The Coppa Bernocchi is a 178-kilometre hilly one-day race starting and finishing in Legnano, featuring enough uphill punch to shed the pure sprinters before a flat finale that can reward either a small select group or a reduced bunch sprint. Classified as a 1.Pro event, it attracts a competitive mid-season Italian classics field. The profile rewards riders who combine hills ability with late-race acceleration.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Reinderink's win at the Tour de Luxembourg and repeated top-3 showings in similar-profile races put him a cut above this field. His hills ability is well-matched to the Legnano circuit, and recent form gives no reason to look elsewhere for a favourite.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Pepijn Reinderink is the standout pick on similar-profile form, having won stage 3 of the Tour de Luxembourg recently and adding a further top-3 in comparable hilly races. His hills ability is well-suited to Legnano's rolling finish, making him the clear favourite despite his Common rarity tag.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Romele and Wellens share the second tier on the strength of their similar-race consistency. Romele's three top-3s and five top-5s represent the deepest well of recent comparable results in the field, while Wellens adds Legendary pedigree and UAE Emirates team support to back up his two recent podiums.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Alessandro Romele has been quietly exceptional in similar-profile races, racking up three top-3 finishes and five top-5s — the best consistency in the field by those metrics. His hills profile is solid and his recent run of results demands serious respect.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Tim Wellens brings Legendary pedigree and two top-3 finishes in similar-profile races over the past 90 days, giving him genuine podium credentials. UAE Emirates' depth around him adds further confidence that he can be well-positioned for a hilly finale.
★★
Dark Horses
Arrieta, Dati, and Raccagni Noviero all carry genuine podium potential based on recent similar-profile form. Dati's top-5 conversion rate in a small sample is eye-catching, Arrieta is UAE's trusted domestique-turned-attacker, and Raccagni Noviero benefits from Soudal Quick-Step's tactical dominance in terms of numbers.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Andrea Raccagni Noviero has quietly accumulated a top-3 and two top-5 finishes in similar terrain lately, showing he can compete against hilly-race specialists. As part of Soudal Quick-Step's large contingent, he has tactical options to exploit.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Igor Arrieta has shown solid consistency in comparable races, posting two top-3s and three top-5s recently. He is one of the stronger hills-suited riders in the UAE Emirates roster and could challenge if the race fragments on the climbs.
Team UKYO
Team UKYO
Tommaso Dati's small sample in similar-profile races is deceptively impressive — one top-3 and two top-5 finishes — giving him a top-5 conversion rate that beats most of this field. A dark horse from Team UKYO worth watching closely.
★
Ones to Watch
Bettiol, Narváez, Groves, and Garofoli represent four distinct archetypes — the experienced classics man, the explosive puncher, the sprint weapon, and the squad utility player. None have recent similar-profile results that demand higher billing, but each has a plausible scenario in which the race falls their way, particularly Groves if the finale comes down to a fast finish.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Alberto Bettiol's hills profile is among the strongest in the field and he has two top-10 finishes in similar-profile races to his name, though a lack of podium results limits his tier. A rider capable of animating the race who could outperform his ranking.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Gianmarco Garofoli is a Rare hills specialist who rounds out Soudal Quick-Step's strong squad presence, giving the team multiple cards to play tactically. Without recent similar-profile results to point to, he sits firmly in outsider territory but could benefit from team positioning.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jhonatan Narváez is the top-rated rider in this field for hills and brings Epic-level talent, but his similar-profile results in the past 90 days have not converted into top finishes. He is a genuine wildcard if the race plays to his punch.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Kaden Groves is the best sprinter in this field with a strong finish in his legs, and a hilly-flat profile that lands a reduced bunch at the line could suit him perfectly. His similar-profile results are limited so far, but his sprint ceiling is the highest of any finisher here.
Verdict
Pepijn Reinderink enters as the top favourite on the back of a recent stage win at the Tour de Luxembourg and strong form on similar terrain, with Alessandro Romele and Tim Wellens the most credible challengers given their consistent top-3 results in comparable hilly races over the past 90 days.