Cesenatico is ready to experience another great cycling day with the Marco Pantani Memorial 2025, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, September 13th, starting at 11:30 AM from the Marco Pantani Monument. The race, which annually commemorates the "Pirate" in the heart of his homeland, once again confirms its international dimension and strong territorial connection.

The organization is led by GS Emilia of Adriano Amici with the patronage of Panathlon Club Cesena, guided by President Dionigio Dionigi, with the crucial support of Sidermec by Pino Buda, always close to the event and Marco Pantani's memory.

The Protagonists at the Start

166 riders will be at the start, with a lineup of names that guarantees spectacular action. Among the most anticipated is the young Mexican Isaac Del Toro, a true revelation of the last season: second at the 2025 Giro d'Italia with a stage victory and wearing the pink jersey for several days, he comes to the Pantani Memorial after an extraordinary week that saw him win both races in Tuscany, confirming himself as one of the brightest talents in the international panorama.

Also at the start is Swiss rider Marc Hirschi, winner of the Memorial in 2024, already capable of winning the Flèche Wallonne and Tour de France stages, a rider who prefers undulating routes like the Romagna course. Also to be carefully followed is the French rider Benjamin Thomas, a versatile and complete athlete, protagonist at the Giro d'Italia and Olympic gold medalist in track cycling at Paris 2024.

The Memorial's charm will be enriched by the presence of a Giro d'Italia winner like Richard Carapaz, Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, and Portuguese rider Rui Costa, world champion in Florence 2013 and always capable of surprising in one-day races.

Eyes will also be on Colombian Nairo Quintana, a pure climber, already triumphant at the Giro and Vuelta, who will find a favorable context on the Romagna hills. Completing the lineup of emerging young talents will be Lorenzo Mark Finn, another rising name in the international panorama.

Italians will not be missing: Alessandro Covi, stage winner at the Giro d'Italia on Passo Fedaia, Davide Formolo, Christian Scaroni, current leader of the individual classification of the Regions Cup which also includes the Pantani Memorial, Diego Ulissi, pink jersey at the 2025 Giro d'Italia and winner of the Pantani Memorial in 2015, and Fabio Felline, author of the 2012-2020 double.

The Course

The 2025 edition's route will reproduce the tested and spectacular formula that combines sea and hills. After departing from Cesenatico, the race will move towards the inland with a first flat section, before entering the core with a hilly circuit to be tackled multiple times.

Riders will be called to climb some of the symbolic climbs of Romagna cycling: Montevecchio, the feared Barbotto, and the ramps towards Sogliano al Rubicone, which will make the race selective and suitable for attackers. After the last hilly lap, the race will return to the coast to conclude with the suggestive finish in Cesenatico, in the heart of Pantani's city, always welcomed by a warm public.

official list of participants in the attached pdf