Stages you shouldn't miss from the Giro d'Italia 2025

As in all three-week races, and the 2025 Giro d'Italia could not be an exception, there are a few stages that, on paper, are destined to decide the race in terms of the general classification. Although unexpected things can happen on any of the 21 days, these are undoubtedly the stages that you must watch to enjoy the best of the Corsa Rosa.

Key stages of the 2025 Giro d'Italia edition

The 2025 Giro d'Italia maintains a classic design in which the maximum difficulty is reserved for the final week, while the first two weeks combine flat stages for the sprinters to shine with medium mountain challenges through the rugged terrain of central Italy.

These are undoubtedly the stages that you should mark on your calendar to ensure you have no other plans but to spend the afternoon in front of the television enjoying the best cycling.

Stage 9: Gubbio - Siena (181 km)

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Although in stage 7 the cyclists will have already faced a first mountain finish, the characteristics of it suggest that it will not be a decisive stage, and presumably the favorites should arrive together at the finish line or, at most, with a few seconds of difference.

We will have to wait until the stage that ends the first week to enjoy the first truly decisive day with the always uncertain passage through the sterrato of the Strade Bianche on the way to Siena. A finish practically identical to the one in the classic race where the cyclists will face 5 dirt sections including the very selective San Martino in Grania and, almost towards the finish line, the Colle Pinzuto with its tough ramps. As if that were not enough, there will still be the extremely tough wall of Vía Santa Caterina to decide the stage. Undoubtedly, a day where a favorite could lose that status, and we will see the first face-off among the contenders for the pink jersey.

Stage 10: Lucca - Pisa (28.6 km)

After the effort in Siena and the second rest day, another stage that will mark the race will arrive. The second individual time trial of this 2025 Giro d'Italia will take place. While the length of the first time trial should not create too many differences, the over 28 kilometers of this one and its completely flat route, where specialists can make significant differences, will clarify the general classification.

A time trial that can establish important differences that will condition the development of the rest of the Giro d'Italia. We already know that whoever aims to win the race will have to concede the least possible time, while those who do not have their best day or are more of a climber will have to minimize losses to stay within a time margin that they can later recover in the upcoming mountain stages.

Stage 15: Fiume Veneto - Asiago (219 km)

The stage that ends the second week will also be a long marathon through the lands of the Veneto region. The longest stage of this Giro d'Italia, with an almost classic distance, presents a route that combines the flat terrain of its first half with a very tough second part where the ascent to Monte Grapa could spark hostilities from afar.

If not, the final part, with another long ascent, Dori, after which there is hardly any descent and there are 20 rugged kilometers remaining, could lead to another great spectacle among the top riders in the general classification.

Stage 16: Piazzola sul Brenta - San Valentino (203 km)

With the accumulated fatigue from the tough previous stage, the cyclists will have to face in the beginning of the third week the first major mountain chain of the Giro d'Italia. Although it is a medium mountain stage in the Veneto region, we are talking about a chain where the cyclists will have little rest despite there being only 4 categorized climbs, including the finish in San Valentino.

Moreover, although they are not climbs like those in the nearby Alps, we are already talking about ascents of more than 10 kilometers with the last two, Passo Santa Barbara and San Valentino, really demanding, with long sustained sections around 9%. These are the kind of climbs with the ideal toughness to allow attacks from those who can really make a difference.

Stage 17: San Michele all'Adige - Bormio (155 km)

Having the Mortirolo in its route in a stage is enough to attract the attention not only of cycling fans but also of many who follow this sport at specific moments.

It is true that this fearsome colossus is not ascended by its famous side of Mazzo di Valtelina, but it is still an extremely tough climb. Furthermore, its placement far from the finish line, combined with a final section constantly ascending towards Bormio, can provide the perfect terrain for unexpected tactical moves.

Stage 19: Biella - Champoluc (166 km)

A tremendous alpine chain with the Aosta Valley as the setting in the nineteenth stage. No less than five ascents, all long and tough, plus a finish with the last kilometers descending, which always leads to cyclists being less afraid to make a full attack on the preceding climb.

A stage with a chain in the old style where, for sure, we will see a high-quality spectacle even though the cyclists must partly measure their strength for the outcome of the following day.

Stage 20: Verrès - Sestriere (205 km)

At first glance, this twentieth stage does not seem as spectacular as some of the ones we mentioned as decisive. However, the mere presence of such a mythical chain as Colle delle Finestre and Sestriere already places this finish as one of the toughest in cycling.

A terrain that has already proven decisive in the Giro d'Italia, and if not, just ask Chris Froome who managed to turn the 2018 edition upside down at this place that seemed out of his reach until a tremendous ride propelled him to the pink jersey.

Furthermore, it should be noted that, in addition to the inhuman toughness of Colle delle Finestre with its second half on dirt, we are in the penultimate stage, and the accumulated fatigue may allow anyone with a bit more strength to cause significant damage in the race.