What makes a classic exciting? The list is long, but uncertainty and unpredictability must undoubtedly be on the menu. It has to be said, this race has never had its wings clipped by tradition, which, despite its importance in a centuries-old sport like cycling, sometimes risks limiting evolution.

The GranPiemonte has never ceased experimenting, suffice it to say that from 2010 to date the competition has featured a different route as well as different start and finish locations every single year, showcasing as many parts of this stunning region as possible.

The winners are also extraordinarily diverse, with climbers such as Egan Bernal (2019) and Fabio Aru (2017, that year the race also counted as the Italian Championship), sprinters such as Giacomo Nizzolo (2016), Sonny Colbrelli (2018) and Matthew Walls (2021), and so-called classic hunters such as Philippe Gilbert (2009, 2010), Daniel Moreno (2011), Jan Bakelants (2015) and George Bennett (2020).

The 2023 edition will be no exception, featuring an unprecedented start and finish, namely Borgofranco d’Ivrea and Favria, and a route open to different scenarios, especially in the finale. If the first 90 km are totally flat, perfect for riders interested in trying their luck from afar, the last 65 km are quite different, with hardly any flat ground to play with.

The climbs of Colleretto Castelnuovo, Faiallo, Alpette and Pracorsano, packed within less than 45 kilometres, will prove decisive in discovering Iván Cortina’s successor. Every moment could be the right one to sink the decisive attack and the riders will have to be on their toes at all times. For those enjoying the show on television, make sure you do not miss an inch of the final 65 km.