Road cycling is ready to turn the spotlight back on in Italy with the 62nd edition of the Trofeo Laigueglia, scheduled for March 5th, 2025. As tradition dictates, the Ligurian classic marks the opening of the Italian calendar and promises once again to be full of spectacle. After last year's success by Lenny Martinez, this year's lineup will also be top-tier, with riders ready to challenge each other on the Ligurian roads.

Among the registered riders for the race organized by the Municipality of Laigueglia with technical direction by the Emilia Sports Group, Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) stands out, a former world road champion and winner of monument classics like Milano-Sanremo and Amstel Gold Race. Attention is also on Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates), a young rising star of Spanish cycling, already on the podium at the Vuelta a España, and his compatriot and teammate, Pablo Torres Arias.

Italy is banking strongly on Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team), already winner of the Tour of Flanders, and on a group of experienced and talented riders like Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Team), multiple Giro d'Italia stage winner, and Lorenzo Rota (Intermarchè-Wanty), accustomed to shining in one-day races. Spotlight also on Filippo Baroncini (UAE Team Emirates), former U23 world champion, Samuele Battistella (Jayco AlUla), already a Vuelta stage winner, and Simone Velasco (XDS Astana Team), Italian champion in 2023 and winner in Laigueglia in 2019.

Among the most anticipated protagonists are also Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates), winner of the Passo Fedaia stage at the 2022 Giro d'Italia and Davide De Pretto (Jayco AlUla); also keep an eye on Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Olympic gold medalist on track at Paris 2024.

There will also be outsiders ready to surprise, such as Americans Sean Quinn and Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) and Dutch rider Koen Bouwman (Jayco AlUla), already winner of the GPM classification at the Giro d'Italia.

THE ROUTE

The Trofeo Laigueglia route reprises the scheme of recent editions. After an initial hilly section and two Mountain Grand Prix - Cima Paravenna and Testico - the race will come alive with the final circuit, to be repeated four times. The Colla Micheri climb (2 km at 8.4% with peaks at 14%), interspersed with the Capo Mele climb, will be the focal point of selection. The final 40 km, without respite, promise excitement and battle among the protagonists.

The finish is expected in Via Roma in Laigueglia, with a final straight that will allow an exciting epilogue after a selective race.

TEAMS AND MAIN REGISTERED RIDERS*

Arkéa-B&B Hotels – Elie Gesbert, Simon Guglielmi
XDS Astana Team – Alberto Bettiol, Simone Velasco, Diego Ulissi
INEOS Grenadiers – Michal Kwiatkowski, Magnus Sheffield, Axel Laurance
UAE Team Emirates – Juan Ayuso, Alessandro Covi, Pablo Torres, Jan Christen
Team Jayco AlUla – Davide De Pretto, Koen Bouwman
Intermarchè-Wanty – Lorenzo Rota, Simone Petilli, Louis Barré
Cofidis – Jesus Herrada, Benjamin Thomas, Valentin Ferron
EF Education-EasyPost – Sean Quinn, Darren Rafferty

TotalEnergies – Mathieu Burgaudeau
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team – Gianluca Brambilla, Harm Vanhoucke
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA – Fernando Barceló, Eduard Prades
Tudor Pro Cycling Team – Michael Storer, Roland Thalmann
VF Group Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè – Luca Covili, Martin Marcellusi
Team Polti-VisitMalta – Davide Bais, Alessandro Tonelli
Unibet-Tietema Rockets – Adam Ťoupalík
Wagner Bazin WB – Davide Persico, Marco Tizza
Solution Tech Vini Fantini – Valerio Conti, Kristian Sbaragli, Alexandre Balmer

Biesse-Carrera-Premac – Etienne Grimod
General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia – Giovanni Bortoluzzi
MG.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente – Andrea Cantoni, Ben Granger
JCL Team Ukyo – Marino Kobayashi, Nicolò Garibbo
Petrolike – Jonathan Caicedo, Andrii Ponomar
MBH Bank Ballan CSB – Matteo Ambrosini
Sam - Vitalcare - Dynatek – Stefano Baffi, Christian Danilo Pase
SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank – Matteo Zurlo

*team composition may vary until the eve of the race