PREVIEW : Coppa Bernocchi: Wout van Aert will not have it easy against a strong UAE team

Preview. Monday, October 2 will mark an exciting return of cycling to Legnano with the celebration of the 104th edition of the Coppa Bernocchi, one of Italy's most prestigious cycling races. This year, the race will take a historic turn by starting from Parabiago, instead of its traditional location in the Città del Carroccio, as part of the commemorations for the centenary of Libero Ferrario's World Championship victory.

The day's cycling will begin with the presentation of the teams and a start meeting at 9:30 a.m. in Piazza Maggiolini, followed by the official start at 11:00 a.m. From here, the brave riders will head towards Sempione before facing an exciting itinerary full of challenges.

The route will include passes under the flying goals of Nerviano, San Vittore Olona, Cerro Maggiore and San Giorgio su Legnano, with a special passage through the finish of Viale Toselli in Legnano. After leaving San Giorgio behind, the race will pass through Busto Garolfo, Dairago and Busto Arsizio, entering the beautiful Olona Valley. The route will take competitors through Castellanza, Olgiate Olona, Gorla Maggiore, Gorla Minore, Cairate, Lonate Ceppino and Gornate Olona.

However, the highlight of the competition will be the traditional Olona Valley circuit, which the riders will have to face seven times. On each lap, the riders will face the dreaded "Piccolo Stelvio", a 1,685-meter climb with a gradient of 120 meters and an average gradient of 7.1%, reaching a maximum of 14% on the steepest section. This section will culminate with the Gran Premio della Montagna, located on the intricate "Caramamma", the most demanding part of the ramp.

After completing the seven laps of the Olona Valley circuit, covering just under 17 kilometers each, competitors will return to Legnano. The final stretch of the race will take the cyclists through Viale Sabotino, Via Novara, Via Venegoni, Piazza del Popolo, Corso Italia, Via Barlocco and Sempione before crossing the finish line in Via Toselli, right in front of the majestic Visconteo Castle. In total, they will have covered an impressive distance of 186.65 kilometers.

LAST 3 KILOMETERS.

FAVOuRITES.

After his second place in the European Championships, Wout van Aert will try to go on vacation before the cyclocross season with a victory and is undoubtedly the favorite to win the Coppa Bernocchi.

However, Jumbo-Visma will not have it easy against UAE Team Emirates, which is having a great end of season and will arrive on Monday with a great team with very fit men like Marc Hirschi or Davide Formolo and a very fast rider in Sebastián Molano in case of a mass finish.

The great rival of the two giants that dominate the WorldTour ranking should be a Michael Matthews who, if he arrives in form, should be the favorite to win a race that is perfectly adapted to his characteristics;

We will also have to take into account a team like Lidl-Trek that also arrives with riders like Giulio Ciccone or Bauke Mollema, always dangerous.

Movistar Team will try with Iván García Cortina who has his legs in tune after his good sensations at the end of the Vuelta a España. We will see how Oier Lazkano arrives, the other option of the telephone team.

We cannot leave without highlighting dangerous riders like Bog Jungels, Thomas de Gendt, Andrea Bagioli or Romain Grégoire, capable of giving a scare to anyone;

Prediction Coppa Bernocchi 2023:.

*** Michael Matthews, Wout van Aert
** Davide Formolo, Marc Hirschi, Bauke Mollema, Sebastián Molano, Iván García Cortina
* Bob Jungels, Thomas de Gendt, Andrea Bagioli, Rafal Majka, Romain Grégoire, Oier Lazkano, Ion Izagirre

Pick: Marc Hirschi