Giro d'Italia Giro d’Italia 2025: Post-Race Rating Poll

[ashhutch1997]

5. Perfect example of 2011 Tour disease, where a great finale causes people to forget two weeks of absolute nothing where two weeks in people were wondering when the actual racing would start. Recency bias is strong, remembering the otherwise pretty good 2019 Tour being downvoted because of a lame finale caused by the weather as well. But stages 16 and 20 were truly great.

True, but the difference between this and the 2011 Tour is that in this Giro the riders wanted to race in the first two weeks, but the awful route prevented it. In the 2011 Tour the riders had plenty of opportunities in the Pyrenees, but raced very negatively. In this years Giro the riders wanted to race aggressively, San Pellagrino in Alpe, Monte Grappa, Btec Mortirolo all saw action but the God awful stage design prevented any proper time gaps. It's also worth remembering that 2022/23 and 24 editions were trash, which made this year feel much better.
If this Giro had a better route, it could have been a really great edition.

 

[Andre]

153.933 Aufrufe · 1.269 Reaktionen | Giro 2025 summarized in 15 seconds 😎 #cyclingfans #cyclingaddict #giroditalia #simonyates #richardcarapaz #isaacdeltoro #woutvanaert #cyclingmemes #procycling #wielrennen | Cycling for Cycling

Giro 2025 summarized in 15 seconds 😎 #cyclingfans #cyclingaddict #giroditalia #simonyates #richardcarapaz #isaacdeltoro #woutvanaert #cyclingmemes #procycling #wielrennen.

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[Tonton]

I give this race a 8(maybe a little aggressive), best Giro in years and had fun racing throughout, overall one of the best conclusions I’ve enjoyed following cycling and Grand Tours.

First post... ...I can't agree with it more...

 

[Cookster15]

Perfect example of 2011 Tour disease, where a great finale causes people to forget two weeks of absolute nothing

You are right the first two weeks of 2011 were disappointing but to be fair the 'finale' in 2011 was spread over several stages: 16, 17,18 and 19. Unlike this Giro with Finestre, the 3rd week wasn't just the 'Andy' stage. Contador made that race by attacking on stages 16,17 and 19. Then there was the supporting cast: Frank, Cadel, Samu and Tommy V.

Polls here after the 2011 Tour suggested most were happy to forget the first two weeks after the heroics they witnessed that last week. I am quite sure those who answered those polls back then weren't suffering recency bias.

 

[dazaau]

You are right the first two weeks of 2011 were disappointing but to be fair the 'finale' in 2011 was spread over several stages: 16, 17,18 and 19. Unlike this Giro with Finestre, the 3rd week wasn't just the 'Andy' stage. Contador made that race by attacking on stages 16,17 and 19. Then there was the supporting cast: Frank, Cadel, Samu and Tommy V.

Polls here after the 2011 Tour suggested most were happy to forget the first two weeks after the heroics they witnessed that last week. I am quite sure those who answered those polls back then weren't suffering recency bias.

How can you just ignore stage 16? It was a ripper

 

[Libertine Seguros]

You are right the first two weeks of 2011 were disappointing but to be fair the 'finale' in 2011 was spread over several stages: 16, 17,18 and 19. Unlike this Giro with Finestre, the 3rd week wasn't just the 'Andy' stage. Contador made that race by attacking on stages 16,17 and 19. Then there was the supporting cast: Frank, Cadel, Samu and Tommy V.

Polls here after the 2011 Tour suggested most were happy to forget the first two weeks after the heroics they witnessed that last week. I am quite sure those who answered those polls back then weren't suffering recency bias.

Sure, there were more good stages in the 2011 Tour than the 2025 Giro, but all of those good stages were from stage 16 to 19, so its high rating at the time was due to the fondness and recency in the memory of those good stages. If you'd done a "rate the Tour" poll after stage 15 of the 2011 Tour, you'd have got a VERY different answer, because most of the GC mix were still separated by little more than their TTT time from stage 2 at that point. Contrast the 2019 Tour, which was by and large a good race throughout, but which petered out due to the weather annulling and shortening two of the key stages at the end, leading to an unsatisfactory conclusion and the race being marked down.

