With the Spring Classics behind us, it is time for the first Grand Tour of the Season: the Giro d’Italia. Giro Sport Design will be at the front of the bunch with Visma | Lease a Bike as a top contender among 23 teams battling their way around the Mediterranean peninsula, chasing stage wins, the Points and King of the Mountains jerseys, and, of course, the overall Grand Classification victory. Ride along. Follow the race. Explore the gear.
The Race
Sprint and Breakaway Stages
Flat-to-rolling stages typically have two outcomes: either the group stays together and the teams lead out their fast men in a field sprint, or a small group breaks away and battles for the victory amongst themselves. Visma has top contenders for both scenarios and both will rely on the Eclipse Spherical as their helmet of choice for optimized aerodynamics that is still comfortable when racing 4 to 6 hours. Olav Koiij arrives as one of the favorite sprinters, with wins at Tour of Oman and Tirreno-Adriatico already this season plus a Giro victory in 2024. For the breakaways, Superstar Wout Van Aert will contest the Giro for the first time, but his Grand Tour stage credentials are undisputed, with three wins at the 2024 Vuelta a España and seven at past Tours de France.
Time Trial Stages
This year’s Giro features over 40km of critical time trials which will undoubtedly help decide the overall race. Visma takes the start ramp in the groundbreaking Aerohead II helmet, having played a key role in the development of this radical aerodynamic tool in the “race of truth.” Once again, Wout Van Aert is a potential favorite for the win, either in the shorter 13km Stage 2 time trial, or the longer Lucca - Pisa route on Stage 10. The Belgian has 9 individual time trial wins to his name, including two at the Tour de France - so he’s proven capable of beating the clock even during a Grand Tour.
Mountain Stages
While sprints and time trials provide their own excitement, for many fans, the Giro d’Italia is all about the mountains. From a steep cobblestone summit finish on Stage 7 Tagliacozzo, located in the heart of the Abruzzo region, to a trio of stages which include the legendary Montegrappa, Mortirolo, and Bormio climbs, to a final week in the Alps with over 9,000 metres 29,000 feet of climbing in two days, this edition of the Giro is definitely one for the climbers. Visma alpine aces Simon Yates, Steven Kruijswijk, and Wilco Kelderman, along with the rest of the team, will certainly rely on the Aries Spherical for mountain stages, when its amazing low weight and ventilation optimized for the relatively low speeds found on long climbs may give them the winning edge they need.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike for 2025 Giro d’Italia
Wout Van Aert
Nationality: Belgium
Key Results: 9x Tour de France stages, Amstel Gold, Milan San Remo, Strade Bianche
Target Stages: Stage 10 Lucca - Pisa ITT, Stage 13 Rovigo - Vicenza
Olav Koiij
Nationality: Netherlands
Key Results: Stage Wins at Giro d’italia 2024, Tour of Oman 2025, Tirenno-Adriatico 2025
Target Stages: Stage 4 Alberobello - Lecce, Stage 21 Roma - Roma
Simon Yates
Nationality: Great Britain
Key Results: 1st GC Vuelta a España 2018, 6x Giro d’Italia Stage Wins, 2x Tour de France Stage Wins
Target Stages: Stage 7 Castel di Sangro - Tagliacozzo, Stage 16 Piazzola sul Brenta - San Valentino
Steven Kruijswijk
Nationality: Netherlands
Key Results: 4th GC Giro d’Italia, 4th GC Vuelta a España, 5th GC Tour de France
Target Stages: Stage 15 Fiume Veneto - Asiago, Stage 20 Verrès - Sestrière
FAQ
Which Giro Sport Design helmets will Visma riders wear?
The pros on Visma will wear 3 key helmets. The Eclipse Spherical will be their choice for balanced aerodynamics and ventilation for flat and rolling stages, where a sprint or breakaway is likely. The Aerohead II, developed in direct cooperation with the team, will be used for Time Trials, where its radically optimized aerodynamic shape provide the best advantages for solo riders on specialized equipment. The Aries Spherical is Team Visma’s choice for mountain stages, where ultra-low weight and excellent ventilation are key advantages.
What is the Giro d’Italia?
The Giro d’Italia is one of the three “Grand Tours” of cycling, with the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana as the other two. Held in the spring, it is traditionally the first Grand Tour of the season and is commonly known as “The Most Beautiful Grand Tour” for its spectacular Italian scenery.
How long is the race?
The race is 3 weeks long, with 21 stages punctuated by 3 rest days. Racers will cover 3413km (2121 miles) with 52,500m (172,244 feet) of climbing.
What stages can Visma | Lease a Bike riders win?
Visma takes the Giro d’Italia start line with riders who can win on every kind of stage. With Olav Koiij for bunch sprints, Wout Van Aert for breakaways and time trials, and Simon Yates and Steven Kruijswijk climbing specialists who thrive in the high mountains, the team has many chances for victory.
