Isaac del Toro totally dominant at Gran Piemonte

The 2025 Gran Piemonte was a 179km route from Dogliani to Acqui Terme covering just over 2,700m in the Italian classic on the autumn day in October.

The peloton got off to a gentle start before a group forged clear after 18km. Victor Langelloti (Ineos), Odd Christian Eiking (Unibet - Tietema Rockets), Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco Alula), Adne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin - Deceuninck) and Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) co-operated well all the way until 58km to go, when the group split in half.

Tratnik, Holter and Hermans went clear with a gap of two minutes over the peloton but shortly after the race well and truly split apart with a fresh chasing group behind the aforementioned group of three. Jardi van der Lee (EF-Education Easypost), Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Bauke Mollema (Lidl-Trek), Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), Einer Rubio (Movistar), and Marc Hirschi (Tudor) were the chasers, while around 40 riders remained in the peloton with 20km to go.

A final ascent of the Castelletto d'Erro (6.1km at 5.2%) remained and the race situation had further clarity. Hirschi had attacked with Mollema and was soon joined by the Mexican, Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), who really looked like he meant business, and he certainly did. With 3km of the final climb remaining Del Toro looked set to add to his five Italian Autumn victories as he blasted off into the horizon.

The Mexican looked comfortable after his brilliant attack and laid further ground between himself and the chasers behind with an advantage going over 30 seconds and he was able to carry it all the way to the finish, to take his 15th victory of the season.

Wrapping up the podium were Hirschi and Mollema, with Hirschi succeeding in the one-versus-one sprint against the experienced Mollema.