The 62nd Laigueglia Trophy runs tomorrow
PARTICIPANTS LIST The long wait is over: tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (start at 11 a.m.), the 62nd edition of the Trofeo Laigueglia, a historic classic that opens the cycling season in Italy, will be staged. Organized by the City of Laigueglia with the technical direction of Gruppo Sportivo Emilia, the race is valid as the first round of Challenge Liguria and is part of the Professional Cycling League’s Coppa Italia delle Regioni calendar. The event also enjoys the patronage of the Region of Liguria, the Professional Cycling League and the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.Once again this year, the Ligurian race promises to be spectacular, with a parterre of international level ready to do battle on the roads of the Riviera. Among the most anticipated protagonists is Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers), former world road champion and winner of monumental classics such as Milan-San Remo and the Amstel Gold Race.UAE Team Emirates fields a particularly interesting team with young Spaniard Juan Ayuso, who is joined by Alessandro Covi, winner of the spectacular Passo Fedaia stage at the Giro d’Italia 2022.Italy responds with tricolor Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team), triumphant in a Tour of Flanders, and with a group of experienced and ambitious riders: Bettiol’s teammates Christian Scaroni, Diego Ulissi, an eight-time Giro d’Italia stage winner, and Simone Velasco, 2023 Italian champion and previous winner in Laigueglia in 2019, and Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty).Also watch out for Samuele Battistella (EF Education – Easypost) and young talent Davide De Pretto (Jayco AlUla). At Cofidis, eyes are on Benjamin Thomas, Olympic track gold medalist at Paris 2024 and a specialist in breakaways from a distance.There will be no shortage of outsiders ready to surprise such as Ireland’s Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) and Dutchman Koen Bouwman (Jayco AlUla), winner of the GPM classification at the 2022 Giro d’Italia.THE ROUTE The Trofeo Laigueglia 2025 repeats the route that has guaranteed spectacle in recent editions. After a first valley section with the Gran Premi della Montagna of Cima Paravenna and Testico, the race will enter the heart of the final circuit to be repeated four times. The selection will be decided by the ascent of Colla Micheri (2 km at 8.4 percent with peaks at 14 percent), alternating with the climb of Capo Mele, with the last 40 km promising battle among the big boys. The finish line will be positioned in Via Roma in Laigueglia, where the decisive duel for victory will take place.The Trofeo Laigueglia will be televised live by Rai Sport and Eurosport starting at 2:30 p.m.Race info: click here
