3 years after Martin Marcellusi's success, the Piva Trophy smiles again on a VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizan rider. Filippo Turconi conquers the 76th edition of the classic at Col San Martino in a very similar way to his teammate in 2022, remaining alone on the final, extremely tough San Vigilio Wall (580 meters at 13%).

The race proved less selective than expected, partly due to a forced 45-minute pause caused by a massive crash that engaged all ambulances on the course. After just over 55 km, a distraction in the front of the group sent about thirty athletes to the ground, with at least a dozen requiring medical intervention, fortunately without too serious injuries according to initial reports. Consequently, the race was shortened to 162.1 km, eliminating a lap of the Combai circuit.

After emotionally remembering Simone Moro, who passed away last August (he started the 2018 Piva with number 1), the race was largely animated by a breakaway of 8 riders, with an unleashed Riccardo Lorello (Team Hopplà), who remained alone for several kilometers, and then Luca Laguardia (Aran Cucine Vejus), José Maria Alcocer Castillo (A.R. Monex), Jakob Sertic (KTM Graz), Noah Hollamby (Martigues Payden&Rygel), Daniil Kazakov (PC Baix Ebre Tortosa), Domen Oblak (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana) and Gianluigi Scibilia (Team Bike Sicilia).

All escapees were caught about 40 km from the finish, immediately after the first passage at the top of the San Vigilio Wall. With the group still strong of about 50 riders, the decisive move was born just before the start of the last (of 8) climbs to Combai, about 15 km from the finish, when Lorenzo Masciarelli (MBH Bank Ballan Csb), Kevin Biehl (General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia), Duarte Marivoet (UAE Team Emirates GenZ) and Filippo Turconi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizan) escaped. The 4 managed to gain up to 40" on the main group, approaching the final San Vigilio Wall near the finish with still 30 seconds ahead.

On the San Vigilio, Marivoet and Turconi made the difference, but it was the Varese rider from the Reverberi team who further changed pace and gained just enough to arrive at the Col San Martino finish on Via Treviset solo, arms raised. Behind, Marivoet took second place while the group, having caught Masciarelli and Biehl, contested the 3rd place, with Cesar Macias (Petrolike) leading a group of about 15 riders.

STATEMENTS

For Turconi, this is his first U23 victory, although he had already been seen competing among professionals, including this year's Milano-Sanremo, where he rode a breakaway of over 200 km. "These races have nothing to envy from professional ones" - said the 2025 Piva Trophy winner -. "Today I felt good and this gave me morale, I followed attacks on the Combai and then climbed the San Vigilio at my own pace, without forcing. It had been a year and a half since my last win, it was beautiful. Obviously when you're with professionals you race with a different mentality, you must know how to adapt to different contexts. The Milano-Sanremo breakaway certainly helped me, it was training I could never have done alone".

Same age as Duarte Marivoet, a Belgian born in 2005, winner of a stage at the Tour du Rwanda among professionals and 2nd at Col San Martino. "Turconi was stronger, I didn't have the best legs and had to play it smart" - admitted the UAE Team Emirates GenZ gem -. "I had already raced the Piva last year, I knew I had to save energy for the finale and not get carried away by the desire to attack. The move I made was the right one, then I finished 2nd but today I couldn't do more, I was beaten by a strong rider. I really liked the course, long and hard, although the San Vigilio climb is a bit less suited to my characteristics. Now I'll focus on the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège".

Excellent podium also for Mexican Cesar Macias from Petrolike, who had also previously shown good things among professionals. "We must be happy with this podium, we knew the level here was really high" - explained the 2003 rider -. "We wanted to be at the front and we succeeded, even if in the finale we mostly had to defend. The San Vigilio Wall is truly impressive and placed a kilometer from the finish it really makes the difference".

FINAL STANDINGS

1. TURCONI Filippo - VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizan 4:02:49
2. MARIVOET Duarte - UAE Team Emirates Gen Z 0:06
3. MACIAS Cesar - Petrolike 23''
4. PERICAS Adrià - UAE Team Emirates Gen Z ''
5. OMRZEL Jakob - Bahrain ''
6. SCALCO Matteo - VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizan ''
7. MELLANO Ludovico Maria -XDS Astana Development Team ''
8. CHESINI Cesare - MBH Bank Ballan CSB ''
9. PALETTI Luca - VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizan ''
10. AGOSTINACCHIO Filippo - Biesse - Carrera - Premac ''