Giro d'Italia 2025 stage 2: route, favorites and TV times

Tirana, May 9, 2025 – It was supposed to be a duel between Mads Pedersen and Wout Van Aert and so it was. In Tirana, the Dane won the sprint in the first stage of the Giro 2025, great job by ciccone on the final climb to separate the group, with Van Aert beaten by half a wheel. Pedersen will therefore be the last to start in the second stage, that is the 13-kilometer time trial in Tirana, and he will do so wearing the pink jersey. But the Giro has already lost a protagonist because Mikel's fall in the final Landa It was serious, with a suspected fracture of the clavicle. The Iberian climber was carried on a stretcher and with the neck brace and bad luck in the grand tours he just doesn't want to give up. All the other contenders for the podium in a group, with only Aresman, Fortunato and Meintjes detached.  

The route of the time trial

First time trial, of the two scheduled for the Giro d'Italia, and with a route not to be underestimated. Not very long, just 13 kilometers, but with a climb in the middle that could create some gaps. The time trial will be entirely urban in Tirana and on wide avenues, watch out for some ninety-degree bends, with the Sauk Gpm in the central part to break the rhythm with the summit at kilometer 8 where the intermediate time measurement is also located. The climb is short, less than two kilometers and classified as a fourth category, but could widen the gaps if not tackled with the right leg. The last 3 km are flat and the last 500 m are straight and perfectly flat on 8 m wide asphalt. You will need to pedal hard.

Favorites

It appears to be a time trial for specialists and, although short, climbers should pay the price. Riders like Quintana, Gaudu, Ciccone, Bardet, Carapaz and Caruso they might lose a few seconds, while Roglic, who is going very fast against the clock, will have the chance to take a small-big advantage, maybe even the pink jersey. Even Ayuso e Tiberi they defend themselves well and the Italian will have to immediately gain ground on the climbers. As for the riders not in the general classification, but strong in time trials, we point out Hayter, Tarling, Tratnik, Plapp and McNulty. To check Wout Van Aert. The Belgian is going strong against the clock but in the first stage he showed some small cracks on the climbs and was beaten in the sprint by Pedersen. He is not at his best but he could try to take the pink jersey being now second at 4 seconds from the leader.

Times and where to see it on TV

The second stage of Tour of Italy takes place on Saturday 10 May with the first rider leaving at 13.55pm and the last at 16.59pm. An average speed of between 48 and 50 km/h is estimated with travel times of around 16-17 minutes. The pink jersey Mads Pedersen is expected to arrive around 17.15pm. Live free-to-air coverage from 12.45pm on Raisport Hd, channel 58 on digital terrestrial, then switching to Rai Due from 14pm for the second part of the stage. Streaming on Raiplay. Live for a fee on Eurosport 1, channel 210 on Sky, starting at 13.15pm. Streaming on Discovery Plus and Dazn. Read also - Giro 2025, Pedersen takes the first stage and the pink jersey MANUEL MINGUZZI