Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 1 recap - Mads Pedersen pips Wout van Aert to victory and first pink jersey, Mikel Landa crashes out

Lidl-Trek put in a masterclass in Albania to whittle down the peloton over two ascents of a tough finish climb before propelling their man Mads Pedersen to victory and the pink jersey in Tirana.

Pedersen launched from the wheel of team-mate Mathias Vacek exiting the final bend before holding off a powerful late surge by Belgium’s Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). Venezuela’s Orluis Aular (Movistar) took third place while Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Q35.6 Pro Cycling) finished fifth on his Giro debut.

A nasty crash on the final descent with 5km remaining resulted in Spanish veteran Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) being taken to hospital in an ambulance. Several big name riders for the general classification – notably Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) and Canada’s Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) – were distanced on the second ascent of the finish climb as Lidl-Trek put down the hammer.

"That was the exact plan – to push really hard on the climb, make it a smaller group and then a sprint," Pedersen said after the 51st win of his career.

The 29-year-old Dane also admitted that he did not underestimate Van Aert, who battled back after being put in trouble on the final climb before pushing Pedersen all the way to the line.

"You always have to be afraid of Wout [van Aert]. He’s a really, really good bike rider and it’s not a given to win when he’s in the group. You have to handle that with respect and a bit of fear as well. But today I had the legs to finish it off for the team," he said.

 

The veteran Basque climber has just been put into an ambulance on a stretcher so his race is over after that nasty spill on the descent back into Tirana.

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
2. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3. Orluis Aular (Movistar)
4. Francesco Busatto (Intermarche-Wanty)
5. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
6. Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana)
7. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
8. Max Poole (Team Picnic PostNL)
9. Nicola Conci (XDS Astana)
10. Davide Piganzoli (Polti VisitMalta)

Here's how Pedersen took the first win of this Giro...

The Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) is one of the big losers today – he comes home in a group 1’37" down on the leaders. What a disaster for Arensman. We’ll have to wait and see how much time Derek Gee lost, plus any of the other GC contenders…

Vacek led out Mads Pedersen going into the home straight and the Dane opened up his sprint with Wout van Aert in his wheel. The Belgian wouldn’t give up and almost came round Pedersen, but it was the former world champion who held on and paid back his Lidl-Trek team for all their hard work.

Stage 1 and the first pink jersey goes to Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek.

Red Bull in control as they pass under the red kite ahead of the finish... But Pedersen is still there and primed to launch his sprint.

Nicola Conci of XDS Astana had a pop from distance after the chaos of the crash but he was reeled in and Red Bull have taken over control for Roglic. Just around 25 riders in this first group now after the splits from that incident, near the bottom of the descent.

Mikel Landa has collided with a lamp post and gone off the road. Others have also hit the deck including Jay Vine of UAE and Geoffrey Bouchard of Decathlon. It doesn’t look good for Landa, who is still on the ground. He only just signed an extension with Soudal Quick-Step but it looks like his Giro could be over before it’s properly begun.

No move from Pidcock on this downhill run back into Tirana. It’s hard to know whether that’s because he didn’t try or because Lidl-Trek didn’t let him – since they have both Ciccone and Vacek there pacing Pedersen.

It looks like Derek Gee of Israel-Premier Tech was also dropped near the summit. The Canadian is around 25 seconds back – but still ahead of Arensman.

It’s the Italian climber who is rewarded for the damage he caused by pocketing 10pts over the summit. Lidl-Trek still have three men on the front of this group, which is around 40 strong. Pedersen is still there, ditto Roglic, Pidcock, both Yateses, Ayuso and most of the GC favourites – with the exception of Arensman. Van Aert just about managed to hold on towards the end.

Wout van Aert is going backwards now on this climb – but he’s still in the main pack, unlike Thymen Arensman of Ineos Grenadiers, who has been distanced. A big surprise given the Dutchman’s form at the Tour of the Alps. He was meant to be Ineos’ main man here at the Giro, but he has it all to do now after falling at the first fence.

With Ciccone piling on the pressure, this Lidl trio on the front have really strung out the peloton. The latest to go off the back is Josh Tarling, which means the Briton is unlikely to take the pink jersey tomorrow. He’s the big favourite for the TT in Stage 2 but he won’t be able to double up with a maglia rosa if he loses significant time today, because the race of truth is only 13.7km.

What a story this would be – on Q36.5 Pro Cycling’s first day on a Grand Tour. If Pidcock wins and takes the pink jersey that would be a dream debut for both the Briton and his team. To win, you’d think the former Ineos rider would have to make a move on the descent…

Lidl-Trek still setting the tempo as Giulio Ciccone comes to the front to take over from Carlos Verona.

Carlos Verona sets the tempo as they start the climb and Mads Pedersen looks really strong here. Tom Pidcock is also getting ready for a fight – but it’s curtains for Kaden Groves, who is the next sprinter to explode. The Australian from Alpecin-Deceuninck is off the back.

It’s Nick Schultz who does the honours, with a few EF Education riders in his wheel. Lidl are still heavily present, while Tudor, Q36.5 and Red Bull are also readying themselves. The nerves are growing and there’s a fair amount of jostling for positions ahead of the second bite of the Surrel climb.

The bell sounds as the pack – down to around 120 riders – comes though the finish line and sweeps around Mother Teresa Square. They’ll now head back up into the hills, where the pace will increase as the endgame begins.

The peloton has largely reformed as the riders pass through Tirana again for a second time. Next time it will be to contest the stage win – and the race’s first pink jersey. The likes of Bennett and Kooij are still off the back, while Lidl-Trek and Bahrain Victorious are still on the front.

I’ll tell you who has been almost invisible out there: Tom Pidcock and everyone from UAE. It’s worth remembering that Juan Ayuso crashed earlier today, but we really haven’t seen him or any of his team-mates today.

Kaden Groves is still there for Alpecin-Deceininck, so that’s a potentially huge factor given his speed in the sprint.

Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana) edges ahead to take the maximum 10pts over the top of the Surrel climb, so that perhaps reveals the Italian’s intentions for this Giro. Team PicnNic PostNL came to the front alongside Lidl-Trek, Bahrain and Visma near the top.