Stage 1: Durrës - Tirana Predictions & Betting tips - Giro: Tour d'Italia

Prediction published on 5/9/25, 6:05 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 5/9/25 at 6:10 AM

This Friday, May 9, sees the start of the 108th Giro d'Italia, with the first stage in Albania between Durrës and the capital Tirana. 160km on the program for this first day of the Giro, and a route that should make this 1st stage spectacular!

With 160km between Durrës and Tirana, the Giro riders will already have their work cut out, with 3 difficulties on the program, the Gracen climb (13.5km at 5.2%) and the Surrel climb (4.9km at 5.4%), to be climbed twice. This is ideal terrain for puncheurs and medium-sized climbers, who should be able to express themselves in this first stage of the Giro d'Italia.

With its rugged profile, one man will be the favorite to take the stage win and the pink jersey: Mads Pedersen. The Dane has been performing well in the spring classics, with success at Gand-Wevelgem and 3rd place at Paris-Roubaix. The Lidl-Trek rider is an all-rounder, and is particularly strong in the puncher stages, where he is very good at negotiating climbs. And this first stage of the Giro 2025 is just what the Scandinavian needs.

When it comes to hilly terrain, Wout Van Aert is never far away! For his first Giro of his career, the Belgian rider arrives after some good performances in the classics. But the Visma-Lease a Bike rider has been ill for the past few days and could be running out of juice in the first few days of racing at the Giro d'Italia.

What if the surprise came from Kaden Groves? The Australian, 2nd in last year's points classification, arrives with an Alpecin-Deceuninck team built around him. A sprinter capable of overcoming the climbs and well surrounded, Kaden Groves will be one to watch very closely on this first day on the roads of the Giro 2025.