News and surprises, confirmations and respected predictions. Breathless until the last moment. Emotions were not lacking even in the second stage of the 2025 Giro d'Italia: the 13.7 km individual time trial - with start and finish in Tirana - was a matter between Joshua Tarling and Primož Roglič, with the two sharing the entire stakes. The victory goes to the British Ineos rider, the pink jersey to the Slovenian, all wrapped up in just one second: Mads Pedersen fought until the finish line, surrendering only to time, sometimes a tyrant, sometimes a gentleman.

THE RACE - It was a stage with many turnarounds and several certainties. The first to set one of the best times was Edoardo Affini, the Visma chronoman gave a sort of reference to the general classification riders: shortly after, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), despite yesterday's crash, managed to anticipate the Italian by 3". But Tarling himself disrupted the plans, the number one favorite for the final victory: excellent approach, Filippo Ganna's teammate then held on the day's climb, where the only time reference was placed. For him, also a record: he is the youngest winner of a time trial in the century-long history of the Giro d'Italia.

Roglič then reversed the route again, the Slovenian launched a virtual head-to-head but failed to win by just one second. Then Pedersen's prompt response, starting last and still able to compete with the new leader of the Pink Race. A performance not sufficient to remain in the lead, but already tomorrow the Lidl sprinter could reclaim what was left at the Tirana finish line.

STANDINGS - The 35-year-old from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe gave a well-placed blow to the general classification, managing to outsmart all throne aspirants: Ayuso was sent back 16", Antonio Tiberi 25". Distances not impossible to bridge, but the plan is the same and seems quite evident: conquer as many seconds as possible in stages like this and ration energies throughout the three weeks.

Some indications of what might happen also came from the words at the end of the stage: "Everyone wanted this pink jersey, I'm very happy. Tomorrow? We'll see, for us it's important to have it in Rome on the last day. It will be a difficult stage". The Valona stage (160 km) will close the great start in Albania, then space for the transfer to Italy: on Tuesday, we'll restart with new gaps and the unique awareness that to win the Giro, you'll need to outsmart that old fox Primož.

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FINISH ORDER

1. Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) in 16'07"

2. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) +01"

3. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +03"

4. Edoardo Affini (Visma | Lease a Bike) +06"

5. Mathias Vacek (Lidl Trek) +06"

6. Daan Hoole (Lidl Trek) +08"

7. Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek) +12"

8. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +13"

9. Ethan Hayter (Soudal-QuickStep) +14"

10. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +17"