Can anyone stop Pogacar? - 2025 Tre Valli Varesine preview

The 104th edition of Tre Valli Varesine covers 200.3 kilometres and includes over 3,300 metres of climbing. The race begins in Busto Arsizio, south of Varese, before the riders tackle multiple laps of a local circuit around the city. The 2024 edition was cancelled after 57 kilometres due to heavy rainfall in the area.

Within the local circuit, there are two climbs in quick succession for the peloton to contend with. First comes the Salita dei Ronchi, a short and steady ascent of 1.9 kilometres with an average gradient of 5.3%.

Barely five kilometres later, the second climb of the circuit appears, the Montello. It is only 100 metres longer, at 2 kilometres, with a similar average gradient of 5.2%, though it briefly peaks at 6.9% near the top.

As the race reaches its decisive phase, the riders leave the circuit for two steep ascents that could serve as launch pads for attacks. The first is Oltrona al Lago, 300 metres at 10%, followed immediately by the Barasso, 900 metres at an average of 7.9%. If that accumulated climbing were not enough, the run-in to the finish once again takes place on the Salita dei Ronchi.

Let’s be clear: in any race Tadej Pogačar lines up for, the Slovenian starts as the clear favourite by a significant margin. That margin has only grown after his recent masterclasses at the World and European Championships. He returns to Tre Valli Varesine having promised the organisers he would be back in 2025, after last year’s edition was abandoned.

Pogačar’s UAE teammate Isaac Del Toro joins him after winning the Giro dell’Emilia last Saturday with an impressive finishing kick. It’s unlikely Del Toro will have leadership duties here, so we could see a repeat of the GP Cycliste de Montréal scenario if he stays with Pogačar, perhaps even another moment of generosity from the world champion.

Primož Roglič (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) will aim for a strong result and another head-to-head with Pogačar. The Slovenian finished fifth at the Giro dell’Emilia and previously won Tre Valli Varesine in 2019, ahead of Giovanni Visconti and Toms Skujiņš.

Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) also showed solid form last weekend with a fourth place in Emilia. Remarkably, this will be the Colombian’s first appearance at Tre Valli Varesine, and it will be interesting to see how he and Ineos approach the race, especially if an early long-range move develops.

Other riders to watch include Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ) and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).