Trek began preparing Pedersen for the next wave of climbs. Climbers on the team, like Ciccone and Vacek, took charge — pacing him, shielding him, and ensuring he could still be a contender when things got steep.
Winning Team: Lidl–Trek.
Stage 14 (Treviso – Nova Gorica/Gorizia)
This was a brutal day in the saddle. steep gradients, technical descents, and unrelenting attacks from GC contenders. But Lidl-Trek proved their class. They kept Pedersen in the lead group, thanks to incredible teamwork, especially from Vacek. With a steady tempo and calculated moves, they got through the day without losing valuable time.
Winning Team: Soudal–Quick-Step.
Stage 15 (Fiume Veneto – Asiago)
Back to paved roads and back to sprint tactics. This was another chance for Pedersen to flex his speed, and Lidl-Trek didn’t disappoint. The team formed a near-perfect lead-out train, launching Pedersen into position for the sprint. Another top finish followed, pushing the team’s confidence even higher heading into the final week.
Winning Team: Lidl–Trek.
Stage 16 (Piazzola sul Brenta – San Valentino, Brentonico)
Arguably one of the toughest climbing stages of the Giro. The terrain was brutal, but Lidl-Trek didn’t blink. Ciccone and Vacek were once again instrumental in pacing Pedersen and protecting him from early exhaustion. The goal wasn’t glory — it was survival. And the team pulled it off, keeping their leader in contention.
Winning Team: Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Stage 17 (San Michele all’Adige – Bormio)
Because of the variety of terrain this stage offered, strategy was top priority. Lidl-Trek helped Pedersen keep a solid GC position by navigating the changing dynamics with their experience. The team’s capacity to adjust and manage the race was crucial in the face of persistent pressure from competitors.
Winning Team: UAE Team Emirates.
Stage 18 (Morbegno – Cesano Maderno)
Flat, fast, and filled with nerves — this was the last pure sprinters’ stage before the high-altitude showdown. Lidl-Trek tightened their grip, executing a flawless plan to keep Pedersen at the front and out of danger. With total team support, he cruised through without a hitch, staying locked into GC focus.
Winning Team: BORA–hansgrohe.
Stage 19 (Biella – Champoluc)
A brutal test. Long climbs, thin air, and no room for mistakes. This was a survival stage for GC riders, and Lidl-Trek knew it. Ciccone and Vacek once again stepped up, sheltering Pedersen as the gradients rose. Their mission: protect the time gap, avoid unnecessary risks, and get to the finish line intact. Mission accomplished.
Winning Team: Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
Stage 20 (Verres – Sestriere via Vialattea)
The Queen Stage. Steep climbs. Endless suffering. This was the day the Giro could be won or lost. Lidl-Trek threw everything at it. Early on, they gave Pedersen the support he needed. Then, as the climbs intensified, it was all about rhythm and focus. Ciccone went on the hunt for mountain points while Pedersen rode smart, limiting losses and holding his ground.
Winning Team: Visma–Lease a Bike.
Stage 21 (Rome)
The grand finale. A mostly ceremonial ride through the heart of Rome — flat roads, cobbled streets, and crowds lining every corner. There were no more attacks, just celebration. Lidl-Trek’s job was simple: keep Pedersen upright, safe, and smiling. As the final sprint kicked off, they gave him one last chance to go all-out. It wasn’t just the end of a race — it was the crowning moment of a brilliant campaign.
Winning Team: Visma–Lease a Bike.
In conclusion
The 2025 Giro d’Italia was more than just a cycling race; it was a sporting epic that spanned Italy’s mountains, coastlines, and charming streets. From the exciting start in Albania to the spectacular finish in Rome, each stage had moments of glory, challenge, and excitement.
Lidl–Trek left a lasting impression with a performance full of smart strategy and true teamwork. And while this year’s Giro may be over, the excitement lives on — because fans are already looking ahead, eager to see what stories next year’s race will tell.
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