The eighty-sixth edition of the Giro dell'Appennino, contested from Aequata Scrivia to Genoa over a total distance of 203 kilometers, is "prey" to Diego Ulissi. The Tuscan in XDS Astana Team jersey crowned a splendid solo action started thirty kilometers from the finish, presenting himself at the finish line in the center of the Ligurian capital with an 8" advantage over Andrii Ponomar, a 22-year-old Ukrainian from Petrolike, and 13" over Simone Velasco, his teammate at XDS Astana.

Ulissi, third last year, was one of the favorites and did not disappoint expectations. Immediately after the GPM of Pietralavezzara, the experienced athlete from the Kazakh formation launched himself in pursuit of the early breakaway riders who were still in the lead, catching them one by one and passing Davide De Cassan from Polti Visit Malta, who at that moment was trying to carve out a moment of personal glory. He then resisted the chase of his opponents, thus being able to celebrate the forty-ninth victory of his career - the first of 2025 - bringing the XDS Astana's wins this season to nineteen.

Before Ulissi's attack, the race was enlivened by Davide De Cassan (Team Polti VisitMalta), Nate Pringle (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies), Matteo Cettolin (General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia), Simone Lucca (Gragnano Sporting Club), Christian Bagatin (MBH Bank Ballan CSB), Ben Granger (Mg.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente), Matthew Kingston (Mg.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente), Matteo Zurlo (S.C. Padovani Polo Cherry Bank) and Leonardo Meccia (Team Technipes #inEmiliaRomagna).

This group crossed the Castagnola Pass with a 3'45" advantage over the peloton, and Matteo Zurlo (S.C. Padovani Polo Cherry Bank) won the mountain prize. The subsequent Carrosio Intermediate Sprint saw Christian Bagatin (MBH Bank Ballan CSB) succeed. After about 100 kilometers from the start, the breakaway riders began to climb towards Passo dei Giovi, where Zurlo again conquered the mountain prize while the group crossed with almost 4 minutes deficit.

The fast descent brought the breakaway riders to the outskirts of Genoa, and Christian Bagatin also won the Pontedecimo Intermediate Sprint where the group passed with a 4'06" delay. A few kilometers later, Simone Lucca, Matteo Cettolin, Leonardo Meccia, and Matteo Zurlo lost contact, and therefore the race was led by the quintet composed of De Cassan, Pringle, Bagatin, Granger, and Kingston, but this small group also disintegrated, losing its components kilometer after kilometer.

With the extremely stretched peloton in strong pursuit, they reached the Pietralavezzara GPM won by De Cassan ahead of Granger and Pringle. Ulissi, fourth at the summit, began his ride towards victory there.

PARTIAL FINISH ORDER

1 ULISSI Diego XDS Astana Team 05:00:09

2 PONOMAR Andrii Petrolike 00:08

3 VELASCO Simone XDS Astana Team 00:14

4 COVI Alessandro UAE Team Emirates - XRG

5 BUSATTO Francesco Intermarchè - Wanty

6 QUARTUCCI Lorenzo Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini 4

7 CONTI Valerio Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini

8 BARRÉ Louis Intermarchè - Wanty

9 PALETTI Luca VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè ,

10 DE CASSAN Davide Team Polti VisitMalta

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