Opinions split over atypical Naples finale - 'They are looking for trouble'

Naples has become a familiar destination for the Giro in recent years. This will be the fifth consecutive edition in which the city hosts a stage finish, although the road into the finale has changed from year to year. Thomas De Gendt won from the breakaway in 2022, before the next three visits ended in sprint victories for Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The route into the city is often tense by nature, yet this year’s finish adds another layer of difficulty. Inside the final 700 metres, the peloton turns left onto a slightly rising section of small cobbles. A tight U turn then leads into the final 350 metres, where the riders will sprint across larger stone slabs towards the finish on a city square.

For the sprinters, it is not necessarily bad news, although the atypical finale may open the door for riders who would normally have fewer chances in a straightforward bunch sprint.

Marcel Kittel, sprint coach at Unibet Rose Rockets, sees the challenge clearly. “It is a special finale. How often do you have a sprint where there is such a sharp corner with only 350 metres to go?” he said to In de Leiderstrui.

The road also rises slightly, with gradients between three and six percent. That means the final positioning battle will be crucial. “You have to accelerate well out of that corner, on the cobbles. The last 50 metres are on bigger stones, so it will be hard to build up much more speed there.”

Still, Kittel believes his team can use the finale to its advantage. “Our goal has always been to build a sprint train that can still deliver a strong lead out in finals like this. That is our focus. We have to be ready. This finish cannot be an excuse.”

Soudal Quick-Step also has reason to feel confident. Paul Magnier has already won twice in this Giro, and another selective sprint could suit him. 

Team director Davide Bramati kept his assessment simple speaking to In de Leiderstrui. “There are cobbles and it goes a little uphill, so it is different from last year. I actually think it is a nice finale. Staying safe will be important, and after that the legs will decide.”

The mood is different among the general classification teams. 

Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Marc Reef was surprised by the chosen finale. “They are looking for trouble,” he said to In de Leiderstrui.

According to Reef, the organisers could have kept things simpler. “We have finished here before, and normally it went straight on. That was always a very nice finish for the sprinters. Now we first get small cobbles, and then we finish on large stone slabs.”

Reef also pointed to an earlier stage in the race, where the peloton moved from a long straight road onto a more awkward surface near the finish. “For me, they do not always need to look for this. They would still have had a great sprint otherwise.”

He understands why the organisers may have chosen the square as the finish location, but he is not convinced the sporting risk is worth it. “I think they want beautiful images of the finish on that square. For me, that is not necessary. We just have to get through Thursday safely, without taking risks. Then we will look ahead.”