Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek claimed victory in the opening stage of the 108th Giro d’Italia on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Tirana, Albania, marking a significant milestone as he donned the first maglia rosa of this year’s race. Pedersen, who previously secured his second consecutive Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields in March, showcased his sprinting prowess by narrowly edging out Belgian rival Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) to the finish line. The stage, a challenging 160-kilometer route, included two loops through the bustling streets of Tirana and featured rugged climbs that tested the mettle of the 184 riders in the peloton.
The day began with a vibrant atmosphere as the riders rolled out from Durrës, marking the first time the Giro d’Italia visited Albania. The early breakaway included five riders: Alessandro Verre (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Alessandro Tonelli (Polti-VisitMalta), Sylvain Moniquet (Cofidis), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty), and Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè). Despite their efforts, the break was kept in check by the peloton, which hovered just under a two-minute gap for much of the day.
As the race unfolded, the first categorized climb of the day, the 12.9-kilometer Gracen, proved pivotal. Moniquet was the first to crest the climb, earning points for the King of the Mountains classification. The breakaway maintained a slim lead until the peloton began to reel them in with about 40 kilometers to go, just as they entered the local circuit in Tirana.
The pace intensified as Lidl-Trek took control, setting a hard tempo on the first ascent of the Cat. 3 Surrel climb. This relentless pace resulted in notable general classification (GC) contenders being distanced, including Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) and Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), both of whom lost over a minute during the stage. With the climbs whittling down the field, Pedersen positioned himself perfectly for the final sprint.
As the riders approached the finish, the tension was palpable. Pedersen’s lead-out man, Mathias Vacek, set him up ideally for the final turn, allowing the Dane to unleash his sprint. “This is my favourite stage now. To win the stage and go in the pink jersey is amazing, especially after teamwork like this,” Pedersen remarked in a post-race interview. He acknowledged the challenge posed by van Aert, stating, “You always have to be afraid of Wout. He is a really, really good bike rider, and it’s not given to win when he is in the group.”
In the final meters, Pedersen managed to hold off van Aert’s late charge, crossing the line in 3:36:24, just four seconds ahead of his rival. Orluis Aular (Movistar) rounded out the podium in third place, finishing six seconds back. With this victory, Pedersen not only secured the stage win but also became the first Dane to wear the maglia rosa in Giro history. “Of course, it’s the first leader’s jersey I have in a Grand Tour, so it’s something nice,” he said, beaming with pride.
The stage was not without its drama, however. A crash involving Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL) occurred with 90 kilometers to go, but both riders quickly rejoined the peloton. Unfortunately, Mikel Landa (Soudal-Quickstep) was not as fortunate; he was involved in a significant crash on the descent just outside of 5 kilometers to go and was taken to the hospital, marking a rough start for the seasoned climber.
Looking ahead, Saturday’s stage features a 13.7-kilometer individual time trial around Tirana, where Pedersen will face the challenge of defending his lead against a strong field, including van Aert, who is eager to reclaim the pink jersey. The time trial includes a short climb and a tricky U-turn, adding to the complexity of the course. “Tomorrow will be an interesting challenge to try and maintain it, which is very possible,” Pedersen noted, expressing confidence in his ability to hold onto the leader’s jersey.
As the race progresses, the stakes will only get higher. Sunday’s stage 3 is expected to favor the sprinters, offering a flat route around the coastal city of Valona. However, the final week of the Giro will be crucial, with stage 20 culminating in a grueling climb up the Colle delle Finestre to the Sestriere ski resort, where the true contenders for the overall title will emerge.
With the first stage complete, Pedersen leads the overall classification by four seconds over van Aert, with Aular close behind. The excitement of the Giro d’Italia continues to build as teams strategize and riders prepare for the challenges ahead in this iconic three-week race.
