Will UAE extend their Italian dominance? - Gran Piemonte 2025 preview
The 109th edition of Gran Piemonte takes place on October 9, marking another chapter in the UCI ProSeries. As the autumn races roll on, it’s another chance for UAE Team Emirates to extend their dominance on Italian roads, with Isaac Del Toro once again leading a team that seems unstoppable in recent weeks.
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The route
A puncheur’s paradise awaits for this year’s Gran Piemonte. The race covers 179 kilometres from Dogliani to Acqui Terme, featuring more than 2,700 metres of elevation gain and a series of rolling climbs scattered across the course.
The opening third of the race is a constant up-and-down affair, with several short kickers likely to spark an early breakaway. The first notable climb is La Morra (3.1 km at 5.5%), followed by the longer Diano d’Alba (4.8 km at 5%).
After the descent of Diano d’Alba, riders will face the Tre Stelle (3.1 km at 4.7%), before reaching the Bric della Forma midway through the race. Averaging 6.3% over 4.4 km, it’s one of the steepest climbs on the route and should begin to thin the peloton with 98 kilometres remaining.
The Rocchetta Palafea is the steepest climb of the day, averaging 8.4% over 2.7 km. It crests with 71 kilometres to go and could serve as a launchpad for early attacks.
Just over 10 kilometres later comes the first of two ascents of the Castelletto d’Erro, the longest climb of this year’s race at 6.1 km. The riders will tackle it again 33 kilometres later, with the second summit reached 14 km from the finish.
The run-in to Acqui Terme is straightforward, favouring climbers with a strong sprint in what could become a reduced group finish.
The favourites
The top favourite for the 2025 Gran Piemonte is Isaac Del Toro, who has dominated Italy’s autumn racing block. The 21-year-old Mexican took four wins in September before adding another victory at the Giro dell’Emilia last Saturday. A true all-rounder, Del Toro can win solo or from a small group, much like he did at the Trofeo Matteotti.
Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) brings the fastest sprint on paper. The 2017 Tour de France green jersey winner is always dangerous in reduced finishes and has been regaining form since returning to racing at the Bretagne Classic – Ouest-France after recovering from a pulmonary embolism.
Other names to watch include Neilson Powless (EF Education–EasyPost), who can combine long-range attacks with a strong finishing kick, and Alex Aranburu, a versatile climber-sprinter who could shine as Cofidis continues its battle with Uno-X Mobility to stay in the WorldTour.
