Stage two of the 2025 Giro d’Italia gives the GC contenders have an early opportunity to throw down the gauntlet to their rivals, with a short time trial in Tirana, Albania.
Mads Pedersen took the leader’s pink jersey with victory in the sprint at the end of stage one, but could find himself handing it over to one of the major GC favourites on a second day in the Albanian capital.
It’s a largely flat, straightforward stage, with a category four bump in the road halfway through, which might be enough to put off the pure time-trial specialists like Ineos Grenadier’s Joshua Tarling – although expect the 21-year-old to put in a strong performance regardless – and favour the GC riders who are strong in a TT.
It’s not particularly technical either, with the exception of some sharp corners and U-turns: held on wide, sweeping roads through urban sprawl, with a pan-flat final 3km and a dead straight 500m sprint to the line. What it should be is fast.
At only 13.7km there shouldn’t be significant gaps between the big favourites, but with fewer serious mountain showdowns in this race – particularly, fewer summit finishes – than normal every second will count. Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso are the best against the clock of the main favourites and this could be a drag race between the pair to take the honours early on in the year’s first Grand Tour.
Of the other maglia rosa contenders Italian youngster Antonio Tiberi should be well placed to profit from the time gaps to some of the weaker time-triallists, while for the likes of Richard Carapaz, Einer Rubio, veterans Romain Bardet and Mikel Landa, and climber Giulio Ciccone it will be a case of damage limitation.
Within the UAE Team Emirates-XRG hierarchy we may see some movement too: Ayuso and Adam Yates are in theory co-leaders and both have TT pedigree, but the Brit may find himself slipping down the pecking order if his 22-year-old teammate is on song.
Of the specialists, Tarling, European time-trial champion Edoardo Affini, and the Czech pair of Josef Cerny and Mathias Vacek could be outsiders for a stage win.
Route map and profile
Start and finish time
Stage two begins at around 12:30pm BST and is set to conclude at around 4:15 pm.
Prediction
Of the time-trial specialists Josh Tarling is the safest bet, but the presence of that climb may throw a spanner in the works for him. This feels like the first of several duels between race favourites Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso; the young Spaniard may feel he has a point to prove, while veteran Roglic has the racecraft and experience to keep his powder dry until later in the Giro, so let’s go with Juan Ayuso.
Rider start times (BST)
1 12:25:00 Märkl Niklas Team Picnic PostNL 2 12:26:00 Brenner Marco Tudor Pro Cycling Team 3 12:27:00 Govekar Matevž Bahrain – Victorious 4 12:28:00 Hayter Ethan Soudal Quick-Step 5 12:29:00 Janssens Jimmy Alpecin – Deceuninck 6 12:30:00 Krieger Alexander Tudor Pro Cycling Team 7 12:31:00 Zijlaard Maikel Tudor Pro Cycling Team 8 12:32:00 Asgreen Kasper EF Education – EasyPost 9 12:33:00 Plowright Jensen Alpecin – Deceuninck 10 12:34:00 Lamperti Luke Soudal Quick-Step 11 12:35:00 Tratnik Jan Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 12 12:36:00 Moniquet Sylvain Cofidis 13 12:37:00 Heiduk Kim INEOS Grenadiers 14 12:38:00 van der Hoorn Taco Intermarché – Wanty 15 12:39:00 Moscon Gianni Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 16 12:40:00 Miholjević Fran Bahrain – Victorious 17 12:41:00 Liepiņš Emīls Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 18 12:42:00 Thijssen Gerben Intermarché – Wanty 19 12:43:00 Van Hoecke Gijs Intermarché – Wanty 20 12:44:00 Pasqualon Andrea Bahrain – Victorious 21 12:45:00 Edmondson Alex Team Picnic PostNL 22 12:46:00 Kooij Olav Team Visma | Lease a Bike 23 12:47:00 Welten Bram Team Picnic PostNL 24 12:48:00 Moschetti Matteo Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 25 12:49:00 Mozzato Luca Arkéa – B&B Hotels 26 12:50:00 Hepburn Michael Team Jayco AlUla 27 12:51:00 