The final day of the 2025 Giro d’Italia, held on Sunday, June 1, was a ceremonial procession through Rome, culminating in a sprint finish that saw Olav Kooij of Team Visma | Lease a Bike claim the stage victory. Simon Yates secured his first Giro d’Italia title and second Grand Tour victory, having previously won the Vuelta a España in 2018. 

Stage 21: Rome – Highlights & Results

• Distance: 143 km

• Start: Vatican City, with a blessing from Pope Leo XIV

• Route: Passed iconic landmarks including the Colosseum

• Finish: Eight laps through central Rome 

Top 3 Stage Finishers:

1. Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

2. Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek)

3. Alberto Dainese (Team DSM–Firmenich PostNL)

Kooij's victory was expertly orchestrated by teammates Wout van Aert and Edoardo Affini, showcasing Visma's dominance in both general classification and sprint stages. 

Final General Classification (Top 5)

1. Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

2. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) – +3'56"

3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost) – +4'43"

4. Derek Gee (Israel–Premier Tech)

5. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious)

Yates' decisive move came on Stage 20, where he attacked on the Colle delle Finestre, overtaking Del Toro and securing a substantial lead that he maintained through the final stage.

Analysis: A Triumph of Strategy and Resilience

Simon Yates' victory was marked by strategic brilliance and resilience. His attack on the Colle delle Finestre during Stage 20 not only showcased his climbing prowess but also his tactical acumen. This move was reminiscent of Chris Froome's legendary ride on the same climb in 2018, a poignant moment for Yates, who had previously faltered there. 

The final stage was more than a race; it was a celebration. The peloton's meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City added a spiritual dimension to the day, and the tribute to Robert Gesink’s late wife brought an emotional resonance to the proceedings. 

Video Highlights

For a visual recap of Stage 21's key moments, including the sprint finish and ceremonial aspects, you can watch the highlights here:

The 2025 Giro d’Italia concluded with Simon Yates' well-deserved victory, marking a significant milestone in his career and providing fans with a memorable edition of the race.

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of each stage of the 2025 Giro d'Italia, highlighting key performances and the evolution of the General Classification (GC) standings:

Stage-by-Stage Summary

Stage 1: Durrës to Tirana (160 km)

• Winner: Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek)

• GC Leader: Mads Pedersen

• Highlights: Pedersen showcased his sprinting prowess, edging out Wout van Aert and Orluis Aular in a fast-paced finish. 

Stage 2: Individual Time Trial (ITT)

• Winner: Joshua Tarling (INEOS Grenadiers)

• GC Leader: Primož Roglič (Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe)

• Highlights: Tarling delivered a powerful performance against the clock, while Roglič's consistency earned him the pink jersey. 

Stage 3: Vlorë to Vlorë (160 km)

• Winner: Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek)

• GC Leader: Mads Pedersen

• Highlights: Pedersen secured his second stage win, reclaiming the GC lead with a dominant sprint finish.

Stage 4: Tirana to Shkodër

• Winner: Casper van Uden (Team DSM–Firmenich PostNL)

• GC Leader: Mads Pedersen

• Highlights: Van Uden achieved his first Grand Tour stage victory, outpacing Olav Kooij and Maikel Zijlaard in a tightly contested sprint. 

Stage 5: Shkodër to Podgorica

• Winner: Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek)

• GC Leader: Mads Pedersen

• Highlights: Pedersen continued his impressive form, clinching his third stage win in a closely fought sprint finish. 

Stage 6: Podgorica to Sarajevo

• Winner: Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck)

• GC Leader: Mads Pedersen

• Highlights: Groves navigated a wet and chaotic stage to secure a sprint victory, marking his first win of the race. 

Stage 7: Sarajevo to Mostar

• Winner: Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates–XRG)

• GC Leader: Primož Roglič

• Highlights: Ayuso showcased his climbing abilities, winning the stage and propelling Roglič back into the GC lead. 

Stage 8: Mostar to Dubrovnik

• Winner: Luke Plapp (Team Jayco–AlUla)

• GC Leader: Diego Ulissi

• Highlights: Plapp executed a remarkable 45 km solo attack to win the stage, while Ulissi's consistent performance earned him the pink jersey. 

Stage 9: Dubrovnik to Split

• Winner: W. Van Aert

Stage 10: Split to Zadar

• Winner: D. Hoole

Stage 11: Zadar to Rijeka

• Winner: R. Carapaz

Stage 12: Rijeka to Ljubljana

• Winner: O. Kooij

Stage 13: Ljubljana to Trieste

• Winner: M. Pedersen

Stage 14: Trieste to Venice

• Winner: K. Asgreen

Stage 15: Venice to Verona

• Winner: C. Verona

Stage 16: Verona to Trento

• Winner: C. Scaroni

Stage 17: Trento to Bolzano

• Winner: Del Toro

Stage 18: Bolzano to Bormio

• Winner: N. Denz

Stage 19: Bormio to Sestriere

• Winner: N. Prodhomme

Stage 20: Sestriere to Turin

• Winner: Chris Harper (Team Jayco–AlUla)

• GC Leader: Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

• Highlights: Yates launched a decisive attack on the Colle delle Finestre, overtaking Del Toro to seize the pink jersey. 

Stage 21: Rome (143 km)

• Winner: Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

• GC Leader: Simon Yates

• Highlights: The final stage was a ceremonial procession through Rome, culminating in a sprint finish won by Kooij. Yates safely completed the stage to secure his overall victory.