24 Mar 2025

Team Polti VisitMalta at the traditional late-March fixture: the leg-breaking Settimana Coppi e Bartali

Settimana Coppi e Bartali (2.1)

From 25th to 29th March

Since moving up to the Professional category in 2021, the final part of March has had a distinctive name for Team Polti VisitMalta. Or rather, two legendary surnames synonymous with Italian and international cycling history: the Settimana Coppi e Bartali. This five-stage event kicks off in Emilia and extensively covers Romagna. Almost all the flat terrain will be packed into the opening day in the Ferrara area, while from Wednesday onward riders will face a relentless undulating course rather than high mountains. In descending order of difficulty, from the over 3,000 meters of elevation gain in Sogliano al Rubicone, including a passage through the Republic of San Marino, to Saturday’s finale in Forlì, climbers will constantly have to battle against the classics specialists who can make the GC unpredictable.

For a leg-breaking race that requires the right mix of tactics and endurance, Polti VisitMalta will rely on the fast legs of Manuel Peñalver and a good mix of attacking instincts and explosive power: supporting experienced Mattia Bais (who was in the breakaway at Laigueglia and Milano-Torino) and Alessandro Tonelli will be Germán Gómez, Davide De Cassan, Pablo Garcia and Gabriele Raccagni.

The first man to be particularly tested by the course will be Peñalver, who joined his teammates from France after competing in Cholet: “Fortunately, the crash that prevented me from staying in the front positions yesterday had no serious consequences” explains the Spanish sprinter, “so I’m already focused on chasing victory tomorrow and then supporting the squad!”

Sports Director Jesús Hernández: “Coppi e Bartali presents challenging scenarios and great opportunities for those looking to launch a winning attack. We are approaching it with athletes in good shape who’ll constantly make the most of their strengths.”