Epis Giosuè Arkéa – B&B Hotels 28 12:52:00 Kielich Timo Alpecin – Deceuninck 29 12:53:00 Bennett Sam Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 30 12:54:00 Lonardi Giovanni Team Polti VisitMalta 31 12:55:00 Maas Jan Cofidis 32 12:56:00 Debeaumarché Nicolas Cofidis 33 12:57:00 Torres Albert Movistar Team 34 12:58:00 van Uden Casper Team Picnic PostNL 35 12:59:00 Paleni Enzo Groupama – FDJ 36 13:00:00 Muñoz Francisco Team Polti VisitMalta 37 13:01:00 Lemmen Bart Team Visma | Lease a Bike 38 13:02:00 Leemreize Gijs Team Picnic PostNL 39 13:03:00 Azparren Xabier Mikel Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 40 13:04:00 Kuzmin Anton XDS Astana Team 41 13:05:00 Huys Laurens Arkéa – B&B Hotels 42 13:06:00 Dewulf Stan Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 43 13:07:00 Affini Edoardo Team Visma | Lease a Bike 44 13:08:00 Pietrobon Andrea Team Polti VisitMalta 45 13:09:00 Davy Clément Groupama – FDJ 46 13:10:00 Černý Josef Soudal Quick-Step 47 13:11:00 Clarke Simon Israel – Premier Tech 48 13:12:00 Fuglsang Jakob Israel – Premier Tech 49 13:13:00 Steinhauser Georg EF Education – EasyPost 50 13:14:00 Hamilton Lucas INEOS Grenadiers 51 13:15:00 Garofoli Gianmarco Soudal Quick-Step 52 13:16:00 Fretin Milan Cofidis 53 13:17:00 Kruijswijk Steven Team Visma | Lease a Bike 54 13:18:00 Milesi Lorenzo Movistar Team 55 13:19:00 Magnier Paul Soudal Quick-Step 56 13:20:00 Zanoncello Enrico VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 57 13:21:00 Baroncini Filippo UAE Team Emirates – XRG 58 13:22:00 Tonelli Alessandro Team Polti VisitMalta 59 13:23:00 Denz Nico Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 60 13:24:00 Konrad Patrick Lidl – Trek 61 13:25:00 van Baarle Dylan Team Visma | Lease a Bike 62 13:26:00 Hoole Daan Lidl – Trek 63 13:27:00 Mosca Jacopo Lidl – Trek 64 13:28:00 Maestri Mirco Team Polti VisitMalta 65 13:29:00 Doull Owain EF Education – EasyPost 66 13:30:00 Planckaert Edward Alpecin – Deceuninck 67 13:31:00 Hollmann Juri Alpecin – Deceuninck 68 13:32:00 Colleoni Kevin Intermarché – Wanty 69 13:33:00 Smith Dion Intermarché – Wanty 70 13:34:00 Rafferty Darren EF Education – EasyPost 71 13:35:00 Gudmestad Tord Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 72 13:36:00 Vendrame Andrea Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 73 13:37:00 Schultz Nick Israel – Premier Tech 74 13:38:00 Houle Hugo Israel – Premier Tech 75 13:39:00 Eulálio Afonso Bahrain – Victorious 76 13:40:00 Honoré Mikkel Frølich EF Education – EasyPost 77 13:41:00 Rivera Brandon Smith INEOS Grenadiers 78 13:42:00 Castroviejo Jonathan INEOS Grenadiers 79 13:43:00 Verona Carlos Lidl – Trek 80 13:44:00 Masnada Fausto XDS Astana Team 81 13:45:00 Bilbao Pello Bahrain – Victorious 82 13:46:00 Rochas Rémy Groupama – FDJ 83 13:47:00 Voisard Yannis Tudor Pro Cycling Team 84 13:48:00 Lastra Jonathan Cofidis 85 13:49:00 Perez Anthony Cofidis 86 13:50:00 Warbasse Larry Tudor Pro Cycling Team 87 13:51:00 Plapp Luke Team Jayco AlUla 88 13:52:00 Groves Kaden Alpecin – Deceuninck 89 13:53:00 Martinelli Alessio VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 90 13:54:00 Zukowsky Nickolas Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 91 13:55:00 Godon Dorian Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 92 13:56:00 Vine Jay UAE Team Emirates – XRG 93 13:57:00 Van den Bossche Fabio Alpecin – Deceuninck 94 13:58:00 Donovan Mark Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 95 13:59:00 De Pretto Davide Team Jayco AlUla 96 14:00:00 Kanter Max XDS Astana Team 97 14:01:00 Petilli Simone Intermarché – Wanty 98 14:02:00 Pluimers Rick Tudor Pro Cycling Team 99 14:03:00 Svestad-Bårdseng Embret Arkéa – B&B Hotels 100 14:04:00 De Bondt Dries Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 101 14:05:00 Tarozzi Manuele VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 102 14:06:00 Strong Corbin Israel – Premier Tech 103 14:07:00 Pacher Quentin Groupama – FDJ 104 14:08:00 Arrieta Igor UAE Team Emirates – XRG 105 14:09:00 Cattaneo Mattia Soudal Quick-Step 