A demanding, challenging and selective course, to which must be added another likely day marked by extreme heat that has been sparing no mercy on Tuscany for several days. These are the aspects that characterize the Italian Under 23 Championship next Sunday (defending champion Alessandro Borgo, in the photo) with the 55th Trofeo Città di Lucca organized by U.C. Lucchese 1948 chaired by Angelo Battaglia, a club that deserved the honor of hosting the race sponsored by the Tuscany Region and the Municipality of Lucca.

THE COURSE: The total distance will be 165.400 kilometers and after the gathering on the Urban Walls and a brief transfer, the official start will be from Via Pisana at 11:30. The riders will face a circuit to be repeated three times (the first one for starting reasons will be 46.300 km, the other two of 41.300 km each) with the climbs of Monte Pitoro and Monte Quiesa. After completing the three laps at km 129, the final 36 kilometers feature the double ascent from Farneta to Chiatri Puccini, a difficult stretch with a tricky and technical descent; terrain destined to make the difference in this tricolor race. Due to the overlap with the Summer Festival event on the Walls, the organizers had to move the finish line which will be decided in Viale Carducci on the same straightaway where the Genoa-Lucca stage of the Giro d'Italia concluded in 2024. The Italian Championship gathering will be held on Saturday, June 27 for preliminary procedures at the S.Francesco Auditorium, while the technical meeting will take place at the Cappella Guinigi. On race day, Sunday, June 28, gathering starting from 8:30 at the Casermetta S.Paolino Baluardo C. Catalani with team presentations. To complete the news about the tricolor championship, we add that the jury, secretariat and press room will be located at the Fitness Gym on Via Carducci.

MAIN ENTRIES: Fifty-one teams are registered for 185 riders. Among the main contenders are Lorello (who fell at the Giro Next Gen and is complaining of knee problems), Scalco, Bambagioni, Cattani, Gialli, Negrente, Fabbro, Donati, Basso, Mellano, Magagnotti, Menghini, Fiorin, Vesco, Travella, Fantini, Arrighetti, Bozzola, Savino, Bicelli, Del Cucina, Pizzi, Rossi, Bonaldo, Giannelli, Barbuto, Mengarelli.