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Italy 16 Jul – 19 Jul 2026 Class 2.2U – Stages – Class 2 – U23
Website www.girovalledaosta.it
Startlist
The 62nd Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc (2.2U) is underway from July 16 to July 19, 2026.
Here is the startlist featuring the developmental and continental teams, along with their respective riders and bib numbers:
Lotto – Groupe Wanty
- 1 Milan Donie (BEL)
- 2 Niels Driesen (BEL)
- 3 Samuel Greenwell (GBR)
- 4 Duarte Marivoet (BEL)
- 5 Wouter Toussaint (NED)
- DS: Wesley Van Speybroeck
Bahrain Victorious Development Team
- 6 Kasper Borremans (FIN)
- 7 Leander De Gendt (BEL)
- 8 Bálint Feldhoffer (HUN)
- 9 Giacomo Rosato (ITA)
- 10 Santiago Basso (ITA)
- DS: Zsolt Dér
Caja Rural – Alea
- 11 Sergio Gamez (ESP)
- 12 Nil Aguilera (ESP)
- 13 Cronje Beukes (RSA)
- 14 Jan Hernández (FRA)
- 15 Adrià Regada (AND)
- DS: Eneko Iparragirre
Development Team Picnic PostNL
- 16 Lennes Jacobs (BEL)
- 17 Matthew Peace (GBR)
- 18 Pavel Šumpík (CZE)
- 19 Finn O’Brien (GBR)
- 20 Mees Vlot (NED)
- DS: Rudi Kemna
Hagens Berman Jayco
- 21 David Gaffney (IRL)
- 22 Kieran Gordge (RSA)
- 23 Vinnie Manion (AUS)
- 24 Adam Rafferty (IRL)
- 25 Giacomo Serangeli (ITA)
- DS: Koos Moerenhout
Lidl – Trek Future Racing
- 26 Andrea Bessega (ITA)
- 27 Mats Vanden Eynde (BEL)
- 28 Patrick Boje Frydkjær (DEN)
- 29 Liam O’Brien (IRL)
- 30 Louis Leidert (GER)
- DS: Sebastian Andersen
Movistar Team Academy
- 31 Sebastián Castro (CRC)
- 32 Javier Cubillas (ESP)
- 33 Filip Novák (CZE)
- 34 Tomás Pombo (ESP)
- 35 Mattia Proietti Gagliardoni (ITA)
- DS: Manuel Mateo
NSN Development Team
- 36 Patrick Casey (IRL)
- 37 Max Goold (AUS)
- 38 Ben Morin (CAN)
- 39 Emil Nymand Nielsen (DEN)
- 40 Matar Peretz Herdevall (ISR)
- DS: Rubén Plaza
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies
- 41 Noah Lindholm Møller Andersen (DEN)
- 42 Gustave Blanc (FRA)
- 43 Max Bock (GER)
- 44 Theodor August Clemmensen (DEN)
- 45 Anatol Friedl (AUT)
- DS: Cesare Benedetti
Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team
- 46 Jose Said Cisneros (MEX)
- 47 Marc Zafra (ESP)
- 48 Henrique Bravo (POR)
- 49 Mathijs De Clercq (BEL)
- 50 Gauthier Servranckx (BEL)
UAE Team Emirates Gen Z
- 51 Daan Dijkman (NED)
- 52 Ugo Fabries (FRA)
- 53 Pablo Torres (ESP)
- 54 Enea Sambinello (ITA)
- 55 Jaime Torres (ESP)
- DS: Jan Polanc
AVC Aix Provence
- 61 Joseph Brookes (GBR)
- 62 Gabriel Layrac (FRA)
- 63 Mark Lightfoot (GBR)
- 65 Adam Smith (GBR)
- DS: Sébastien Cottier
Biesse – Carrera – Premac
- 66 Stefano Leali (ITA)
- 67 Cristian Sanfilippo (ITA)
- 68 Nicholas Travella (ITA)
- 69 Matteo Dognini (ITA)
- 70 Nicola Zumsteg (SUI)
- DS: Marco Milesi
Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme
- 71 Huw Buck Jones (GBR)
- 72 Adam Howell (GBR)
- 73 Axel Hardy Laine (FRA)
- 74 Edgar Jorge (FRA)
- 75 Daniel Lima (POR)
- DS: Vincent Garin / Christian Milesi
Campana Imballaggi – Morbiato – Trentino
- 76 Roberto Busanello (ITA)
- 77 Alessandro Avi (ITA)
- 78 Leonardo Volpato (ITA)
- 79 Ádám Révész (HUN)
- 80 Christian Piffer (ITA)
- DS: Alessandro Coden
