The 45th edition of the Gran Premio del Perdono Trofeo Makecasa, an international cycling race for Juniors has been officially presented. The race will take place on Monday, April 6, the day after Easter, organized by the Unione Ciclistica Sangiulianese in collaboration with the Municipality of Melegnano and the local Confcommercio. The race, the main sporting event of the Fiera del Perdono, will attract 180 athletes representing 30 teams among the strongest in the world competing for victory in this prestigious event over the 129 kilometers scheduled.

The presentation event, hosted in the council chamber of the Municipality of Melegnano, featured various sports and civil authorities, representatives of partner companies supporting the event, some athletes who will participate in the race, and many cycling enthusiasts.

SPEECHES

Vito Bellomo – Mayor of Melegnano "The Gran Premio del Perdono confirms itself as a cornerstone of the rich program of the Fiera del Perdono in Melegnano. I thank the Unione Ciclistica Sangiulianese for organizing this important international cycling event. Great thanks also go to all the volunteers who with extraordinary passion commit themselves to this large-scale event that crosses the territory of three provinces: Milan, Pavia, and Lodi, and involves many people. I like to remember that the athletes who participated in and animated the Gran Premio del Perdono in past years went on to achieve prestigious goals. Finally, I would like to sincerely thank all the partner companies that have decided to support the Gran Premio del Perdono: having commercial and productive activities that believe in this event and in the promotion that events like this can provide is extremely important. Best wishes for the Gran Premio del Perdono to everyone".

Antonio La Quatra - Owner of Makecasa, main sponsor of the event: "It is an honor to stand alongside the Gran Premio del Perdono, an international event aimed at young people and organized with heart and passion. As the Makecasa group, we strongly believe in events like this because they add value to young people and our territory. We also want to thank the Municipal Administration because by working synergistically we are able to carry forward a very important social project that goes beyond the sporting project. I congratulate all the people involved, confident that the Gran Premio del Perdono will give us great satisfaction".

Stefano Pedrinazzi – Regional President of Federciclismo Lombardia: "The Gran Premio del Perdono is not just a cycling competition, it is an event that has entered the culture and tradition of the city of Melegnano. You can clearly perceive the desire people have to experience this race. Congratulations to the organizers, the mayor, and the entire Municipal Administration. If we manage to organize this event, we must thank all the volunteers: we know very well what attention must be paid when organizing such important road races. All the people who commit themselves to this event deserve praise because they dedicate their time to young people and in particular to the Junior category, to the 180 young people who will come to Melegnano cultivating the dream of this important achievement that could be decisive for their future. Let's not forget that the Junior category is growing increasingly in importance. I am confident that the Gran Premio del Perdono will be at the highest level. It will be a pleasure to be there and applaud all the protagonists".

Pietro Foroni – Vice President Regional of Federciclismo Lombardia: "I also want to extend my great thanks to the organizers, particularly highlighting their great passion and also their great attention to managing all the bureaucratic aspects. The course is complex and in this Gran Premio del Perdono nothing has been left to chance. So congratulations also from me and thanks to those who promote and support the event".

Elia Viviani – Olympic and World Champion on the track, currently Team Manager of the Italian National Team. The champion from Verona wanted to send a video message that was broadcast on the big screen during the presentation. "To all participants of the Gran Premio del Perdono 2026, I wish you to have fun, spend a beautiful day on your bikes, and also do some good hard work, because races like this teach you lessons that will help you grow. But the most important thing is to have fun. I also congratulate the organizers and wish everyone the best of luck. Enjoy this day".

The presentation event also featured Luca Arrara, president of the Milan provincial committee of Federciclismo; Igor Giaron, president of the Varese provincial committee, and Fabio Perego, president of the Federal Technical Structure track sector. Among the athletes who will participate on Monday in the Gran Premio del Perdono are two young riders who grew up cycling in the Unione Ciclistica Sangiulianese: Luca Mazza and Samuel Minardi, who now race respectively for Energy Team and Romanese.

THE COURSE – Leaving the starting village in Piazza Risorgimento, participants will line up on Via Roma and after a short transfer section will reach kilometer 0 where the race will officially begin. The caravan and participants will then tackle a flat section towards the Colli Banini and the municipality of San Colombano al Lambro where organizers have planned a circuit characterized by the Belfuggito climb (recently tackled by Professionals in the second stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali) which athletes will climb four times before exiting the circuit, heading towards Graffignana and then continuing on the flat section that will bring them back to Melegnano. Back in the city, they will tackle a local circuit passing twice through the finish area before the grand finale that will crown the winner of the Gran Premio del Perdono 2026.

THE DISTINCTIVE JERSEYS – There are four jerseys that will be awarded to the winners of the various classifications

- The Makecasa Jersey (white and red) - to the overall winner

- The Confcommercio Jersey (green) - to the winner of the climbers' classification

- The Vantage Data Center Jersey (light blue) - to the winner of the intermediate sprints classification

- The Sitir Jersey (white) - to the winner of the young riders' classification

THE SPONSOR POOL – The event is supported by Makecasa, Confcommercio Melegnano, Vantage, Sitir, Cosmosol, BCC Lodi, Conad. The Gran Premio del Perdono also enjoys the High Patronage of the European Parliament, the Patronage of the Lombardy Region, and the patronage of the Milan Metropolitan City and the provinces of Lodi and Pavia.

THE PARTICIPATING TEAMS

1. Austria National Team

2. Team Zuid Nederland (Netherlands)

3. Academy U19 Region Sud (France)

4. WPG Amsterdam Junior U19 (Netherlands)

5. Pogi Team UAE Generali (Slovenia)

6. NSN Team Tiepolo U19 Devo (Austria)

7. MBK Bank Cycling Team (Hungary)

8. Velo Club La Pomme Marseille (France)

9. CC Etupes U19 (France)

10. Axion Future Team U19 (Switzerland)

11. Prologue Junior Racing Team (United Kingdom)

12. Rexonix Kovo Praha (Czech Republic)

13. Team Neo Solution (Germany)

14. Novo Mesto Cycling Academy (Slovenia)

15. PC Baix Ebre Tortosa (Spain)

16. AR Monex Pro Cycling (Mexico)

17. Pool Cantù GB Team

18. Casalese Armofer Casano Drali

19. Team Guerrini Senaghese

20. Bustese Olonia

21. Team Ecotek Zero24

22. Giovani Giussanesi

23. Romanese Cycling Team

24. Energy Team

25. Feralpi Monteclarense

26. Ciclistica Trevigliese

27. Borgo Molino Vigna Fiorita

28. Autozai Contri

29. Industrial Forniture Moro C&G

30. Team Nord Est Petrucci Assali

Photo P. Biggini