Final stage of Giro d'Italia to pay tribute to Pope Francis

29th April 2025

For the first time in its history, as announced before the Pope's passing on April 21, the Giro will ride through the Vatican on June 1.

The official route of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 (Tour of Italy) cycling race is seen on a giant screen during the official presentation in Rome on January 13, 2025. (AFP)
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ROME - The Giro d'Italia will pay tribute to the late Pope Francis during the final stage of this year's race, organisers said on Tuesday.

For the first time in its history, as announced before the Pope's passing on April 21, the Giro will ride through the Vatican on June 1.

"It will be a very special moment after Pope Francis' death, a death that affected us all," the president of Giro owners RCS Umberto Cairo told reporters.

The 108th edition of the Giro, one of cycling's main three-week races with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana, begins on May 9 in Albania.

"Pope Francis had this particular interest in sport, and it's a way, sadly now, of remembering him, of paying homage to him," secretary of the culture section of the Dicastery for Culture and Education Paul Tighe said.

"It's been a difficult negotiation, but it was the enthusiasm of the Pope for the project that opened doors.

"Otherwise, it would have been very easy to say, it's impossible, it can't be done," he added.

Giro champion Tadej Pogacar will not race this year's edition as he focuses on the Tour, starting on July 5 in Lille, France.

Cardinals from around the world will meet under Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis's death.

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