The Veneto Classic is a 1.Pro one-day race held in October in the Veneto region of Italy, run over a flat profile that heavily favours riders with strong sprint and finishing speed. Without a dedicated pure sprinter field, the race is likely to come down to a reduced-group kick or a well-timed attack from a punchy finisher. UAE Emirates arrive with a formidable three-rider threat that could dominate the finale.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Tim Wellens stands alone at the top of the market. The only rider in this entire field with a top-3 finish in a flat-profile race over the past 90 days, he combines elite sprint and hills ability with Legendary rarity and the backing of the strongest team on the startlist. Barring a tactical mishap, he is the overwhelming favourite to take the Veneto Classic.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Tim Wellens is the standout favorite here: a Legendary-rated rider with one of the strongest sprint and hills profiles in this field, he also recorded a top-3 finish in similar flat-profile races over the past 90 days — the only rider in this startlist to do so. Riding for a stacked UAE Emirates squad, he has both the individual firepower and team support to control the race and win the sprint.
★★★
Strong Contenders
António Morgado and Brandon McNulty form a two-rider threat behind Wellens, each capable of winning if the team plan shifts in their direction. Morgado's recent top-10 in a similar race confirms his current condition on flat terrain, while McNulty's all-around punch makes him dangerous in any scenario from a reduced group to an all-out sprint.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
António Morgado is an Epic-rated UAE Emirates talent who posted a top-10 in a similar-profile race recently, showing he can compete when the terrain suits a sprint finish. With strong hills and sprint attributes among the best in this field, he is well-positioned to go deep if Wellens does not take the win for the team.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Brandon McNulty brings all-around quality as one of UAE Emirates' most versatile weapons: his sprint and hills ability rank among the field's elite, and with the entire UAE train potentially working for the final, he could emerge as the team's Plan B or be delivered perfectly for a late attack. His presence alongside Wellens and Morgado makes UAE a three-card hand.
★★
Dark Horses
Filippo Baroncini, Simone Velasco, and Mattia Negrente represent the best outside bets. Baroncini leads the sprint rankings in the field and knows Italian racing well. Velasco brings versatile finishing speed as an Epic-rated rider. Negrente is the value pick of the trio, his recent top-10 in a comparable race suggesting he is in form to challenge the bigger names.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Filippo Baroncini leads the sprint rankings in this startlist alongside his teammates, and as a home Italian rider with a good feel for Veneto roads, he is a credible threat in a bunch sprint. He lacks the similar-race results to justify higher billing, but his raw speed makes him dangerous on a flat finish.
XDS Astana DT
XDS Astana DT
Mattia Negrente is the most intriguing value pick in this field: he recorded a top-10 in a comparable race recently, suggesting real current form on flat parcours. His sprint ability is among the better figures in this startlist's lower tier, and he could surprise in a field without dominant sprinters.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Simone Velasco is an experienced Epic-rated finisher with a solid sprint and excellent hills rating, giving him the versatility to contest both reduced-group and bunch finishes. He has competed in similar-profile races recently, keeping his legs tuned for this type of effort.
★
Ones to Watch
Benoît Cosnefroy, Valentin Madouas, Martin Marcellusi, and Diego Ulissi round out the top 10 as outsiders worth a spot in your fantasy lineup. Cosnefroy and Madouas are classics specialists who could profit if the race fragments; Marcellusi is a live home-race wildcard in a bunch finish; and Ulissi's experience and tactical savvy in Italian one-day racing can never be fully written off.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Benoît Cosnefroy has excellent hills and cobbles attributes that could give him an edge if the race is decided before the line, but his sprint is a notch below the top guns and he showed no top-10 finishes in similar races recently. He remains a rider to watch if the finale breaks up.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Diego Ulissi is a canny, experienced Italian rider for XDS Astana with high climbing and hills ability that can translate to late-race acceleration on a flat finish if the group thins out. He appeared in similar-profile races recently without a result, but his race intelligence and experience in Italian one-day events should never be discounted.
Bardiani CSF
Bardiani CSF
Martin Marcellusi is a Rare-rated home rider for Bardiani CSF with sprint and hills credentials that place him comfortably in contention for a bunch kick on flat terrain. He has not been tested in many similar-profile races recently, making him a speculative pick with upside.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Valentin Madouas is a consistent presence on flat and hilly classics, with solid hills and cobbles numbers, but six appearances in similar races over the past 90 days without a single top-10 signals he is slightly off his best or conserving form. He is the type who can sneak into a late move but is hard to back as a winner right now.
Verdict
Tim Wellens is the clear favourite: his top-3 in similar recent racing, Legendary rating, and UAE Emirates team strength make him the rider to beat. António Morgado and Brandon McNulty are the chief challengers, with Filippo Baroncini and Simone Velasco capable of causing an upset if the sprint opens up.