Adelfia hosted the 71st edition of the Coppa Maria Santissima della Stella on Sunday, April 27, a historic event in the national cycling calendar and the longest-running junior competition in Southern Italy. The event, meticulously organized by the Polisportiva Velo Club Adelfia led by President Vincenzo Fiore, in close collaboration with the Pro.Gi.T. Cycling Team, recorded an extraordinary participation, confirming itself as one of the most anticipated events of the season.

126 athletes were at the start, representing the best Italian cycling societies — coming from regions such as Marche, Abruzzo, Sicily, Lazio, Tuscany, Piedmont, Lombardy, and naturally Puglia — accompanied by international athletes from Australia, New Zealand, Belarus, and Ukraine. A high-level lineup worthy of the best European youth competitions.

The absolute novelty of the 2025 edition was the mixed formula for Group "B", which allowed Juniors and Under23 to compete on the same course. An innovative choice, in line with the growing convergence between the two competitive categories and aimed at enhancing transitions between youth and pre-elite sectors. A formula that added technical and educational value to the competition, stimulating young athletes to compete at a higher racing level.

The completely renewed course featured an undulating 26-kilometer loop to be repeated four times, for a total of over 100 kilometers. Three flying sprints animated the race, which was contested at an impressive average of 47.48 km/h.

The race chronicle saw attacks from the very first moments. The flying sprints rewarded:

First lap: Fabrizio Laino (Italy – ASD Velo Club Avezzano Bike Lineaoro)

Second lap: Ilya Slesarenko (Belarus – Veleka Team)

Third lap: again Laino, with a decisive sprint

In the finale, the group came back together for a compact sprint. Fabrizio Laino, an Under23 athlete from Velo Club Avezzano Bike Lineaoro, emerged victorious, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 26 seconds, ahead of Federico Di Vita (Unione Ciclistica Pistoiese Team) and Angelo D'Orazio (ARAN Cucine Vejus), who were also protagonists of an extremely high-technical intensity sprint.

Category Rankings

Under23

1. Fabrizio Laino (Italy – ASD Velo Club Avezzano Bike Lineaoro)

2. Federico Di Vita (Italy – A.S.D. U.C. Pistoiese Team)

3. Angelo D'Orazio (Italy – ARAN Cucine Vejus)

4. Cosma Gabriele Rausa (Italy – Area Zero Caffè Mokambo)

5. Giovanni Apuzzo (Italy – Costruzioni e Ambiente Venturini)

Juniors

1. Ilya Slesarenko (Belarus – Veleka Team)

2. Daniel Mincone (Italy – Vini Fantini – Tralfo)

3. Thomas Waites (Australia – Veleka Team)

4. Silvio Bagaglini (Italy – Mario De Cecco – Logistica Ambientale)

5. Alessandro Pellegrini (Italy – Vini Fantini – Tralfo)

To seal the overall success, the best team award was assigned to Velo Club Avezzano Bike Lineaoro, capable of placing multiple athletes in top positions and dominating the general classification.

The day began, as tradition dictates, with a touching moment: the laying of a laurel wreath in memory of Fausto Coppi and in honor of the Madonna della Stella, protector of the event. A symbolic gesture that renews the bond between sport, memory, and profound values.

Institutional support was not lacking: present were Carmine Acquasanta, National Vice President of FCI, Tommaso De Palma, President of the Puglia Regional Committee, and Giandomenico Martellotta, Provincial President of Bari. Representing the Adelfia community, Mayor Giuseppe Cosola, Municipal Councilor with sports delegation Natale Macchia, Pro Loco President Vittoriano Mumolo, and Patronal Festivals President Silvano Maselli enthusiastically participated.

The 2025 edition of the Coppa Maria SS. della Stella once again confirms Adelfia as a reference point for Italian youth cycling, a crossroads of passion, talent, and future. A tradition spanning over seventy years that continues to renew itself with an innovative spirit and deep territorial roots.