Castel d'Ario is preparing once again in 2026 to welcome the Italian and international amateur cycling movement ahead of the thirty-seventh edition of the Memorial dedicated to Vincenzo Mantovani. The Mantuan town, known for being the birthplace of racing driver ace Tazio Nuvolari, is remembered in the world of cycling for the figure of Vincenzo Mantovani, Olympic silver medalist in team pursuit at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and world silver in the same discipline in both 1964 and 1965.

The race, created by Claudio Mantovani and his family in memory of his brother Vincenzo, has grown considerably over the years to become a true classic permanently scheduled for the day before Easter. This year it will take place on Saturday, April 4th over the traditional distance of one hundred and forty-four kilometers. Important for elite and under-23 riders, to be raced on an initial circuit of 12.8 kilometers to be covered ten times and with an exciting final city circuit of four kilometers to be completed four times.

Moa Sport Nalini, a world-leading company in the production of technical fabrics and clothing for cycling, will be the headquarters for preliminary operations, operating from 12 noon on Saturday, April 4th, for team presentations and the official start, scheduled for 2:15 PM. To enhance Castel d'Ario and its history, the finish line will be located next to the characteristic Rocca in the town center on Via XX Settembre. In 2025, Lorenzo Anniballi triumphed in a sprint with the colors of Solme Olmo, beating Antonio Bonaldo and local rider Damiano Lavelli at the finish line. The technical organization will be entrusted to the solid experience of Simone Pezzini and his Unione Ciclistica Ceresarese.

"The Castel d'Ario race is an event with many meanings –" said Pezzini – starting from the memory of Vincenzo Cencio Mantovani, a symbol of Mantuan cycling in the world, passing through the firm determination of the Mantovani family to enhance this appointment, to the growth this race has experienced especially in recent years, with start lists always of the highest order in both numbers and quality of participants. Up to the race itself, beautiful and entirely to be experienced on a technically interesting circuit that keeps the outcome uncertain until the final meters".

Claudio Mantovani is a bearer of the values intrinsic to the race. "It is certainly more a pleasure than a duty –" said the Mantuan entrepreneur – to remember my brother and to see the competitive spirit with which the young riders interpret the race from the very start. Thanks to the Unione Ciclistica Ceresarese which gives concrete form to our projects and to the Provincial Cycling Federation for their customary support".