General Store – Essegibi – F.lli Curia
- 81 Kevin Biehl (DEN)
- 82 Tommaso Bosio (ITA)
- 83 Andrea Cobalchini (ITA)
- 84 Diego Nembrini (ITA)
- 85 Cristian Remelli (ITA)
- DS: Daniele Calosso
Metec – SOLARWATT p/b Mantel
- 86 Ruud Junior Nagengast (NED)
- 87 Ryan Gal (NED)
- 88 Karst Hayma (NED)
- 89 Michiel Van Vliet (NED)
- 90 Floris Haverdings (NED)
- DS: Arjan Ribbers
S.C. Padovani Polo Cherry Bank
- 91 Tommaso Quaglia (ITA)
- 92 Kevin Bertoncelli (ITA)
- 93 Jacopo Pignatti (ITA)
- 94 Matteo Scofet (ITA)
- 95 Stefano Masciarelli (ITA)
- DS: Franco Lampugnani
Solme – Olmo – Arvedi
- 96 Etienne Grimod (ITA)
- 97 Luca Morlino (ITA)
- 98 Riccardo Uderzo (ITA)
- 99 Massimo Savoldini (ITA)
- 100 Armin Caselli (ITA)
- DS: Fiorenzo Favero
Team Technipes #inEmiliaRomagna
- 101 Mattia Ballerini (ITA)
- 102 Alessandro Cattani (ITA)
- 103 Riccardo Archetti (ITA)
- 104 Nicolò Pizzi (ITA)
- 105 Matteo Paltrinieri (ITA)
- DS: Francesco Chicchi
Tirol KTM Cycling Team
- 106 Paul Viehböck (AUT)
- 107 Nicolas Ginter (GER)
- 108 Jonas Holzknecht (AUT)
- 109 Samuel Novák (SVK)
- 110 Monty Rigby (GBR)
- DS: Martin Taschler
Program
The 62nd edition of the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc (2.2U) is a prestigious 4-day stage race dedicated to Under-23 riders. It runs from Thursday, July 16, to Sunday, July 19, 2026, covering a total of 406.5 kilometers and almost 11,000 meters of vertical elevation.
Stage Program
- Stage 1 (Thursday, July 16, 2026): Passy ➔ Passy Plaine-Joux (Individual Time Trial)
- Distance: 10.5 km
- Details: A steep individual mountain time trial (cronoscalata) starting from Passy and ascending up to the finish line at Plaine-Joux.
- Times: First rider starts at 12:00 PM; last rider is expected to arrive around 3:30 PM.
- Stage 2 (Friday, July 17, 2026): Hône ➔ Forte di Bard
- Distance: 147.5 km
- Details: A grueling, classic road stage through the valley featuring multiple Categorized Climbs (GPMs), finishing at the historic and iconic Forte di Bard fortress.
- Times: Stage start at 11:25 AM; estimated finish between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM.
- Stage 3 (Saturday, July 18, 2026): Saint-Christophe ➔ Saint-Christophe
- Distance: 154.9 km
- Details: A relentless circuit-style road stage starting and finishing in Saint-Christophe, designed with a jagged profile that favors the pure climbers and punchy attackers.
- Times: Stage start at 11:15 AM.
- Stage 4 (Sunday, July 19, 2026): Valtournenche ➔ Breuil Cervinia
- Distance: 93.6 km
- Details: The grand finale. Though shorter in distance, this stage is a massive mountain test that tackles the demanding heights of the Saint-Pantaléon climb before finishing on the long, high-altitude ascent to Breuil Cervinia at over 2,000 meters.
Result
The 62nd Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc kicked off today, July 16, 2026, with a brutal mountain individual time trial starting in France.
Brazilian talent Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) took the opening stage victory and claimed the first yellow leader’s jersey of the race, narrowly beating out Max Bock by less than two seconds.