It is also worth noting, however, that the 2011 Tour was a horrendously backloaded route which was compounded by the riders being extremely passive in the Pyrenées and then horrible pacing placing the only remaining flat stage on the penultimate Sunday, but then after the second rest day the riders realised "hang on a second, we're about to lose the Tour de France to Thomas freaking Voeckler" and set about rectifying matters; the 2025 Giro has seen a péloton which has been willing to race, but where the parcours' flaws often restricted how much they were able to offer until quite late in the day, as shown on things like the Grappa stage.

 

[SafeBet]

I really don't understand someone being a 'cycling fan' and not fully enjoying this Giro. Continuously different scenario's in GC, UAE internal team dynamics, Lidl Trek riding like never before, Visma Carapaz and Ciccone being on their attacking mode constantly, Ineos attacking from afar in multiple stages, how can you not love it? Even the sprint stages were pretty exciting or at least way less dull than the Tour in many cases. Yes there were some disappointing stages (stage 19 was a nightmare) but in general there was entertainment there each day.

I wasn't a great fan of the 2019-2024 Giro editions which were all underwhelming but this was absolute class in every way. I'd give it an 8 or a 9.

Internet forums (and sometimes social media niches too) are bubbles. Made of mostly very competent people, but still bubbles.
I can tell you this Giro was very well received by the general public in Italy. Best TV ratings since 2016 (which was mostly due to Nibali anyway).
Of all the Giri I've followed more closely, so the post COVID era, this was very likely the one with the most fans on the roads. Starting towns were absolutely packed, in that regard we're at least back to pre COVID, which is a nice result considering there's no real national hero to cheer for.

As for me, this was an entertaining Giro despite the lacklustre route. First week was worse than expected apart from Siena, but I was quickly locked in after that stage and the second week provided a lot more entertainment than I had anticipated. From then on, no stage was a dud apart from Champoluc. Stage 16 is the one I'll remember most fondly for a number of reasons. I still get quite emotional when thinking about it.

It doesn't quite reach the peaks of 2015 and 2010, but it's up there with the best editions of the late 10s. So yeah an 8 for me, but even a 9 wouldn't be absurd.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I can tell you this Giro was very well received by the general public in Italy. Best TV ratings since 2016 (which was mostly due to Nibali anyway).
Of all the Giri I've followed more closely, so the post COVID era, this was very likely the one with the most fans on the roads. Starting towns were absolutely packed, in that regard we're at least back to pre COVID, which is a nice result considering there's no real national hero to cheer for.

But, but, what about all the Very Smart People who keep telling us that the Star Power of the aliens is what draws in the viewers?

 

[Netserk]

1. 2018
2. 2016
3. 2025
4. 2020
5. 2017
6. 2019
7. 2021
8. 2024
9. 2022
10. 2023

Revised.

 

[Red Rick]

1. 2018
2. 2025
3. 2016
4. 2020
5. 2019
6. 2017
7. 2021
8. 2024
9. 2022
10. 2023

Maybe?

2025 over 2016?

Straight off to gulag

 

[Netserk]

2025 over 2016?

Straight off to gulag

2016 was more uneven, but maybe I have the first half of that race worse than it actually was?

 

[Red Rick]

2016 was more uneven, but maybe I have the first half of that race worse than it actually was?

Roccaraso, Alpe di Poti, Sestola, were more GC action before they hit the mountains which was much earlier with stage 13. Then you had 5 mountain stages and an MTT all delivering above or on expectations and perhaps the only stage that was disappointing was perhaps Pinerolo.

 

[Netserk]

Roccaraso, Alpe di Poti, Sestola, were more GC action before they hit the mountains which was much earlier with stage 13. Then you had 5 mountain stages and an MTT all delivering above or on expectations and perhaps the only stage that was disappointing was perhaps Pinerolo.

Point taken. Friuli and the hilly ITT were bad though.

It hurts a bit to end up with the meme rating of 8/10.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It hurts a bit to end up with the meme rating of 8/10.

Put it below 2020, problem solved.

 

[ashhutch1997]

1. 2018
2. 2016
3. 2025
4. 2020
5. 2017
6. 2019
7. 2021
8. 2024
9. 2022
10. 2023

Revised.

I'd personally put 2017 above 2020, but other than that this is pretty spot on.

 

[Red Rick]

I'd personally put 2017 above 2020, but other than that this is pretty spot on.

And I would put both over 2025.

 

[YavorD]

If we reflect on what we expected before the race given the favourites and the route, I think it's fair to say the Giro was better than expected.

