The Trofeo Matteotti is a classic Italian 1.1 one-day race run over 195 kilometres departing and finishing in Pescara on the Adriatic coast. The flat profile strongly favours sprinters or punchy riders capable of contesting a bunch finish, though the race has a history of animated racing that can occasionally reward a well-timed breakaway. Held in mid-September, it sits within a busy Italian late-season one-day calendar that includes nearby events like the GP Peccioli and the Memorial Marco Pantani.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Fernando Gaviria is the overwhelming favourite on a flat Pescara circuit that plays directly to his strengths as the field's premier sprinter. The Trofeo Matteotti is his only listed upcoming race, signalling a targeted preparation that elevates his chances further. While he lacks a win in recent flat races, no rival combines his sprint ceiling with such deliberate scheduling.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Fernando Gaviria is the standout sprint threat in this field, boasting the highest sprint ability among all starters and arriving at Pescara with laser focus — the Trofeo Matteotti is his sole listed upcoming race. Although he has only one top-10 in recent flat races without a podium, no other rider in this field combines his raw sprinting pedigree with such singular preparation for this event.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Iúri Leitão and Stefano Oldani are the riders most capable of denying Gaviria. Leitão's recent record — including a top-3 on a flat profile — is the best in the field and signals genuine current form, while his sprint is the closest to Gaviria's in the peloton. Oldani's versatility and consistent race activity throughout this Italian block make him the wildcard who thrives when races don't end in a textbook bunch sprint.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Iúri Leitão is the most convincing alternative to Gaviria, having posted a top-3 and a top-5 in similar flat-profile races recently — the best recent record in the entire field. His sprint ability is the second highest among all starters, and like Gaviria, Trofeo Matteotti appears to be his season target.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Stefano Oldani is a well-rounded rider whose hill and sprint profile suits a race that rarely ends in a pure bunch kick, and he has participated actively in similar flat races recently. His versatility across sprint, hills, and cobbles makes him a genuine threat if the finale breaks up the peloton.
★★
Dark Horses
Sergi Darder, Xabier Berasategi, and Alex Molenaar each carry a credible profile for Pescara without quite matching the top tier. Darder's recent top-10 on a flat course and his role within a powerful Caja Rural team give him a realistic path to the front. Berasategi and Molenaar have been active on the Italian circuit and offer enough punch to capitalise if the favourites make an error in the finale.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Alex Molenaar has been active in similar-profile races recently and offers a balanced set of attributes across sprint, hills, and time trial that make him competitive in a reduced-group or bunch finish. As a Caja Rural support option, he could also be elevated to protected status depending on team tactics.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Sergi Darder recorded a top-10 in a similar flat race recently and carries solid sprint credentials as the third-strongest sprinter in the Caja Rural lineup. With the squad fielding multiple sprint options, Darder could benefit from a strong team lead-out if circumstances dictate.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi has been racing a busy late-season block through Italian one-day races and brings one of the better sprint-hills combinations in the Euskaltel-Euskadi squad. His well-rounded profile and punch could prove useful if the parcours delivers small undulations near Pescara.
★
Ones to Watch
Gotzon Martín, Adrien Boichis, Antonio Tiberi, and Joan Bou are long shots who could feature in the right scenario. Tiberi's pedigree is considerable but his recent flat-race results have not been compelling. The others are riders whose sprint-hills blend or team positioning could allow them to sneak into a high finish if the leading trains are disrupted in the run-in to Pescara.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Adrien Boichis has contested similar flat races recently and represents Red Bull–BORA's best sprint option at this event. A reduced bunch or a day when the sprinters' trains falter could see him sneak into the top ten.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Antonio Tiberi is the highest-profile name from Bahrain Victorious but has not shown top results in flat-profile races recently, making a surprise attack or late flier his most realistic path to the podium. His Legendary card rarity reflects broader pedigree rather than sprint-specific dominance.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Gotzon Martín has logged flat-race starts recently as part of a busy Italian circuit schedule, and his sprint-hills balance is solid for Euskaltel. He is an outside bet who could animate the race if a small breakaway is given room.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Joan Bou rounds out the Caja Rural contingent with a hills-climbing combination that could thrive if the race is animated by a breakaway rather than a pure sprint. He is an outside chance worth monitoring if the peloton is fractured in the finale.
Verdict
Fernando Gaviria enters as the clear favourite, combining the field's sharpest sprint with singular focus on this event, while Iúri Leitão — the only rider in the field with a recent podium on a similar flat profile — shapes up as the most dangerous rival. Stefano Oldani and Sergi Darder provide Caja Rural with genuine depth should the Gaviria lead-out misfire.