Stage 2 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia brought a dramatic individual time trial in Tirana, where 21-year-old Joshua Tarling produced the ride of his life to win by just one second over Primož Roglič. The short but testing 13.7km route through the Albanian capital featured a mid-course climb and technical descents, with changing wind conditions adding further complexity. While Tarling took the stage honours, Roglič claimed the maglia rosa after another strong Grand Tour opener.
The day began with Ethan Hayter setting an early benchmark of 16:21, becoming the first rider to average over 50km/h. His time stood until Jan Tratnik and then Edoardo Affini edged ahead. Jay Vine then raised the bar again with 16:10, showing strength on the climb to Sauk before pushing hard through the technical descent.
Tarling, off mid-afternoon, lost three seconds to Vine at the intermediate check but clawed them back – and more – on the final section. His time of 16:07 proved the new standard, but it was far from a done deal.
One of the most dangerous threats came from Mathias Vacek, who matched Tarling at the climb but conceded 11 seconds in the second half to slip out of contention. Then came Roglič. The 2023 Giro winner matched Vacek’s fastest intermediate split and looked on course to snatch the stage, but couldn’t match Tarling’s closing speed. He crossed the line in 16:08 – one second down.
Pedersen, wearing pink after his stage 1 sprint win, also started well and was level with Roglič at the split, but faded slightly late on and relinquished the jersey by a single second.
Others fell further. Juan Ayuso lost 16 seconds, Antonio Tiberi 25, Adam Yates 37 and Egan Bernal 49. Wout van Aert had an off day, finishing 34 seconds back in 39th and dropping out of the top ten.
Photo Credit: LaPresse“It was a long day for 13km”
Tarling’s time trial win was a historic one – his first Grand Tour stage victory and one that made him the youngest ever Giro TT winner. But the wait in the hot seat left a mark. “It was stressful. There were so many big names still to come. Primož really scared me,” he said. “The climb was hard, but I made sure to really hurt on the flat. I didn’t want to lose it there.”
Tarling added that after missing out on key wins in 2024, including fourth places at the Olympics and Worlds, the victory felt like a return to form. “I’ve stepped everything up. The team has too. I feel like myself again,” he said.
Though joking that “maybe I’m just taller” than Roglič, he also pointed to the final part of the course where his extra power on the flat likely made the difference.
Roglič content with pink, but cautious
While denied the stage win, Roglič was upbeat about taking the maglia rosa. “It’s a beautiful surprise,” he said. “You never know how fast the others will go. It was so close, but I’m happy to be in the jersey again.”
Roglič acknowledged that the course didn’t fully suit him. “It wasn’t ideal – it wasn’t a time trial I really liked. But we’ve worked a lot on the TT bike this year and I’m happy with where I am.”
As for the overall picture, he insisted nothing changes too much: “It doesn’t affect our plans. It’s nice to have it now, but the goal is still Rome.”
Photo Credit: GettyPedersen and Van Aert reflect
Mads Pedersen, who lost pink by just one second, suggested Sunday’s hilly stage might give him another shot. “For tomorrow, it looks good for us again. If there’s a chance to take it back, we’ll try.”
Van Aert was less optimistic. “It just wasn’t there,” he admitted. “I lacked the power out of the corners. I could feel it early, and I knew it wouldn’t be enough.”
Pidcock philosophical after solid ride
Tom Pidcock finished 43 seconds down, dropping from fifth to 19th overall, but remained positive. “I suffered like a dog, but I enjoyed it,” he said. “I’m not here for GC. I’ll keep racing full gas and having fun.”
He also noted the slick road conditions, calling the tarmac “really slippery – like it was raining.”
2025 Giro d’Italia Stage 2 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
