Giro dell'Emilia - News
The Giro dell’Emilia is one of Italy’s oldest cycling classics, first held in 1909 and firmly established on the autumn calendar. Known for its demanding route and iconic finale on the steep climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca in Bologna, the race regularly attracts some of the strongest climbers and Classics riders in the peloton.
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When was the first edition of the Giro dell'Emilia?
The first edition of the Giro dell'Emilia was held in 1909, making it one of the oldest one day races still held on the Italian cycling calendar.
Italian rider Eberardo Pavesi won the inaugural edition, which covered more than 300 kilometres. The race quickly established itself as an important event in Italian cycling and has since developed into one of the country's most prestigious autumn Classics.
How did the Giro dell'Emilia come into existence?
The Giro dell'Emilia was created in 1909 in Bologna and developed during an era when road cycling was rapidly growing in popularity across Italy.
Its early editions were dominated by Italian riders, with some of the country's biggest cycling stars adding the race to their palmarès. Over the decades, the Giro dell'Emilia gradually attracted a stronger international field while retaining its distinctive Italian identity.
The race has traditionally been held towards the end of the European road season, placing it among a series of important Italian autumn races leading towards Il Lombardia.
One of the defining developments in the race's modern history has been its association with the climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca in Bologna. The steep finishing circuit has transformed the Giro dell'Emilia into an important target for climbers and punchers and has produced some of the most recognisable finishes on the Italian calendar.
Who has won the Giro dell'Emilia the most times?
Costante Girardengo holds the record for the most victories at the Giro dell'Emilia, winning the race five times during the early decades of the 20th century.
Several other Italian champions have enjoyed repeated success in the race, underlining its historic importance within Italian cycling.
The list of winners also features some of the biggest names from different generations of professional cycling, including Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Francesco Moser, Nairo Quintana, Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar.
In the modern era, Roglič has been particularly successful on the steep roads around San Luca, establishing himself as one of the standout riders in the race's recent history.
Where is the Giro dell'Emilia held?
The Giro dell'Emilia is held in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy and is closely associated with the city of Bologna.
The route changes from year to year, but the decisive part of the race traditionally takes place on a finishing circuit around the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.
The climb to San Luca is short but extremely steep. It is approximately two kilometres long and averages around 10%, with sections reaching considerably steeper gradients.
Riders usually tackle the climb several times during the finale, creating a demanding race of attrition before the final ascent to the finish.
The combination of repeated climbing, technical roads and the steep final kilometres makes the Giro dell'Emilia particularly suited to explosive climbers and Grand Tour contenders rather than traditional Classics specialists.
What category race is the Giro dell'Emilia?
The Giro dell'Emilia is classified as a UCI 1.Pro one day race and forms part of the UCI ProSeries, the second highest level of international men's road cycling below the UCI WorldTour.
Despite not being a WorldTour race, the Giro dell'Emilia regularly attracts many of the strongest teams and riders in professional cycling.
Its position on the calendar shortly before Il Lombardia makes it an important late season objective and preparation race for riders targeting the final Monument of the European season.
The demanding San Luca finish has also helped give the Giro dell'Emilia a status that extends beyond its official UCI classification, with Grand Tour winners and some of the world's leading climbers regularly fighting for victory in Bologna.
