For the first time in history, the Giro d’Italia kicked off from Albania. The 108th edition of the iconic cycling event began with the “Grande Partenza”, with the first three stages scheduled to take place in the country.

Stage One, held today, was a 160-kilometer race from Durrës to Tirana.

Danish cyclist Mads Pedersen claimed victory in the opening stage, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 36 minutes, and 14 seconds, and earning the coveted maglia rosa (pink jersey).
The winner was determined by a photo finish, with Pedersen beating Wout van Aert by just 0.04 seconds.

Following Pedersen and van Aert, other top finishers included Orluis Aular, Francesco Busatto, Thomas Pidcock, and others.

The race was not without incident. In the final kilometers, near the Fresku area, several cyclists were involved in a crash. One of the favorites, Mikel Landa, had to be stretchered off for medical assistance and is expected to require specialized hospital treatment.

The stage began in Durrës at around 1:00 PM. After 65 kilometers of flat terrain, riders faced the climbs of Gracen and Surrel, where inclines reached up to 13%.
The final portion featured a steep descent from Surrel and a flat sprint to the finish line in Tirana.

After 160 kilometers, the cyclists crossed the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard, concluding the stage at 5:12 PM, in front of the Palace of Congresses.

The Giro continues on Saturday with Stage Two, a time trial in Tirana.
Then on May 11, Stage Three will take place in Vlorë, expected to be one of the toughest stages due to the climb up the legendary Llogara Pass.