Sonny Colbrelli is the last Italian to have stood on the podium of the Gran Premio di Peccioli - Coppa Sabatini, an international professional race. In the 2021 edition of the Peccioli classic won by Danish rider Michael Valgren, Brescia native Colbrelli finished second. Sonny, riding for Bahrain-Merida, had raced with the European Champion jersey he had conquered just weeks earlier in Trento.

The last Italian on the podium also holds a special record in the Valdera classic: 2 editions won, 4 times in 2nd place. A total of 6 podium appearances without any third-place finishes.

"Peccioli is in my heart," Colbrelli, 35, states, "it's a city I remember with great affection. The Peccioli race and the Giro della Toscana that precedes it are organized with great professionalism and passion. The organizers of Unione Ciclistica Pecciolese are excellent at finding economic resources and personnel to manage such important races. I congratulate them."

The Brescia finisseur first won in Peccioli in 2014. In the decisive sprint on the Peccioli hill, Mauro Finetto came 2nd, Franco Pellizotti 3rd, Davide Rebellin 4th, and then all the other top riders. The 2014 season was Sonny's first as a winner in professional cycling. He triumphed in a stage of the Tour of Slovenia, Trofeo Pantani, Giro dell'Appennino, Gran Premio di Prato, and the Peccioli victory represented the cherry on top.

"Among Pellizotti and other strong climbers, I didn't think I would win," Sonny reveals, that year riding for Bardiani Csf, "but I managed to beat them". In 2016, Colbrelli's second victory at the Sabatini. He was still with Bardiani-Csf of historic manager Bruno Reverberi. "In the morning," the rider recounts, "at the Peccioli Municipal Stadium, I told Reverberi I would win, and 5 hours later, I did".

In 2017, Sonny began his series of second places. At the top of the Pisan hill, Andrea Pasqualon triumphed. "The 2017 edition," Sonny states, "I lost because I was too confident of winning". Francesco Gavazzi finished third.

In 2018, Sonny again finished 2nd, preceded by Juan Lobato (Spain), with Gianni Moscon (considered the pre-race favorite) in third place. "Lobato," Sonny explains, "surprised us all by attacking in the last kilometer. I, Moscon, and the others approached him in the final meters. I couldn't pass him with my progression, Lobato won with a smart timing choice, though I was going strong".

The 2019 edition was won by Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko, protagonist of an extremely long breakaway, about 100 kilometers, of which seventy were solo. Colbrelli finished 2nd, beating the chasing group in a sprint. "It was my least bitter 2nd place at the Sabatini. With that incredibly long breakaway, Lutsenko deserved the victory. He was incredibly strong".

In 2021, Valgren achieved the double: first in the Giro della Toscana and the Sabatini. In Peccioli, after Valgren and Colbrelli, French rider Burgadeau placed third. "The 2021 edition was one of the races with the new course version. The Greta wall makes the race very selective. I'm honest: Valgren beat me also because I felt strong, I had a touch of healthy presumption. I admit that in the last kilometers of the 2021 edition I was very tired. Honors to Valgren".

The Giro della Toscana and the Gran Premio Città di Peccioli 2025 will be presented to press, sponsors, and authorities on Friday, September 5th (6 PM) at Palazzo Senza Tempo in Peccioli, Valdera. Colbrelli sends a special greeting to the organization: "I wish a great technical result for both races. I'm certain that the two races will greatly entertain fans and will give further prestige to a magnificent territory".
The Giro della Toscana will start and end in Pontedera, the Sabatini as always in Peccioli. The two races compose the Memorial Alfredo Martini challenge and are trials of the Italian Regions and Autonomous Provinces Cup. For both competitions, live TV broadcast is planned by Rai Sport and other television broadcasters. Images and comments will go to all continents.
1-9-2025 Peccioli (Pisa)
Alessandro Brambilla 335 6200986; Giorgio Torre 329 4131701