The “Giro d’Italia,” one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, has chosen Albania from a pool of candidates to host the “La Grande Partenza 2025” – the Grand Start of the 2025 race, which will be broadcast live across more than 200 television channels globally.
This iconic race, with a rich 114-year history, will bring the world’s top cyclists to Tirana, Durrës, and Vlorë in May, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Rama welcomed the organizers of the Giro d’Italia at the Prime Minister’s Office, where a joint press conference was held. They shared details of the race itinerary and described the stages to be held in Albania.
Speaking about the event, Prime Minister Rama said, “The Giro d’Italia is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our country’s ‘business card’ for three days, broadcast live through the Giro’s highly specialized production, reaching 200 countries and introducing Albania to over 800 million viewers.”
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Prime Minister Edi Rama:
Good afternoon! It’s a great honor to welcome our friends, the representatives of RCS, as well as the journalists who have traveled from Italy, to this significant moment in the world of sports that we are privileged to share with all of you. I must start by saying that it is with great pleasure that I announce, with much satisfaction, that we have received confirmation from RCS Sport that Albania has been chosen to host the Grand Start of the 2025 Giro d’Italia.
I know there are many candidates, and it’s a matter of pointing and choosing, as there are many countries competing to host the start of this race, a tradition that has existed for 15 years. I am even happier that we have succeeded, surpassing many others who are larger and, of course, wealthier.
This is also an exceptional opportunity to showcase our beautiful country to 800 million viewers, and if I’m not mistaken, on 200 television stations around the world that will broadcast the Giro d’Italia live.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to a great champion who is with us today, Vincenzo Nibali, and I want to say that I am the most suitable Albanian to present this great event because the only vehicle I truly know how to handle is a bicycle, and this is no joke. I don’t know how to drive a car, I don’t know how to fly a helicopter, I don’t know how to pilot a plane, I only know how to ride a bicycle.
In fact, I am truly delighted that for three days, in Tirana, Durrës, and Vlorë, we will host so many champions who will be our guests, and who will be talked about all over the world, along with Albania, which has seen extraordinary growth in recent years and, finally, has made a giant leap into the “Champions League” of tourism. I want us to remain in that league. We know well that this league is incredibly competitive, as we are competing with countries that have been open for centuries, while we’ve only been open for a little over 30 years.
I’ve always said that Albania is a small Italy, but now, with this Grand Start, we are truly an Italy on the other side of the sea, hosting an event that is not just a sports event but a great popular celebration where everyone gets involved. For us, this is the first time, and I hope not the last, though I won’t ask to host the Grand Start of 2026 just yet. That’s enough for now, but rest assured, we will make it clear.
Finally, I want to extend a special thank you to the president of RCS Sport, my dear friend Urbano Cairo, who unfortunately could not join us today. I hope his absence is not related to a crisis in Torino, because I am a Juventus fan. I am a die-hard Mourinho fan. Whenever José Mourinho is in Italy, I support him, but when he’s not, I am black and white.
Thank you very much, President! Thank you to all of you for being here today!
A special thank you to Paolo, of course, who has been a great advocate for Albania, and I am sure of that. He has been an advocate for Albania and for the International Cycling Union, where he works with a Frenchman, and with the French, it’s a bit more difficult because, let’s say, they have a very particular taste, especially since they produce thousands of cheeses.
Once again, thank you to Vincenzo, truly an honor, and to all those who don’t follow cycling closely, I just want to tell you that it’s like having Cristiano Ronaldo here, but on a bicycle, not on foot. A much faster Cristiano Ronaldo. Thank you!
Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sport:
I apologize, as I don’t know your language well, but I’ll try to prepare myself for the Grand Start by saying a few words in your beautiful language.
In the meantime, I really wanted to thank Prime Minister Rama because, in fact, we had many countries interested in hosting the Grand Start in 2025, and it wasn’t just your country, not just the organization and enthusiasm, but I must tell you that it was truly the enthusiasm and determination of Prime Minister Rama that convinced us. He really brought us into a decision-making process that we simply could not say no to.
We are confident, and I believe we have made a very good choice. Your country is continuously growing, and you will see from the footage we’ve already begun shooting that it will be a major visual experience for the world. Cycling is the perfect sport for showcasing not only the cycling route but also the host country. It tells the entire story of Albania, and we will capture some breathtaking views.
This is my fifth time here, and it’s the first time it’s raining, so in Italy, rain on a wedding day is considered a good omen—a “wet bride” means good luck. So, I take this as a good sign, a lucky start, and I look forward to what awaits us in May. We’ll be here on May 9 and 11. On January 13, we’ll reveal the full Giro d’Italia route. We’ll stay in Albania for a week. We have three stages, but the entire cycling caravan will be here for seven days because we’re moving 3,000 people, so we’ll have a lot of people and many opportunities.
What do we hope for? Two things: sunshine and the joy of the Albanian people, because I hope they’ll come out into the streets and show their support, because this is the Giro d’Italia.
It’s an amazing spectacle—three stages—and the organizers, together with the Ministry of Education and Sports, have designed these three stages, which are not only beautiful but also very distinctive from a tourist perspective. And I believe here in Albania, you will realize that you have a great opportunity because, after the Giro d’Italia, you will experience a significant increase in tourism, which is truly important, and also the chance to develop various professions. Cycling tourism will grow, and you could have guides who bring cycling tours.
It’s not just about the sea; the interior is equally beautiful, and there are many wonderful places to visit.
So, there will be substantial growth for the future, but initially, it will be a huge celebration for everyone. I guarantee you that you will not regret this decision.
