Giro della Franciacorta 2026 [FULL RACE] (junior) (italian)

May 16, 2026

Giro della Franciacorta 2026 🇮🇹 MJ – Rovato – Rovato : 112,8 km

Giro della Franciacorta that unfolds across the rolling, vineyard-dotted landscapes of Lombardy’s Franciacorta region, where the roads rise and fall through a mix of gentle hills, short but steep climbs, and fast, technical descents that define the area’s deceptively challenging terrain. The course is a succession of undulating roads, with gradients that rarely exceed 8% but are relentless in their repetition, particularly on climbs like the Côte de Monterotondo or Côte de Erbusco, where the road tilts upward abruptly, forcing riders to accelerate and maintain momentum. The descents are fast and technical, their narrow lanes and tight bends demanding precision, while the flatter sections wind through picturesque villages and open countryside, often exposed to crosswinds that sweep across the vineyards, adding a tactical edge to the race.

The race dynamics are shaped by these short, punchy climbs and wind-exposed stretches, with attacks launching on the steepest ramps or during moments of echelon formation, the peloton thinning as riders struggle to hold position. The final kilometers often feature a decisive climb or a fast, technical run-in, where a reduced bunch sprints for victory, or a small group of riders who have escaped the chaos battle it out in a tense, high-speed finish. The Giro della Franciacorta is a race that rewards explosiveness, tactical intelligence, and endurance, offering a true test of versatility across a course that blends the charm of the Italian countryside with the relentless challenge of its climbs.

The first test of the “2 Days of Brescia and Bergamo” ends with a four-sprint: to win the Giro della Franciacorta, 5th ECOTEK Grand Prix – 4th M.C. Trophy. Assistance is the Spaniard Aitor Martinez who regulates the Austrian Santiago Wrolich, second and the Italian Tomaz Lover, third, in the sprint. Fourth the other member of the decisive flight Giulio Franceschini.

Thanks to this success, the color bearer of Team Vangi Il Pirata also wears the yellow ECOTEK jersey assigned to the winner of the points ranking and the dot shirt of the GPM Se.Av.Im. as the best climber. The white jersey MC Assistance – Business solutions of the best young man instead goes to Pietro Ferronato.

THE RACE

There are 178 juniors at the start of the Giro della Franciacorta, 5th ECOTEK Grand Prix – 4th M.C. Trophy. Assistance; for them a demanding route of 120.7 km an initial stretch in line before entering a circuit to be repeated five times with the break of Casotte, then two more with the fearsome ascent of the Dosso di Monticelli and then returning to Rovato, starting and arrival.

And it is precisely the headquarters of the ECOTEK company that hosts the preliminary phases of the race with the founding partner and director of ECOTEK Guido Archetti who kicked off the event coordinated and magnificently set up by Luigi Braghini, president of Cycling and Fun.

“It seemed like a joke when with Matteo Bono, Giovanni Capoferri, Roberto Vezzoli we started and instead we find ourselves in the fifth year of this race – explained Luigi Braghini before the start – we are happy with the evolution and growth we have had in recent years. I thank the sponsors who are close to us, because every year more and more friends and colleagues approach our event and we are happy with the feedback we are having on the territory.

From a technical point of view, we have chosen a challenging and selective path in Franciacorta and if the four winners of past editions are now appreciated professionals, it means that this race reflects the values of today’s cycling.”

THE CHRONICLE

Pleasant and sparkling race the one well interpreted by the 178 athletes at the start who will conclude the race with an average hour of 38.727 Km/h. To keep the gad high are the numerous escape attempts staged in the initial and central phases of the race.

At first Zanesi tries it chased by Ghelfi and Cerame who gains a little less than half a minute from the group, but at km 39 it is a compact group. At km 46 Tovaglieri, Ghelfi, Turati and Milani launch themselves into the attack reaching the maximum advantage of 24 seconds, but even in this case the group comes back.

At km 54 Turati, Martinez, Tovaglieri, Ghelfi, Bertola, Milani, Cingolani, Moretti and Cerame also try, but the nine do not find the right agreement and are taken back.

More interesting is the extension proposed by Profazio and Cavalli who remain at the end, gaining half a minute on the group. The escape seems to take new life with the arrival on the head of the race of Wrolich, Sasso, Berencsi and Nembrini, but instead even in this case the fugitives do not find space and at Km 74 it is a compact group.

The most important attack of the day is undoubtedly that of Tommaso Inselvini of Team ECOTEK Zero24 and Paolo Favero of Bustese Olonia. The two believe it and insist on their action and get to gain the beauty of 59 minutes of a group that seems not to react. But it will be really

The first ascent on the ascent of Dosso to shuffle the cards on the table with the group that splits and that finds on the fugitives.

And then it is the last step on the ascent of Dosso to decide the race. After an initial extension of the Swiss Pradella, a wild Martinez is making a big voice on the ramps of Monticelli. He remains the two bearers of the Tiepolo Lover and Wrolich Team, and the man from Trevigliese Giulio Franceschini. The four take off with about twenty seconds on the group and in the descent they progressively increase their advantage.

This is the decisive action. The four fly towards the finish line of Rovato supported by an excellent agreement that pushes them to the finish. After an attempt to stretch the men of Team Tiepolo, it is the Spaniard Aitor Martinez who unleashes his sprint and wins in the sprint.

The group arrives with a gap of 51 seconds: to regulate it is Marco Pierotto, fifth, who has the upper hand over Pietro Ferronato sixth and best youngster.

BAD LUCK FOR THE ECOTEK ZERO24 TEAM

Two-sided race for men for the home formation of Team ECOTEK Zero24. If in the initial stages of the race the Franciacortino team controls the run and goes to the attack with Tommaso Inselvini demonstrating courage and tactical sagacie moving as a ‘hare’ for the subsequent attacks of the teammates and forcing the opposing teams to shoot, in the end the bad luck affects a lot with a double mechanical accident that hit Enrico Balliana on the last climb and Tommaso Cingolani in the last descent. In the end, however, comes the joy for Filippo Cingolani’s good seventh place.

THE STATEMENTS OF THE PODIUM

“I’m happy for my fifth victory – commented Aitor Martinez – I didn’t expect to win today because I’m a climber. In the end, however, I found a lot of strength in the last climb and I think I made a good arrival. I dedicate this success to my whole team, to my family and to the whole world. Tomorrow is another race, it should be more suitable for me, let’s see what happens.”

“Today was a really hard race – said the second place Santiago Wrolich (Team Tiepolo U19 Devo NSN) – in the final we were four with a two of us. Tomaz tried to attack, but unfortunately we failed to win.”

“I tried to attack at the last km and I didn’t make it – said the third place Tomaz Lover (Team Tiepolo U19 Devo NSN) – I’m still happy because I’m in shape and this placement has arrived.”

Results :
1. MARTINEZ GROSET Aitor (Team Vangi Tommasini Il Pirata) km 120.7 at m.o. of 38.727 Km/h in 3h07min

2. WROLICH Santiago (Team Tiepolo U19 Devo NSN)

3. LOVER MEDEOT Tomaz (Team Tiepolo U19 Devo NSN) at 1′

4. FRANCESCHINI Giulio (Cyclistics Trevigliese) at 4”

5. PIEROTTO Marco (Autozai – Contri) at 51”

6. FERRONATO Pietro (Northeast-Petrucci-Assali-Stefen)

7. CINGOLANI Filippo (ECOTEK Zero24 Team)

8. ZOCO Marco (Bustese Olonia)

9. COLELLA Filippo (Team Neri Sottoli Lucchini Energy)

10. FRONTINI Luca (Pool Cantù GB Team)