It’s less than one week until the 2025 Giro d’Italia kicks off from Durrazo in Albania, and the 23 teams taking part in the Corsa Rosa have officially confirmed their riders. Plenty of stars are expected at the start of an edition featuring no fewer than five former Giro d’Italia winners: Nairo Quintana (2014), Richard Carapaz (2019), Egan Bernal (2021), Jai Hindley (2022), and Primož Roglič (2023) toeing the start line.
Among them, it’s Slovenian Primoz Roglic – fresh off a win at the Volta a Catalunya – who stands out as the top contender for the overall victory. Roglič, leading an ambitious Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe team alongside the Hindley and Daniel Felipe Martínez (runner-up in 2024), shares the role of pre-race favorite with Juan Ayuso, who has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with five victories, including the Tirreno-Adriatico.
The Spaniard, also a top contender for the White Jersey, will be supported by fellow debutant Isaac Del Toro and Adam Yates, making his second Giro appearance after finishing ninth in 2017.
Mountain Contenders
Among the key names to watch in the battle for the general classification are Mikel Landa (twice on the podium, in 2015 and 2022), Simon Yates (third in 2021), Antonio Tiberi (Maglia Bianca in 2024, though recently hampered by physical issues at the Tour of the Alps), Pello Bilbao (twice in the top 5), Derek Gee (winner at O Gran Camiño), Romain Bardet (racing his final Giro), and David Gaudu, making his Giro d’Italia debut.
Also capable of making their mark in the mountains: Giulio Ciccone, Thymen Arensman, Max Storer, Einer Rubio, Damiano Caruso, Max Poole, Davide Piganzoli, Lorenzo Fortunato, Wout Poels, Georg Steinhauser, Johannes Staune-Mittet, Koen Bouwman, and Filippo Zana.
Stage Hunters, Sprinters and Time Trialists
The list of riders targeting stage wins – whether on mixed terrain or flat profiles – is also long and full of big names. The Giro d’Italia will mark the debut of three stars from the one-day classics scene: Wout Van Aert, Thomas Pidcock, and Marc Hirschi.
Mads Pedersen will be lining up for his third Giro, having claimed victory in Naples in 2023 and arriving in top form after a strong spring campaign. Among the most promising stage hunters on hilly terrain are Diego Ulissi, Quinten Hermans, Taco van der Hoorn, Jakob Fuglsang, Dorian Godon, Davide Formolo, Marco Frigo, Marco Brenner, and Martin Marcellusi.
Also in Naples, Olav Kooij earned his first Giro stage win. Already with three victories in 2025, he leads the pack of sprinters expected at the race. His main rivals include Kaden Groves, Paul Magnier, Matteo Moschetti, and a returning Sam Bennett, who’s shown excellent form so far this year.
Other strong finishers who could surprise include Rick Pluimers, Casper van Uden, Filippo Fiorelli, Luke Lamperti, Giovanni Lonardi, Enrico Zanoncello, and Orluis Aular.
The two time trials scheduled for the race will be prime opportunities for the discipline’s specialists. Lining up at the start will be the last two European champions, Edoardo Affini and Joshua Tarling, as well as Mattia Cattaneo, Brandon McNulty, Jay Vine, and Daan Hoole.
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