On June 1, 2025, British cyclist Simon Yates of Visma Lease a Bike was crowned the champion of the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia, closing out a grueling three-week race with a remarkable display of endurance and strategy. The final stage, a 143-kilometer circuit beginning and ending in Rome, saw Dutch rider Olav Kooij, also of Visma Lease a Bike, sprint to victory, marking his second stage win in this edition of the Giro. Kooij completed the stage in 3 hours, 12 minutes, and 19 seconds, narrowly edging out rivals Kaden Groves and Matteo Moschetti in a thrilling finish.
Simon Yates’s road to victory was nothing short of epic. His defining moment came during the penultimate stage at the legendary Colle delle Finestre, a climb infamous for its punishing gravel sections and steep gradients. With 38 kilometers remaining, Yates launched a decisive attack that caught his closest rivals, Mexican Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates) and Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost), off guard. Supported by the formidable Wout van Aert, Yates carved out a five-minute advantage on del Toro that day, ultimately securing a 3-minute, 56-second lead in the overall general classification.
This victory marked a significant comeback for Yates, who had suffered a heartbreaking collapse on the same climb during the 2018 Giro when he seemed destined for glory. Seven years later, the Colle delle Finestre became the stage of his redemption, earning him the coveted Maglia Rosa and the prestigious Senza Fine trophy in the heart of Rome.
The 2025 Giro began with high expectations centered on Spanish riders Juan Ayuso and Primoz Roglic, but both faced setbacks that reshaped the race dynamics. Roglic endured multiple crashes and punctures, while Ayuso’s campaign was derailed first by a knee laceration in Stage 14 and later by a wasp sting to the eye during Stage 18, forcing both to withdraw. Their misfortunes opened the door for emerging talents like Isaac del Toro, who, at just 21 years old, impressed the cycling world by leading the race for a significant stretch and clinching the white jersey for the best young rider.
The race also featured a memorable and symbolic visit to Vatican City during the final stage. The peloton entered the Vatican Gardens for a 3-kilometer ride, where newly elected Pope Leo XIV greeted the cyclists, honoring the recently deceased Pope Francis. This unique moment added a spiritual dimension to the race’s conclusion, as riders paused to reflect before the final urban circuits through Rome’s historic Fori Imperiali. The circuit’s challenging cobbled sectors, sharp turns, and narrow streets tested the riders’ technical skills, though the final stage unfolded largely as a ceremonial procession for the general classification contenders.
Besides Yates, the podium was completed by Isaac del Toro in second place and Richard Carapaz in third. Canadian Derek Gee (Israel Premier Tech) finished fourth, followed by Italy’s Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) in fifth. Notably, Colombian riders Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) secured strong top-10 finishes, placing seventh and eighth respectively. Other Colombian participants included Nairo Quintana, who finished 25th, and Daniel Felipe Martínez, who placed 53rd, demonstrating the continued presence and competitiveness of Colombian cyclists in grand tours.
The Giro d'Italia 2025 spanned a total of 3,410 kilometers over 21 stages with an accumulated elevation gain of approximately 45,000 meters. The race kicked off with three stages in Albania before returning to Italy, where riders faced a balanced mix of flat stages, deceptive terrain, and punishing mountain ascents. Iconic climbs such as Mortirolo, Colle delle Finestre, and the final summit finish at Sestriere provided the battlegrounds for the climbers and general classification hopefuls. Two individual time trials also played a pivotal role in shaping the overall standings, testing riders’ all-around capabilities.
Visma Lease a Bike’s dominance was emphatically underlined by their dual success: Simon Yates claiming the overall title and Olav Kooij securing the final stage win. The team’s tactical acumen and depth were critical, especially in the mountainous stages where Yates’s attack at Finestre proved decisive.
The points classification, symbolized by the maglia ciclamino, was won by Mads Pedersen, while Lorenzo Fortunato earned the maglia azzurra for the best climber. Isaac del Toro’s impressive performance throughout the race earned him the white jersey, highlighting him as one of the sport’s most promising young talents despite some tactical missteps in the final stages that cost him the overall lead.
Simon Yates’s triumph adds to an illustrious lineage of Giro champions, succeeding Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who won in 2024. The list of recent victors includes Primoz Roglic (2023), Jai Hindley (2022), Egan Bernal (2021), and Tao Geoghegan Hart (2020), underscoring the event’s status as a proving ground for cycling’s elite.
As the race closed its chapter in Rome, the cycling world celebrated not only the athletic feats but also the narratives of resilience, strategy, and unexpected twists that defined this edition. Yates’s victory, forged through perseverance and tactical brilliance, will be remembered as one of the most poetic comebacks in Giro history.
With the 2025 Giro de Italia now behind them, riders and teams will turn their focus to the rest of the season, carrying forward lessons and momentum gained on the roads of Italy and Albania. For Simon Yates and Visma Lease a Bike, the 108th Giro has cemented their place in cycling history, leaving fans eager to see what the future holds.
