A field of 35 teams and 175 athletes from 15 Countries will run for the 2022 crown of the International U23 classic in Villa di Cordignano (Northern Italy). Also Ukraine’s Eurocar-Grawe among the starting teams. Youngsters Gregoire and Hagenes, who dominated the Junior season in 2022, Italy’s Marcellusi among the riders to watch
Final preparations are underway in Villa di Cordignano (Treviso, Northern Italy), where on Monday afternoon, April 18th, at 1.30 pm CET, the Giro del Belvedere will put on its usual Easter Monday display.
The International Under 23 cycling event will be raced on its classic 166,2 km route, charted over two separate rings to be repeated 14 and 2 times respectively, and featuring all of its most famous stretches: the Conche ascent, the Montaner climb from Borgo Canalet and the Via delle Longhe uphill drag that introduces the riders to the grand finale.
The Italian classic is ready to welcome once again the best International youth teams, with a total of 15 Countries represented. Together with the 21 Continental teams at the start, there will be the absolute debut of a UCI Professional team, Italian Bardiani – CSF – Faizané, whose ranks include high-level athletes like the fresh winner of the Trofeo Piva, Martin Marcellusi. The Italian can pursue a double, just like Spaniard Juan Ayuso did in 2021. Among others, the Italian duo of Zalf Euromobil Fior, Guzzo – De Pretto also deserves a close look.
In a cycling era dominated by young stars, the spotlight will also be on the great protagonists of the 2021 Junior season: Frenchman Romain Gregoire, supported by a strong and competitive Equipe Groupama-FDJ Continental, and Jumbo Visma Academy’s Norwegian Per Strand Hagesen. Both born in 2003, last year the two have given life to repeated duels on a European and international scale, often winning the first two steps of the podium. This happened at the European Championship of Trento (Gregoire 1st, Hagesen 2nd) and at the World Championship of Leuven (Hagesen 1st, Gregoire 2nd).
Special mention for the Ukrainian line-up Eurocar-Grawe, whose spot was preserved by the organization of the Pro Belvedere and confirmed in these last days before the race. For them – as for all – it will be possible to enjoy again the feeling of the fans cheering along the route, after the known restrictions of 2021.
It will be possible to follow the live commentary of the event at www.girodelbelvedere.it/diretta-live-2022/.
Among the VIPs at the race, there will be two rivals who have marked the Italian and International cycling between the ’80s and ’90s: Claudio Chiappucci and Gianni Bugno, current President of the CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associés), along with Davide Cimolai, current professional for the Cofidis Team, and a regular presence in Villa di Cordignano.
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