Thirty years of life, thirty-one editions of the TuttoBICI Oscar. What was born in 1995 with our magazine was a small award, initially designed to highlight one of the most important categories for young athletes, the juniors. Well, that award, whose first edition was won by Valentino China, who became world champion in that category in 1995, immediately gained favor among athletes, teams, professionals, and readers to the point that already the following year the Oscars became seven with the inclusion of professionals, elite and under categories, cadets, but most importantly - and in this we can pride ourselves on being pioneers - elite and junior women. Gender equality ante litteram. Another year passed, and in 1997 the Oscar for First and Second Year Beginners was born, then in 2005 the family expanded with awards for young girls cadets and beginners, in 2009 the recognition for the best sports director of the season arrived, and finally in 2018 the Oscar for the white jersey, the award for young professionals.

The Oscar was also a traveling award: for years the awards ceremony was held in Bergamo, then a single stage in Rezzato, then Verona in the splendid setting of the Gran Guardia, and finally arriving in Milan, where our editorial group has its home.

More than 200 athletes have climbed onto the stage in these 30 years of Oscars to receive the award as the best athlete of the season in their category. Yes, because the Oscar, and it could not be otherwise, rewards the best: for each category, regulations, number of races, and points may change, but not the philosophy, because when the numbers are tallied, the number one always arrives at the Oscar Night. And the applause of the room unites the best of the Beginners with the established professional, the youngest girl and the most accomplished champion because this is the philosophy of the Oscar, bringing together on stage established champions and those who hope to match them one day.

RECORD. Thirty years of history, 31 editions, and an absolute, extraordinary record: breaking it this year is Elisa LONGO BORGHINI, who wins the Oscar reserved for the Elite Women category for the eighth time in her career. The extraordinary Piedmontese champion, now defending the colors of UAE Team ADQ, thus surpasses the queen of climbers Fabiana Luperini and the super sprinter Giorgia Bronzini - who curiously followed the same path by becoming sports directors - who had won the Oscar seven times each.

Elisa's season was once again extraordinary with her second Giro d'Italia, a new national jersey, victories at the Tour of Flanders, Brabant Arrow, and much more.

And many athletes are returning this year, starting with Jonathan MILAN, who repeats his triumph as the best young athlete (last year he was also awarded the Professional Oscar) and brings home the splendid green jersey conquered at the end of an extraordinary Tour de France, the third Italian rider in history to achieve this feat. In the Professionals category, Milan passes the baton to his teammate Giulio CICCONE, who wins the Oscar for the first time in his career.

Also returning after a year is Lorenzo Mark FINN (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe Rookies) who once again brings his world jersey to Milan: last year it was the Juniors jersey, this time it's the Under 23 jersey conquered thanks to a new feat on the roads of Kigali.

Returning to the Oscar stage with consecutive wins is Friulian Chantal PEGOLO (Conscio Pedale del Sile), crowned best Junior Woman and capable of climbing the podium in both the World and European line races. Staying in the women's field, also returning is Piedmontese Nicole BRACCO (Sc Cesano Maderno), again victorious among the Beginners after a season that saw her dominate the rankings from the first races.

Venetian Carlo CECCARELLO of Asd Monselice has also earned a new "call-up": in 2024 he won the Oscar among First Year Beginners and now has repeated in the Second Year category.

Some feel nostalgic for the Oscar, and so we see the return after two years of Brescian Anna BONASSI (FlandersLove Fiorenzo Magni), who wins among the Cadets after imposing herself among the Beginners in 2023.

It will be an absolute first time for Lorenzo CATALDO (Gragnano Sporting Club), who conquered success in the very last week of racing, signing a practically perfect Serbia Tour. The Tuscan rider experienced his best season in terms of results and performance consistency and now hopes for a call from the professional world.

It will also be the Oscar debut for Piedmontese Roberto CAPELLO, who prevailed among the juniors: this season he rode with the Team Grenke Auto Eder jersey, giving the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe youth system its second consecutive Oscar in the category after Finn's, and in 2026 will continue his growth path by debuting among the Under 23 with EF Education Easypost's Devo.

The last new face we'll meet at the Oscar Night will be Marchigian cadet Andrea Gabriele ALESSIANI: his team, Petrucci Zero24 CyclingTeam, dominated the season far and wide, so much so that behind the winner, two of his teammates closed, namely Edoardo Fiorini and Tommaso Cingolani.

Among the technicians, the palm of the best goes - and it's the fifth time in the last six years - to Marco VILLA, voted by tuttobiciweb readers, chosen after a passionate head-to-head with Davide Bramati.

There will also be space for a special award dedicated to the "Team Man", an award that will be attributed to Mattia CATTANEO, who over the years has become a precious point of reference for Remco Evenepoel and is about to move to Red Bull Bora together with his captain.

And the Night we will celebrate tonight will be a Special Night. It will be special because we will celebrate the best Italian cyclists of an intense season, it will be special because we will reunite with many entrepreneurial friends who support us, it will be special because we will meet new faces, and it will be special, if you'll allow us, also because it will be an opportunity to remember the history of tuttoBICI and its Oscar. A story that has lasted thirty years and that we want to continue writing, telling about races, characters, teams, and protagonists of the fantastic world of two wheels. A story worthy of an Oscar.