The rainbow jersey of the Italian headlines the 87th edition of the Easter Monday classic in Villa di Cordignano, Treviso. Huber, Jackowiak, Sparfel and a strong Italian contingent aim to deny him a rare back-to-back victory.

On the eve of the Giro del Belvedere, one name stands above the rest: Lorenzo Finn. At just 19 years old, the Italian carries the weight of the rainbow jersey on his shoulders — and with it, the pressure and expectations that come with being the rider to beat. On Monday, April 6, all eyes in Villa di Cordignano, Treviso, will be on the U23 World Champion as he lines up for the 87th edition of the race.

A total of 175 riders from 35 teams will take part in the Easter Monday classic, all looking to prevent Finn from achieving a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in 66 years: winning back-to-back editions. The last rider to achieve it was Claudio Zanchetta, in 1959 and 1960. On the other hand, the only win wearing a rainbow jersey dates back to 1980, when amateur world champion Gianni Giacomini raised his hand on the finish line.

The high level of the teams and athletes confirms once again the Giro del Belvedere’s reputation as “Spring World Championship” for the U23 category. Among the leading contenders is Switzerland’s Jan Huber (Tudor Pro Cycling), who shared the podium with Finn at the U23 World Championships in Rwanda.

Finn’s Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies team will also count on Max Bock, far more than a domestique, as shown by his eighth place at the latest Tour de l’Avenir.

From France, Aubin Sparfel (Team Decathlon) is one of the most versatile riders in the peloton: strong on short climbs and fast in a sprint, the 19-year-old represents a serious threat on a course like Belvedere. Another name to watch is Poland’s Jan Michal Jackowiak (Bahrain Victorious), just 18 but already impressive against professional riders earlier this season at the Giro di Sardegna.

Italy, meanwhile, brings several strong options beyond Finn, including Enea Sambinello (UAE Team Emirates), Tommaso Bambagioni (Team Technipes), and the Astana riders Ludovico Mellano and Simone Zanini – whose uncle, Stefano Zanini, won the final stage of the 2000 Tour de France.

Adding to the occasion, several well-known figures from the cycling world will attend the event, including Giro d’Italia winners Gilberto Simoni and Eugeni Berzin, as well as locals Sacha Modolo and Davide Cimolai, underlining once again the prestige of the race and its role as a showcase for future stars.

The 2026 Giro del Belvedere will follow the traditional 168 km course, starting and finishing in Villa di Cordignano, Treviso. After eight laps of the Conche circuit, the race will move into its decisive phase on the climb of Piai della Vigna, introduced for the centenary edition in 2023 and now a crucial point for the race. The final laps will once again be decided on the climbs of Montaner and Via delle Longhe.

The race program begins at 11:45 with the team presentation at Villa Mocenigo-Bernardi in Villa di Villa. The start is scheduled for 13:15, with the finish expected around 17:00, followed by the awards ceremony at 17:30 at the same venue.