Mads Pedersen Wins Giro d'Italia Opening Stage in Albania

Denmark's Mads Pedersen won the opening stage of the 2025 Giro d'Italia, held for the first time in Albania, after a 160-kilometer race finishing in Tirana. Pedersen's Lidl-Trek team executed a strong strategy, especially on the Surrel climb, allowing him to out-sprint Belgian Wout van Aert and claim the leader's pink jersey for the first time in a Grand Tour. The stage featured a significant crash that injured Spanish climber Mikel Landa, marking the first casualty of the race. Despite the challenging terrain and incidents, favorites like Primoz Roglic finished close behind, with the race expected to intensify over the coming weeks. The Giro will continue in Albania with a 13.7-kilometer time trial before moving to Italy, concluding in Rome with a historic passage through the Vatican. The event sets the tone for an exciting three-week contest ahead, with major contenders and teams preparing for mountainous challenges in the final stages.