The Guido Rizzetto Award, created in memory of a L'Arena journalist particularly attentive to grassroots cycling, was awarded to Giuseppe Martinelli, the multi-winning Grand Tour sports director. With his athletes, he has conquered nine Grand Tours (Marco Pantani Giro and Tour 1998, Stefano Garzelli Giro 2000, Gilberto Simoni Giro 2003, Damiano Cunego Giro 2004, Vincenzo Nibali Giro 2013 and 2016 and Tour 2014, Fabio Aru Vuelta 2015).

As an amateur, Martinelli won a silver medal in the road race at the Montreal 1976 Olympics. A professional from 1977 to 1985, he achieved three stage victories in the Giro d'Italia, one in the Vuelta and the Milano-Torino. In 1986-1987, called by Primo Franchini, he began his career as a sports director with Ecoflam of Chioccioli and Fondriest, then moving to Carrera Jeans of brothers Imerio and Tito Tacchella from 1998 to 1996 with athletes like Roche, Chiappucci, Visentini, Bontempi, Ghirotto, Leali and a young Marco Pantani, whom he then followed to Mercatone Uno from 1997 to 2001. From 2002 to 2004 he led Saeco and from 2005 to 2007 Lampre, before moving to Astana where he was from 2010 to 2024 for 15 seasons. Having turned 70, Martinelli left professional cycling to accept his friend Luigi Braghini's invitation to follow the 13 young juniors of Ekotek.

The award, in the presence of Tito Tacchella, provincial FCI president Diego Zoccatelli, and Castel d'Azzano Sports Councilor Alessandro Corradi, was presented to Martinelli during the evening in Castel d'Azzano, promoted by Gs Cadidavid of Roberta Cailotto who, after Rizzetto's passing, had established the Award with the sports editorial staff of L'Arena, which has become national in recent years and whose honor roll includes Elia Viviani, Giovanni Rana, Francesco Moser, Davide Cassani, Marco Villa, Sandro Callari, Enrico Della Casa and Dino Salvoldi.