Trofeo Laigueglia 2026 preview - Explosive finale in store on the Riviera

Trofeo Laigueglia favours the versatile rider, one who can climb well but also take a result with a strong sprint, as evidenced by the 2025 edition, which saw Juan Ayuso take the win after outsprinting three other riders after a day packed with attacking racing.

In the remaining editions of the 2020s, victories have gone to Lenny Martinez (2024), Nans Peters (2023), Jan Polanc (2022), Bauke Mollema (2021) and Giulio Ciccone (2020). Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana), who triumphed in 2019, is the lone previous winner on the start list this year. 

Key information: 

• Date - Wednesday, March 4
• Distance - 192km
• Start Location - Albenga
• Finish Location - Laigueglia
• Start time (CET) - 11:30
• Expected finish (CET) - 15:41

In total, there are seven classified climbs over the 192km course. The race kicks off from the coastal town of Albenga, heading down the coast to complete two familiar climbs, the Capo Mele and Cipressa, which will feature later in March at Milan-San Remo.

Here, however, the two climbs are completed within the opening 40km, which should provide ample opportunity for riders to form a breakaway and build a solid advantage, but staying away will be difficult.

In the middle of the parcours are two of the longest climbs on the 2026 parcours, which are the Testico (7km at 4.6%) and the Cima Paravenna (7.2km at 5.5%). With the Paravenna cresting with just over 60km remaining, will we see anyone attempt a long-range attack?

It wouldn't be a surprise to see an elite group form at the end of the climb and go on to compete for the victory.

However, the last 30km of the race have been set up to ensure attacking racing flourishes with three ascents of the Colla Micheri and the Capo Mele. The Colla Micheri (1.9km at 8.4%) is the tougher, with its steep slopes potentially deciding the winner on the day, as it has in prior editions.

Expect the finale of the race to kick off on the first ascent of the Colla Micheri, as teams will attempt to get rid of some of the versatile sprinters, including Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) and Andrea Vendrame (Jayco AlUla). 

Romain Gregoire (Groupama-United) heads into the race among the main favourites based on his racing over the weekend, where he took a victory in the Faun Drome Classic after a tremendous kick to beat Matteo Jorgenson. The short and steep climbs of the finale are only beneficial to Gregoire.

Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana) finished second in the 2025 edition of the race and will be aiming to go one better in 2026. It is expected that he is likely to be the main challenger to Gregoire based on his 2026 season, where the Italian has put in some top climbing performances, especially at the Tour of Oman in February.

Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious) enjoyed a fine UAE Tour after winning on the mighty new addition, Jebel Mobrah. He valiantly defended the leaders' jersey of the race until he lost it on the final stage to Isaac del Toro. If it's to come down to a reduced group sprint, then Tiberi could be one of the favourites for that scenario as the climber also obtains a solid sprint.

***** Antonio Tiberi
**** Romain Grégoire, Christian Scaroni
*** Michael Storer, Antonio Morgado, Benoît Cosnefroy
** Richard Carapaz, Santiago Buitrago, Andrea Vendrame, Alex Aranburu
* Marc Hirschi, Mikkel Honore, Kevin Vermaerke, Lukas Nerurkar, Gianmarco Garofoli

Ones to watch: Quinten Hermans, David Gaudu, Alan Hatherly, and Adria Pericas.