Stage 1 Results: Passy ➔ Passy Plaine-Joux (ITT)
- Distance: 10.5 km (climbing time trial, avg. gradient 7.2%)
- Winner’s Average Speed: 23.8 km/h
| # | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Henrique Bravo (BRA) | Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team | 26′ 25″ | — |
| 2 | Max Bock (GER) | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies | 26′ 27″ | + 01″ |
| 3 | Pablo Torres (ESP) | UAE Team Emirates Gen Z | 26′ 53″ | + 28″ |
| 4 | Finn O’Brien (GBR) | Development Team Picnic PostNL | 27′ 18″ | + 53″ |
| 5 | Ugo Fabries (FRA) | UAE Team Emirates Gen Z | 27′ 21″ | + 56″ |
| 6 | Kevin Andrés Estupiñán (COL) | UC Monaco | 27′ 27″ | + 1′ 02″ |
| 7 | Niels Driesen (BEL) | Lotto – Groupe Wanty | 27′ 32″ | + 1′ 07″ |
| 8 | Adam Howell (GBR) | Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme | 27′ 37″ | + 1′ 12″ |
| 9 | Kevin Biehl (DEN) | General Store – Essegibi – F.lli Curia | 27′ 38″ | + 1′ 13″ |
| 10 | Jan Hernández (FRA) | Caja Rural – Alea | 27′ 41″ | + 1′ 16″ |
Classification Leaders after Stage 1
- Yellow Jersey (General Classification): Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team)
- White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Finn O’Brien (Development Team Picnic PostNL)
Final General Classification Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc
The 2026 Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc (U23) concluded on July 19, 2026. Here are the final results and general classification standings for the prestigious Under-23 stage race:
Final General Classification (Top 3)
The overall race came down to a thrilling battle, but Henrique Bravo managed to defend his lead to take the final victory.
| # | Rider | Team |
| 1 | 🥇 Henrique Bravo (BRA) | Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team |
| 2 | 🥈 Mateo Ramírez (COL) | UAE Team Emirates Gen Z |
| 3 | 🥉 Max Bock (GER) | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies |
Stage Winners Summary
- Stage 1 (ITT): Passy ➔ Passy Plaine-Joux
- 🏁 Winner: Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team)
- Stage 2: Hône ➔ Forte di Bard
- 🏁 Winner: Niels Driesen (Lotto – Groupe Wanty)
- Stage 3: Saint-Christophe ➔ Saint-Christophe
- 🏁 Winner: Mateo Ramírez (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z)
- Stage 4 (Final): Valtournenche ➔ Breuil-Cervinia
- 🏁 Winner: Ryan Gal (Metec – SOLARWATT p/b Mantel)
History
The Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc (often simply called the Giro della Valle d’Aosta or the Petit Tour) is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious, demanding, and selective stage races in the world for Under-23 (U23) cyclists.
Known for its brutal mountain passes, high altitudes, and gorgeous Alpine backdrops, it serves as a legendary testing ground where the future stars of professional cycling are born.
1. The Early Years (1962–2004)
The race was born in 1962 in Pont-Saint-Martin, Italy, conceived by a group of passionate local cycling enthusiasts (most notably Giovanni Cossavella and Raimondo Jans) who wanted to create a challenging, multi-day stage race for amateur riders.
From its very first edition—won by Italy’s Gilberto Vendemiati—the race established its identity: hard, relentless, and designed purely for pure climbers. Unlike other races with flat transition stages, “Aosta” immediately forced riders into the high mountains. Despite the fierce competition, the early decades maintained a highly convivial atmosphere, where organizers and riders famously celebrated the end of the race by drinking from the grolla (the traditional Valdostan friendship cup).
During the amateur era, the race quickly grew in international stature, drawing the best young prospects from across Europe who were eager to catch the eyes of professional team scouts.
2. The Modern Era & UCI Upgrades (2005–Present)
With the restructuring of international cycling by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI):
- 2005: The race joined the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.2-rated event.
- 2012: The race shifted its calendar slot from late August/September to mid-July and officially restricted its entry criteria to become a 2.2U event—specifically reserved for Under-23 riders.
- Cross-Border Routes: To reflect the spirit of the Mont Blanc region, stages frequently cross borders, taking the peloton not only through Italy’s Aosta Valley but also into the Rhône-Alpes region of France and the Valais canton of Switzerland.
3. A Launchpad for Cycling Greats
Winning or even performing well at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta is practically a golden ticket to a professional WorldTour contract. The race’s honor roll is a “who’s who” of grand tour riders, mountain specialists, and classics champions.
Famous names who have battled on these Alpine slopes include:
- Grand Tour Icons: Gianni Motta, Gianbattista Baronchelli, Ivan Gotti, Gilberto Simoni, and Thibaut Pinot.
- Modern Stars: Fabio Aru, Pavel Sivakov, Enric Mas, Lenny Martinez, Darren Rafferty, and Mauri Vansevenant.
Multiple Winners Club
Only a select few riders have managed to conquer this brutal race more than once:
- Ivan Gotti (ITA) — 1989, 1990
- Jaroslav Popovych (UKR) — 2000, 2001
- Marco Marzano (ITA) — 2002, 2003
- Fabio Aru (ITA) — 2011, 2012
- Jarno Widar (BEL) — 2024, 2025
