Gran Piemonte 2026 is a classic 185-kilometre hilly one-day race from Asti to Bra, finishing atop a punchy hill finish that rewards riders capable of sustaining power over rolling Piedmontese terrain. The race suits attackers who combine strong hills ability with a finishing punch, and the selective finish is unlikely to favour pure sprinters unless the race comes together at the line. Classified as a 1.Pro event, it draws a quality field of riders targeting northern Italy's autumn block ahead of Il Lombardia.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Isaac del Toro is the overwhelming pick. His win in stage 1 of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, seven top-10s in hilly races, and explicit team targeting of this race make him the rider to beat. UAE Emirates' deep squad gives him the ideal platform to control the race before a punchy, selective finish.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Isaac del Toro arrives as the clear favorite: his win in stage 1 of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal underlines his ability on hilly terrain, and he has compiled three top-3s, five top-5s, and seven top-10s in similar-profile races over the past 90 days — the most consistent record in this field. He also holds among the strongest hills profiles in the startlist and is explicitly listed for this race by his team.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Brandon McNulty and Dorian Godon each arrive with a recent win on comparable terrain — McNulty's coming in the World Championships road race, Godon's at the Gran Premio del Lazio — and both have sustained podium-level form across multiple similar events. Either could beat del Toro if tactics or fatigue shift the dynamic late in the race.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Brandon McNulty is a serious threat: his win in stage 1 of the World Championships ME Road Race — one of the most prestigious hilly one-day results possible — is backed by three top-3s and five top-5s in similar races. He is listed specifically for Gran Piemonte and Il Lombardia, suggesting UAE Emirates has given him a leadership role here.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Dorian Godon is riding excellent form, having won stage 1 of the Gran Premio del Lazio recently and adding two further podiums and five top-5s in hilly races. He blends solid hills ability with a useful sprint for finish-line kick, making him dangerous if he arrives at the Bra finish with the front group.
★★
Dark Horses
Romain Grégoire, Benoît Cosnefroy, and Tobias Halland Johannessen form a credible second tier. Grégoire and Cosnefroy both have strong recent records in hilly races, while Johannessen's Vuelta stage win shows he can perform when it matters most. All three have the profile to finish in the top five on a day when the race is hard from the gun.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Benoît Cosnefroy is a proven hilly-race performer who claimed victory in stage 1 of the Coppa Sabatini recently and has recorded four top-10s in similar events. Listed explicitly for Gran Piemonte, he is one of UAE Emirates' secondary options if del Toro is covered late.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Romain Grégoire has been consistently present at the sharp end of hilly races, posting two top-3s and four top-10s in similar-profile events without yet converting into a win. Among the best hills specialists in the Groupama-FDJ squad, he should be in the mix for the finish.
Tobias
Halland Johannessen
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Tobias Halland Johannessen brings Grand Tour pedigree, having won stage 21 of the Vuelta a España, and posts a strong climbing profile to complement his hills ability. Although his top-5 count in similar races is limited, his raw form and capacity on punchy finishes make him a legitimate dark horse.
★
Ones to Watch
Axel Laurance, Marc Hirschi, Mauro Schmid, and Michael Matthews round out the selection as riders with genuine but less certain prospects. Hirschi and Schmid each carry a recent win on hilly terrain, while Laurance's volume of top-10 finishes and Matthews' sprint punch in a reduced group are reasons to include them as ones to watch.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Axel Laurance has been one of the busier hilly-race competitors in recent weeks, with one top-3 and six top-10s in similar events, and is confirmed for this race. He lacks a recent win to fully validate his prospects but his volume of top-10 finishes suggests he handles this type of terrain well.
Tudor Pro Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling
Marc Hirschi is explicitly listed for Gran Piemonte and has a top-3 and two top-5s in hilly-profile races over the past 90 days. The Tudor Pro Cycling leader is capable of producing an aggressive, attacking ride on a punchy finish like Bra.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Mauro Schmid won stage 13 of the Tour de France on a hilly profile and adds two further top-3 finishes in similar races recently. A versatile performer who can handle rolling terrain, he is listed for Gran Piemonte and could be a late animated presence.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Michael Matthews is explicitly entered for Gran Piemonte and brings one top-3 and four top-10s in similar-profile races, plus one of the highest sprint ratings in this field to complement solid hills ability. If the group is not fully broken apart on the final climb, his finishing kick could prove decisive.
Verdict
Isaac del Toro is the standout favourite, combining the strongest hills profile in the field with a win and near-unmatched consistency in similar-profile races over the past 90 days; Brandon McNulty and Dorian Godon, each with recent victories on comparable terrain, are his most dangerous rivals.