106 14:10:00 Barrenetxea Jon Movistar Team 107 14:11:00 Guglielmi Simon Arkéa – B&B Hotels 108 14:12:00 Turner Ben INEOS Grenadiers 109 14:13:00 Ries Michel Arkéa – B&B Hotels 110 14:14:00 Verre Alessandro Arkéa – B&B Hotels 111 14:15:00 Knox James Soudal Quick-Step 112 14:16:00 Bouwman Koen Team Jayco AlUla 113 14:17:00 Frigo Marco Israel – Premier Tech 114 14:18:00 Marcellusi Martin VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 115 14:19:00 Zana Filippo Team Jayco AlUla 116 14:20:00 Kragh Andersen Søren Lidl – Trek 117 14:21:00 Zambanini Edoardo Bahrain – Victorious 118 14:22:00 Geniets Kevin Groupama – FDJ 119 14:23:00 Germani Lorenzo Groupama – FDJ 120 14:24:00 Bystrøm Sven Erik Groupama – FDJ 121 14:25:00 Magli Filippo VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 122 14:26:00 Covili Luca VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 123 14:27:00 Poels Wout XDS Astana Team 124 14:28:00 Tarling Joshua INEOS Grenadiers 125 14:29:00 Arensman Thymen INEOS Grenadiers 126 14:30:00 Cepeda Jefferson Alveiro Movistar Team 127 14:31:00 Martínez Daniel Felipe Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 128 14:32:00 Pinarello Alessandro VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 129 14:33:00 Prodhomme Nicolas Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 130 14:34:00 Cepeda Jefferson Alexander EF Education – EasyPost 131 14:35:00 Hirt Jan Israel – Premier Tech 132 14:36:00 Shaw James EF Education – EasyPost 133 14:37:00 Formolo Davide Movistar Team 134 14:38:00 Meintjes Louis Intermarché – Wanty 135 14:39:00 Fortunato Lorenzo XDS Astana Team 136 14:40:00 Gee Derek Israel – Premier Tech 137 14:41:00 Bais Davide Team Polti VisitMalta 138 14:42:00 Hamilton Chris Team Picnic PostNL 139 14:43:00 Oldani Stefano Cofidis 140 14:44:00 Bais Mattia Team Polti VisitMalta 141 14:45:00 Tjøtta Martin Arkéa – B&B Hotels 142 14:46:00 Samitier Sergio Cofidis 143 14:47:00 Vader Milan Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 144 14:48:00 Fiorelli Filippo VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè 145 14:49:00 Hermans Quinten Alpecin – Deceuninck 146 14:50:00 Stork Florian Tudor Pro Cycling Team 147 14:51:00 Scaroni Christian XDS Astana Team 148 14:52:00 Pellizzari Giulio Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 149 14:53:00 Harper Chris Team Jayco AlUla 150 14:54:00 Majka Rafał UAE Team Emirates – XRG 151 14:55:00 Kelderman Wilco Team Visma | Lease a Bike 152 14:56:00 Aleotti Giovanni Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 153 14:57:00 Howson Damien Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 154 14:58:00 Ayuso Juan UAE Team Emirates – XRG 155 14:59:00 Quintana Nairo Movistar Team 156 15:00:00 McNulty Brandon UAE Team Emirates – XRG 157 15:01:00 Yates Adam UAE Team Emirates – XRG 158 15:02:00 Bernal Egan INEOS Grenadiers 159 15:03:00 Gaudu David Groupama – FDJ 160 15:04:00 Storer Michael Tudor Pro Cycling Team 161 15:05:00 Vacek Mathias Lidl – Trek 162 15:06:00 Yates Simon Team Visma | Lease a Bike 163 15:07:00 del Toro Isaac UAE Team Emirates – XRG 164 15:08:00 Caruso Damiano Bahrain – Victorious 165 15:09:00 Rubio Einer Movistar Team 166 15:10:00 Hindley Jai Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 167 15:11:00 Bardet Romain Team Picnic PostNL 168 15:14:00 Roglič Primož Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 169 15:17:00 Engelhardt Felix Team Jayco AlUla 170 15:20:00 Double Paul Team Jayco AlUla 171 15:23:00 Tiberi Antonio Bahrain – Victorious 172 15:26:00 Ciccone Giulio Lidl – Trek 173 15:29:00 Piganzoli Davide Team Polti VisitMalta 174 15:32:00 Conci Nicola XDS Astana Team 175 15:35:00 Poole Max Team Picnic PostNL 176 15:38:00 Carapaz Richard EF Education – EasyPost 177 15:41:00 Ulissi Diego XDS Astana Team 178 15:44:00 Pidcock Thomas Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 179 15:47:00 Busatto Francesco Intermarché – Wanty 180 15:50:00 Aular Orluis Movistar Team 181 15:53:00 van Aert Wout Team Visma | Lease a Bike 182 15:56:00 Pedersen Mads Lidl – Trek