I thank you all. I thank Prime Minister Rama, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and all the ministries that have helped us because we’ve worked very hard. They’ve been incredibly thoughtful and careful with everything they’ve done. At the beginning, I would like to give a round of applause to everyone who has come here and for the Giro d’Italia.
Prime Minister Edi Rama:
I’d like to point out that Albania has a small issue, or rather, a misconception. Many people think it’s not a place worth visiting, but those who do visit always want to return.
Now, regarding what Paolo said: First, thank you for giving me some of the credit for convincing you, but you should also mention that I told you, “Listen, it’s better to do this the right way than the wrong way,” because we Albanians are incredibly persistent.
The other part, which I believe President Cairo will appreciate, is that in Albania, we say that when it rains, it brings blessings. The word “grain” or “blessings” in Italy has a double meaning, since bread is never in short supply at RCS. The second meaning, which I believe interests President Cairo, is that Albania will bring both grain—a blessing—but also money, which will naturally bring profits to the federation.
I’m truly delighted with this recognition, a recognition of this wonderful moment for our country, and I assure you that whether by grace, kindness, or persistence, all three stages will have sunshine.
Q&A
Mr. Rama, the Giro d’Italia starting in Albania is certainly a significant achievement for the country, not only in terms of sports but also for its image. How difficult was it to secure this agreement?
As I mentioned in my earlier presentation while we were pursuing the “Grande Partenza” in their country, there were many nations vying for this opportunity. The Giro d’Italia is a race that can only be compared to Formula 1 when it comes to its extraordinary visibility. In fact, it offers even more than Formula 1, as it provides a global stage to showcase the country’s landscapes, natural beauty, and the irresistible charm of its terrain.
Naturally, the discussions with the General Manager of RCS weren’t easy, particularly because other countries had submitted their bids sooner. It took us some time to be able to back up our request, not just with our love for Italy and our historical proximity, but also with solid facts regarding our infrastructure, logistics, and our organizational capacity.
The enthusiasm and support from President Urbano Cairo, Paolo, and the technical team were essential for backing Albania’s candidacy. I have no illusions—without that support, even if they had said, “I’m on board, let’s see what the technicians think,” the technicians would have come and said, “You’re not ready yet.”
This is a confirmation that Albania now has modern infrastructure that, after much hard work over the years, meets all the requirements the Giro d’Italia needs in terms of terrain, altitude, and more, all while preserving the quality of the race.
As part of this, the Llogara Pass will also be featured, which, due to the tunnel, is now less frequented but offers some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of Albania’s coastline. To conclude, I must mention that I first heard about the “pink jersey” on the radio in the 1970s, during the fierce rivalry between Eddy Merckx and Felice Gimondi. The fact that one of them shared my name, “Edi,” inspired me to get on a bike and gave me the courage to ride. After all, the only thing I know how to steer is the wheel of government!
Regarding the 800 million viewers who will see the images of your country, what exactly would you like to showcase to these 800 million people?
Prime Minister Edi Rama:
To truly showcase a country, you need to experience it firsthand. Otherwise, advertising from the outside would cost more than bringing Cristiano Ronaldo to Albania. So, having three days of continuous live television coverage to highlight the country is a unique opportunity. Maybe Flavio Briatore, another close friend, might be a bit annoyed or teased when I say that the Giro is better than Formula 1, but Formula 1, which we hope to bring to Albania by 2030, will only showcase the country to a certain extent. With these stages, however, so much more is being shown. The choice to feature Albania is fantastic because it offers views of the country by the sea, in the interior, and in the mountains – it’s truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
We are extremely happy about this. Beyond this event, and everything that connects us with Italy, it’s always significant for us because you may not speak Albanian, but you are like us – Albanians dressed in Versace. We are Italians who speak Albanian.
Prime Minister, I would like to ask about tourism in Albania. I’m not familiar with the exact numbers of how many have visited, but what is the current trend? I imagine that Giro d’Italia could be a wonderful showcase in this regard. I’d like to understand what role Italian tourism plays in your country, especially considering the strong ties between our two nations and the well-integrated Albanian community in Italy. Thank you!
Prime Minister Edi Rama: First of all, I want to remind you that Albania has, for the first time since World War II, hosted a prime minister for several days. After that, many others came, but they left. Giorgia is now one of nearly 1 million Italians who have visited Albania just this year, and the number is constantly growing. I hope they won’t blame you for bringing tourists to Albania, while lacking them in Italy. But whatever we receive from Italy, we always give back in return. The number of Albanians traveling to Italy—both those who live there and others—is higher than the number of Italians coming to Albania, even though Italy is much larger in terms of population.
We’re in a very positive period right now. By November, the Tirana airport had reached 10 million passengers, which is much higher than Belgrade’s airport, historically the most important regional airport in the Balkans. We’ve now surpassed it, and we’re the fastest-growing airport in Europe compared to 2019, the benchmark year for the International Airport Council’s growth calculations.This year, we’ve seen a 230% increase. The second-ranked airport has far less growth, and others follow. But we want even more. At the same time, there is a great movement of investment to increase our offerings, not just quantitatively but also qualitatively. I won’t name names, but more and more Italians, particularly those with influence, are asking when they can buy a house by the sea or in the mountains in Albania. Just 10 years ago, this would have been unthinkable.
We are on the right track to becoming a “small Italy” in the Balkans. We don’t want to be Germany, even though some people may offer us that. We’re happy to be a small Italy with all its genius and imperfections, which is just fine. Because if we became as disciplined as they are, it would be too boring and monotonous
