Buitrago Wins Trofeo Laigueglia with Tiberi Taking Third

# Buitrago Secures Victory at Trofeo Laigueglia; Tiberi Finishes Third

In a stunning display of cycling prowess, Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious clinched victory at the Trofeo Laigueglia (1.Pro) held in Italy. The race concluded with Buitrago outperforming his competitors in a decisive solo effort, while teammate Antonio Tiberi secured a commendable third place after being narrowly edged out by Romain Grégoire of Groupama–FDJ for the second position.

The 63rd edition of Trofeo Laigueglia was characterized by dramatic shifts in momentum, particularly on the final circuit. The early breakaway was led by Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), who managed to maintain his lead for nearly 70 kilometers before the terrain began to take its toll. As anticipated, the race’s decisive moments unfolded on the challenging Colla Micheri climb, which featured prominently in the latter stages of the competition.

Bahrain Victorious took control of the race, launching Buitrago and Tiberi into an aggressive attack, soon joined by Grégoire and Quinten Hermans (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). The quartet caught up to Vervaeke just before the second ascent of Colla Micheri, approximately 20 kilometers from the finish line. As the race progressed, Hermans was left behind, leaving Buitrago, Tiberi, and Grégoire to fight for the title.

On the final ascent, Buitrago made a critical move, breaking away from his competitors and showcasing his exceptional form. Behind him, Tiberi kept a close watch on Grégoire, who attempted to mount a challenge but ultimately settled for a second-place sprint finish, 25 seconds behind the flying Colombian.

Reflecting on his victory, Buitrago expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m very happy to take this first victory so early in the season, and even more so because it comes here in Liguria, where I lived in 2019. It’s special to win here. We raced very well as a team, very intelligently, and it’s great to also have Antonio on the podium in third place. The whole team did a great job controlling the race. In the final, Antonio and I decided to anticipate because we knew Grégoire was very fast in a sprint. On the last climb, we made the difference. Now my next target is Tirreno–Adriatico.”

Bahrain Victorious came into the Trofeo Laigueglia with both ambition and strategy, meticulously controlling the race from the outset and working cohesively for Buitrago and Tiberi on the demanding 192 km course. The new route from Albenga included iconic climbs such as Cipressa and the traditional Colla Micheri circuit, enhancing the race’s challenge and excitement.

Sports Director Gorazd Štangelj praised the team’s performance, saying, “The plan was to reach the final circuit and decide the race there. We wanted to ride the first lap attentively, but the riders were feeling strong and chose to be aggressive earlier. They attacked immediately with Grégoire and managed to maintain around a 30-second advantage over the chasing group, which was never able to close the gap. On the final lap, Santi went solo, while Antonio stayed with Grégoire to fight for the remaining podium places. Even on the flat run-in to the finish, Santi pushed hard to maintain his advantage. We didn’t predetermine who would go for the win and both were leaders today. The riders communicated well and executed the plan perfectly.”

With this victory, Bahrain Victorious not only secured a remarkable win but also showcased their formidable teamwork, placing both Buitrago and Tiberi on the podium as they kick off the Italian racing season in style.