The Piedmont one-day that sorts climbers from puncheurs in the October hills
Gran Piemonte
Gran Piemonte is the Italian autumn one-day that rewards riders who can handle steep finishes and late positioning battles in the Piedmont hills.
- Location
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- When
- Second Thursday in October
- Course
- One Day
- Most recent winner
- 🇫🇷 Dorian Godon (2026)
- Also known as
- Giro del Piemonte
- Category
- Men’s 1.Pro
About Gran Piemonte
Gran Piemonte is a men's one-day bike race held in Italy's Piedmont region each October. Part of the ProSeries calendar, it typically features rolling terrain and a finish that favors puncheurs or climbers who can handle short, sharp efforts in the closing kilometers.
Also known as: Giro del Piemonte
The race has been a proving ground for Italian puncheurs and a late-season target for climbers testing their legs before Lombardia.
This is the kind of race where the October calendar compresses preparation, form, and ambition into a single afternoon in the Piedmont hills. The route usually rewards riders who can position well through technical roads and then respond when the pace lifts on the final climbs. It sits in the calendar window where some riders are sharpening for Lombardia and others are closing out their season, which creates an unpredictable mix of motivation and form.
Gran Piemonte winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 🇫🇷Dorian Godon |
| 2025 | 🇲🇽Isaac del Toro |
| 2024 | 🇺🇸Neilson Powless |
| 2023 | 🇮🇹Andrea Bagioli |
| 2022 | 🇪🇸Ivan Garcia Cortina |
| 2021 | 🇬🇧Matthew Walls |
| 2020 | 🇳🇿George Bennett |
| 2019 | 🇨🇴Egan Bernal |
| 2018 | 🇮🇹Sonny Colbrelli |
| 2016 | 🇮🇹Giacomo Nizzolo |
Gran Piemonte route
The course typically rolls through the Piedmont hills south of Turin, with enough climbing to shed pure sprinters but not enough sustained gradient to become a pure climber's race. The finale usually features one or more short, steep ascents in the final 20 kilometers, where positioning becomes critical and the race often fractures. Expect attacks on the penultimate climb and a reduced group contesting the finish, either on a slight rise or after a technical descent. The winner is usually someone who can accelerate hard after repeated efforts, rather than ride a steady tempo. Weather in October can add another variable, with rain making the descents and final positioning even more decisive.
What shapes the race
Piedmont wine country
The race winds through UNESCO-listed Langhe and Monferrato hills, with a relentless sequence of short, punchy climbs among vineyards.
Il Lombardia prelude
Held the day before Il Lombardia, the race serves as a final test of autumn form and a reconnaissance for the climbing talent targeting the Monument.
Varied winner profile
The rolling terrain has rewarded sprinters, puncheurs, and climbers in different editions, making the outcome unpredictable.
Signature landmarks
- Rolling terrain
Langhe and Monferrato hills
UNESCO-listed wine country with a relentless sequence of short, punchy climbs among vineyards and medieval villages.
- Climb
Castelletto d'Erro
Featured on the finishing circuit, with opening ramps at 11% and pitches up to 15%.
History
Memorable editions
- 1951
Serse Coppi's tragic death
Fausto Coppi's younger brother Serse crashed in the final sprint when his wheel caught in Turin's tramway tracks and died hours later.
- 2019
Bernal's autumn statement
Fresh from his Tour de France triumph, 22-year-old Egan Bernal soloed to victory, underlining his credentials as a future all-round champion.
- 2025
Del Toro dominates
Isaac del Toro attacked solo for his 15th win of the season, continuing UAE Team Emirates' remarkable autumn campaign.
Iconic victories
Gino Bartali
Three wins, the last at age 36, a longevity record for the race.
Costante Girardengo
Three wins in the early 20th century. Italy's first campionissimo dominated the race in its formative years.
Egan Bernal
His 2019 solo victory as reigning Tour de France champion gave the race renewed global attention.
Isaac del Toro
His 2025 dominance reflected the new generation's appetite for autumn classics.
Eras and records
First held in 1906, making it one of the oldest one-day races in cycling with over 100 editions.
Most wins
Five riders share the record at 3: Giovanni Gerbi, Costante Girardengo, Aldo Bini, Gino Bartali, and Fiorenzo Magni.
Oldest winner
Gino Bartali, who won at 36 years old.
First edition
1906, one of the oldest professional one-day races in the world.