It will be an absolute top-level race, once again. Challenging, intriguing, and uncertain until the very end. The Giro del Belvedere is a celebration of youth cycling, with a battle to the last pedal stroke among the best of the Italian movement and the strongest Under 23 riders on an international scale.

Today, 34 teams (17 Italian and 17 foreign) and 170 riders (representing 35 countries) will start from Villa di Cordignano (Treviso) for the 86th Giro del Belvedere, aiming to take the baton from the Slovenian Gal Glivar, winner in 2024. In its 102-year history, this Easter Monday Classic has launched many talents, from the late Vito Favero (1951), to Silvio Martinello (1983), Maurizio Fondriest (1986) and Ivan Gotti (1990), up to the recent winners already established as professionals, Juan Ayuso (2021) and Romain Grégoire (2022).

Climbers, fast passists, athletes with good prospects for northern races - at the Giro del Belvedere, there's something for everyone. Italy is banking strongly on Lorenzo Finn (Red Bull-BORA), Junior World Champion last year in Zurich, already capable of making an impact in professional races, as demonstrated by his third place at the Giro della Città Metropolitana di Reggio Calabria and fifth at the Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23.

Along with the Ligurian in his first year among U23, Davide Donati, who joined the Devo Team of the German squad after an excellent performance last year at the Giro del Belvedere, with a second place behind Glivar, before winning the GP Liberazione. Cannot be excluded from the predictions are the Trofeo Piva winner Filippo Turconi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF), Lorenzo Nespoli (MBH Bank Ballan) and Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse Carrera).

They will be cheered on by Gianni Motta, winner of the 1966 Giro d'Italia and Gilberto Simoni, two-time pink jersey in Milan in 2001 and 2003, always fond of the Giro del Belvedere and special guests of this 86th edition, along with Dino Zandegù, Sacha Modolo, Davide Cimolai and Andrea Vendrame. Also present are the U23 Italian national team coach Marino Amadori, FCI Veneto President Mario Guerretta, FCI Treviso President Giorgio Dal Bo, National Vice President Stefano Bandolin, National Councilor Sandro Checchin, Veneto Region Councilor Sonia Brescanin and the Mayor of Cordignano Roberto Campagna.

The foreign competition is led by Austrians Sebastian Putz (RedBull-BORA), Marco Schrettl (Tirol KTM), winner a few days ago in San Vendemiano, the promising Slovenian Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain), Belgian Duarte Marivoet (UAE Emirates), second at the Trofeo Piva, and British rider Tomas Pattinson (Team Visma).

The route of 168 Km with start and finish in Villa di Cordignano is confirmed. After eight laps of the Conche circuit, the central part will continue to be characterized by the Piai della Vigna climb, introduced in 2023 for the Centenary edition and since then a crucial turning point of the route. In the last two laps, the climbs of Montaner and Via delle Longhe will, as usual, set the final of the race on fire. The Piai della Vigna climb will once again host the "Giro del Buongustare", a food and wine route for the public dedicated to local excellence.

This evening, Raisport will broadcast an extensive summary of the Giro del Belvedere, starting at 7:45 PM, with commentary by Silvano Ploner.