Gran Piemonte 2026 Preview: Vineyard Hills and the Eve of Il Lombardia

Gran Piemonte returns to the UNESCO-listed Langhe and Monferrato hills with a route that uses short, steep vineyard climbs to fragment the peloton over the final 80 kilometers. Isaac del Toro soloed to victory in 2025, and Neilson Powless won from a 42 km breakaway in 2024, underscoring how unpredictable the finish can be. The race sits on the eve of Il Lombardia, which means the field includes Monument contenders fine-tuning their legs alongside riders who see Gran Piemonte as a target in its own right. The final climbs in the closing 20 kilometers are where positioning becomes critical, and the race typically fractures into a small group or a late solo move rather than a full sprint finish.