Giro d’Italia to start 2025 edition in Albania, a first for the country
Giro d’Italia, one of the most prestigious cycling events in the world, will kick off its 2025 edition in Albania. The announcement was made during a joint press conference held by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and organizers of the iconic race.
Why is this important: This is the first time that an event of such scale and global recognition will take place in Albania. Hosting the opening stages of the Giro represents a significant milestone for the country, putting Albania on the international sports map and showcasing its tourism potential to a global audience.
Context: The first three stages of Giro d’Italia will cover Tirana, Durrës, and Vlorë from May 9 to May 11. Over the course of a week, around 3,000 participants, including athletes and support staff, will be present. According to Prime Minister Rama, this presents a unique opportunity for Albania to gain global exposure beyond sports.
“To showcase our magnificent country to 800 million spectators and, if I’m not mistaken, across 200 TV stations worldwide broadcasting the Giro d’Italia live. We will host so many champions, who will become friends of our country, sparking conversations globally about both the Giro and Albania. Our country has seen extraordinary growth in recent years and has finally made its grand entry into the Champions League of tourism, where we intend to stay,” said Rama.
Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sport, emphasized that Albania’s developing infrastructure played a pivotal role in the decision to select the country as the starting point for the race.
“We’ve been fortunate to find an infrastructure system in Albania that is growing rapidly and enables us to organize the race under the same conditions as in Italy,” Bellino noted.
In a symbolic gesture, Prime Minister Rama was presented with the iconic pink jersey worn by the leader of the Giro d’Italia. The full program of the 2025 Giro d’Italia is set to be unveiled on January 13 in Rome.
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