This year’s edition of the Gran Piemonte offers a final chance for sprinters to shine in Italy or presents a golden opportunity for attackers. The Italian semi-classic often features varied routes, and for the 108th edition on October 10th, riders will tackle a 182 km course from Valdengo to Borgomanero. The latter part of the course will challenge the peloton and could lead to multiple race scenarios.
While the first part of the course is largely flat, the final 70 km become more demanding, with the climb of the Passo della Colma (8.6 km at an average gradient of 5.5%) and a technical descent that could spark attacks. Two other short ascents, the Cremosina and the Traversagna, will mark the final difficulties before a 25 km flat stretch. The race concludes with a single lap of an 11 km circuit, featuring a false flat and a slightly uphill final kilometer.
Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Roman Kreuziger shared the team’s strategy: ”I believe this course suits our roster perfectly. We’ve selected riders who are not only fast but also capable of enduring the climbing challenges. Matevz Govekar will be our key rider for the final. He’s in excellent shape and highly motivated, which can be a decisive factor at this stage of the season. He will be supported by a champion like Matej Mohorič, who will take on the role of road captain and help with the final lead-out.”
Mohorič, who finished 2nd at Gran Piemonte in 2022, will be pivotal again, alongside Edoardo Zambanini, who also performed strongly in the same edition, securing 4th place. Fresh off an impressive showing at the CRO Race, Zambanini will serve as the team’s joker.
“As we reconned the tricky parts of the course this morning, it became clear that it suits Zambanini well. He’s ready to follow the key moves during the climbs,” Kreuziger added. “We also have great supporters in Nikias Arndt, Andrea Pasqualon, and Fred Wright, who had a fantastic race in Croatia, finishing on the podium of the final stage. They’re all prepared to join a breakaway if the opportunity arises.”
The lineup is rounded out by Damiano Caruso, who is feeling better after missing Tre Valli Varesine due to a stomach bug. “It will be a great warm-up ahead of Il Lombardia,” said Kreuziger.
Additionally, Sonny Colbrelli, who won Gran Piemonte for TBV in 2018, will be in the team car alongside Kreuziger. “I mentioned that motivation is key, and with Sonny encouraging our guys, they’ll be even more driven to aim for the podium,” Kreuziger concluded.