GIRO 2025 – The teams at the start: who are the outsiders to watch?

23 teams from the Giro 2025 with only one goal: to shine on the roads of the pink race. Photo: RCS/Lapresse

In the absence of the Ogres Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, the Giro 2025 seems more open than ever for the general classification and the quest for the pink jersey.

The peloton of Giro 2025 sets off the Friday May 9 from Albania With a total of 23 teams committeddont 18 formations WorldToura team qualified via the 2024 ranking, and four guests via Wild Card. If the spotlights will obviously be turned to favorites as Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso or Adam Yatesthe battle could also come from less expected teams. Zoom on these outsiders who could well create surprise on the roads of the Corsa Rosa.

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Outsiders among WorldTeams

Among the 18 WorldTeams, some do not play it on paper, but will come with solid ambitions. At the house of Picnicthe Dutch collective has carved out a reputation for an opportunistic and efficient team. A runner like Romain Bardet could target a final performance in the mountains. Ditto for Israel – Premier Techqualified via its 2024 ranking, which could aim for steps with Marco Frigo or a top 10 with a profile like Derek.

On the side of Ds Astanathe Kazakhe training puts everything on the stages and the victories with a solid workforce led by Alberto Bettiol, Lorenzo Fortunato or Christian Scaroni. For his first round in Italy, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) could also come and play the spoilsport after his good Vuelta at the end of last year.

The team Alpecin-DECEUNINCKoften focused on sprints, will target several bouquets with Kaden Groves on the Giro 2025while EF Education-EasyPost could play on all terrains with a complete team, capable of aiming both the steps and a good general classification with a climber like Richard Carapaz or Rui Costa.

Proteams invited to the Giro 2025: real ambitions

Among the four teams invited by the organizers From the Giro 2025, some have nothing to envy to the WorldTeams.

Tudor Pro Cycling Teamled by the project of Fabian Cancellaracontinues its rise in power. With Marc Hirshi and Michael Storer, they can shine on mountain stages or rugged.
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Teamreinforced by the signing of Tom Pidcockcould even aim for a top 5 or a podium in the general classification. A Proteam with a leader in this caliber is not a figurative.
VF Group Bardiani-Csf-Faizanèfaithful to the Giro, will undoubtedly be active in the escapes with young offensive Italians.
Finally, Polti-Visitmaltawhich revives the tradition of the Polti teams, comes to learn but could surprise on transition stages.

Profiles to follow: the top of the outsiders

Several runners classified in second line might have the big favorites wobble:

Tom Pidcock (Q36.5): Explosive climber and good roller, he has the qualities to target the general.
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious): An ambitious young Italian at home.
Thymen Arensman (Ineos grenadiers): complete runner, author of a good tour of the Alps.
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek): long-term escape profile.

In outsiders sprinters:

Kaden Groves (Alpecin-deceuninck) remains one of the most serious candidates for the plain stages.
Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) et Milan Fretin (Cofidis) could compete well with the best.

A course that can change everything on the Giro 2025

With a 2025 route which alternates between new products like Albania, mythical passes and arrivals in bump, This Giro promotes daring and offensive strategies. In this configuration, the Outsiders teams have a real playing card: less monitored, they can take advantage of the moments of floating to infiltrate and shine.