The Italian autumn block of races kicks off on Saturday, October 4th, with the Giro dell’Emilia, a one-day race renowned for its demanding and iconic San Luca circuit, where the world’s strongest riders have thrilled fans with memorable attacks across more than a hundred editions.

The last to shine was Tadej Pogačar, who claimed victory in a rain-soaked edition, the first to win in the rainbow jersey. His name joined a prestigious roll of honour that in recent years also saw a hat-trick for Primož Roglič. Bahrain Victorious have also tasted success here, thanks to Giovanni Visconti’s win in 2017 ahead of teammate Vincenzo Nibali, in the team’s debut season.

After returning to the Giro dell’Emilia last season following a four-year absence, Bahrain Victorious are looking forward to lining up again at the start for this 108th edition with a strong selection, as Sports Director Roman Kreuziger explains:

“We have a really nice lineup, with three cards to play: Afonso Eulálio, Lenny Martinez and Antonio Tiberi.

Regarding Eulálio, I’d say he’s the big surprise of this autumn. Not only for his outstanding performance at the World Championships in Rwanda, where he showed his potential with a top-ten finish among the world’s best, but also with the progression he displayed starting from Plouay, then in Great Britain, and Canada where he showed excellent condition.

Lenny is returning after a long break without racing, so it’s difficult to predict, but his numbers show he’s in good shape physically and fresh mentally. He likes Italian races and this one suits him particularly well.

Antonio came out of La Vuelta in good form and is very motivated for this last part of the season. This race may not suit him perfectly, but it’s important he stays focused as we prepare for our big goal next week: Il Lombardia, where I’m sure he’ll perform well.

So, we have three strong riders, and on paper Eulálio looks our best card for this type of race, but of course, much depends on how the race develops in the finale.”

Alongside them, the team will count on Pello Bilbao as road captain. “Pello is coming back from injury, so we don’t expect him in the finale, but he’ll play a key role in the early part of the race and in guiding the team,” continues Kreuziger. “He might also join some early moves, as could Torstein Træen, who is back on the road after La Vuelta. and some issues he had but he seems on track again. Nicolò Buratti and Robert Stannard will provide support in the first part of the race, protecting the leaders and positioning them well before the smaller roads at km 143 and the first approach to San Luca.”

If the San Luca circuit and its finish at the Sanctuary of “Madonna di San Luca” on the Colle della Guardia overlooking Bologna are a permanent feature of the race, the start town changes often, though the race’s characteristics remain the same: a flat opening before a hilly route through the Apennines, then onto the 39 km circuit (four laps of 9.2 km, preceded by the first ascent to San Luca).

This year the peloton faces a 199 km course starting in Mirandola (province of Modena). The first 68 km are completely flat before the terrain turns hillier, with four climbs on the menu — San Lorenzo in Collina (max 12%), Mongardino (max 10%), Minzuno (max 12%), and Monte Calvo (max 10%). Though not particularly long or difficult, they are challenging preludes to the decisive final circuit.

After 160 km, the peloton will pass under the Arco del Meloncello, marking the start of the first of five ascents of San Luca, climbing alongside the famous “Portico di San Luca,” the world’s longest portico (almost 4 km), featured in major races such as the Giro d’Italia time trial in 2019 and the Tour de France in 2024. The 2 km climb averages 10.5% with ramps up to 18% at the “curva delle Orfanelle,” and has always proved decisive.

“Of course, San Luca is the core of the race, where we expect very aggressive racing,” Kreuziger concludes. “But before that there are key technical points where we must stay attentive — like the descent at km 109, which often causes splits, or positioning well at km 143. And we must be at the front entering the San Luca circuit at km 160.

Giro dell’Emilia is the first of our five Italian races, with largely the same group heading to Tre Valli and Il Lombardia. So beyond the result, it’s really important for us to race smart and keep building momentum for the last Monument of the season.”