Certainly can't be up there with 2010/2015, but a solid 6.
For once I can't really blame the riders, they really took the most of this route and with the attacking mindset of Bernal, on a proper route this would've been a solid 8 or 9.
Grappa, for example, from it's tough side brings carnage to the group and certainly someone other than Roglic loses the Giro right there and then. San Pellegrino with Abetone finish would've been stage for the ages as well. However, it wasn't meant to be. To me, despite the race being better than expected, this is a missed opportunity to have an all timer.

 

[Potomac]

I had bigger hopes for the Red Bull bonus sprint. I thought it a good idea, and it did provide some action but not as much a I wished.

 

[Gigs_98]

I still haven't got around to writing a longer comment on my rating, but I'm so confused about the 2011 TdF and 2012 Giro conparisons. I guess the first 8 stages sucked, but they often do and this race was really exciting from stage 9 onwards. I guess you can dislike it for the action only being caused by crashes, but I don't think that makes those two comparisons make more sense to me.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I still haven't got around to writing a longer comment on my rating, but I'm so confused about the 2011 TdF and 2012 Giro conparisons. I guess the first 8 stages sucked, but they often do and this race was really exciting from stage 9 onwards. I guess you can dislike it for the action only being caused by crashes, but I don't think that makes those two comparisons make more sense to me.

How is any of that contradictory to a 2011 TdF comparison?

The race sucked for the first half, the only action was caused by crashes, and then because it had a spectacular ending, in the immediate aftermath of the race everybody forgot all about how most of the GC was still based on the TTT times from stage 2 plus or minus some crashes all the way until the final week and started rating it 11/10 giving ASO the impetus to start the fad for shortening all the mountain stages (despite the best stage being a 200km stage with three HC mountains) and putting a sprint stage on the penultimate weekend, which they did for most of the 2010s.

Likewise, I think this was a race which was mostly pretty sucky (in many cases despite the riders' best attempts, which is a key difference from 2011) for two weeks, then we had a good final week with two fantastic stages (16 and 20) that people have fresh in their memory when they judge the race, so they're not judging the race as a whole but instead their fresh memories of the crazy finale, and overvaluing the whole three week picture as a result.

This is a long way from being a bad Grand Tour like the 2012 Giro was, but then my problem with the 2011 Tour was never about it being a bad Grand Tour, it was about the horrible pacing and the terrible racing in the first two weeks ending up with people treating a very dull three week race that evolved into the greatest Dauphiné Libéré ever as a bastion and shining example of what a Grand Tour should be. I raised the 2012 Giro as a reductio ad absurdum example of why an exciting and surprising conclusion does not in and of itself make a great race.

 

[Gratemans]

that people have fresh in their memory when they judge the race, so they're not judging the race as a whole but instead their fresh memories of the crazy finale, and overvaluing the whole three week picture as a result.

Ok I kinda had it with that argument. So all those people that enjoyed the Giro just have a bad memory?
It might also be possible people thought the first two weeks were pretty entertaining. Sure there was no real GC action, but it's not all about the GC. I thought a lot of stages were fun to watch.
If you weren't entertained that's a perfectly valid opinion, but it's kind of disrespectful to dismiss everybody that did enjoy themselves as just having a bad memory.

 

[Red Rick]

I raised the 2012 Giro as a reductio ad absurdum example of why an exciting and surprising conclusion does not in and of itself make a great race.

Giro 2023 would be fresher in everyone's mind. That's pretty much the worst Giro to ever Giro by everyone's consensus it seems.

 

[Sciatic]

I gave the race itself a 5, and the forum banter for this Giro an 8.5

 

[red_flanders]

Wonderful edition, great attacking rides, suspense to the end. Lots of drama. Fantastic. Loved the sterrato stage and the last week. Even the sprint stages were fun.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Giro 2023 would be fresher in everyone's mind. That's pretty much the worst Giro to ever Giro by everyone's consensus it seems.

2022 was hardly any better. 2012 is perhaps viewed worse because it came off the back of a goated 2010 and then 2011, which is a good template to look at for a GT that had a dominant winner (and obviously by that I'm meaning Contador rather than Scarponi) but was nevertheless somewhat well-received, but I honestly think 2012 is a worse race than 2023. 2023 at least featured a moderately satisfying conclusion, while 2012 got the meme champion it deserved.