The long wait is over: tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 (start at 11:00 AM), the 62nd edition of the Trofeo Laigueglia will take place, the historic classic that opens the cycling season in Italy. Organized by the Municipality of Laigueglia with the technical direction of the Emilia Sports Group, the race is valid as the first stage of the Liguria Challenge and is part of the Regions' Italian Cup of the Professional Cycling League. The event also enjoys the patronage of the Liguria Region, the Professional Cycling League, and the Association of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages.

This year as well, the Ligurian race promises to be spectacular, with an international-level lineup ready to battle on the Riviera roads. Among the most anticipated protagonists stands out Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers), former world road champion and winner of monument classics like Milan-Sanremo and Amstel Gold Race, already successful this year in the Clasica Jaen. UAE Team Emirates fields a particularly interesting team with young Spanish rider Juan Ayuso (who dominated the Faun Drôme Classic on Sunday) along with Alessandro Covi, winner of the spectacular Passo Fedaia stage at the 2022 Giro d'Italia.

Italy responds with the national champion Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team), Tour of Flanders winner, and a group of experienced and ambitious riders: Bettiol's teammates Christian Scaroni, Diego Ulissi, eight-time Giro d'Italia stage winner, and Simone Velasco, 2023 Italian champion and already a winner in Laigueglia in 2019, and Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty).

Watch out for Samuele Battistella (EF Education – Easypost) and young talent Davide De Pretto (Jayco AlUla). In the Cofidis team, eyes are on Benjamin Thomas, track cycling Olympic gold medalist in Paris 2024 and specialist in long-range breakaways.

There will be no shortage of outsiders ready to surprise, like Irish rider Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) and Dutch rider Koen Bouwman (Jayco AlUla), winner of the King of the Mountains classification at the 2022 Giro d'Italia.

THE ROUTE. The 2025 Trofeo Laigueglia reprises the route that has guaranteed excitement in recent editions. After an initial hilly section with the Mountain Grand Prix at Cima Paravenna and Testico, the race will come alive in the final circuit to be repeated four times. The selection will be decided by the climb of Colla Micheri (2 km at 8.4% with peaks at 14%), alternating with the Capo Mele climb, with the last 40 km promising a battle among the big names. The finish line will be positioned in Via Roma in Laigueglia, where the decisive duel for victory will unfold.

The Trofeo Laigueglia will be broadcast live on Rai Sport starting at 2:30 PM, while tuttobiciweb will, as always, provide a live written chronicle of the entire race.

The list of participants is attached in the PDF