Preview Trofeo Laigueglia 2025 | After his statements and 7.53 w/kg, Ayuso is the Pogacar of the Strade warm-up

In December, Juan Ayuso said that he did not necessarily accept the supremacy of Tadej Pogacar with UAE Team Emirates-XRG and in road cycling in general. Yes, the Slovenian is currently the absolute best in the world, but Ayuso wants to be up there, too. After an impressive 40-kilometer demonstration in the Faun Drome Classic, the 22-year-old Spaniard will have another chance to show why he thinks he could match Pogacar in the Trofeo Laigueglia on Wednesday. IDLProCycling.com provides you with all the information.

The Trofeo Laigueglia is one of those typically Italian races. It is often competitive from the start, never slowing down, never flat, and always keeping you on the edge of your seat. Lenny Martinez won in 2024, but in recent years, Bauke Mollema and Giulio Ciccone were among the strongest. The midweek climbing race is never necessarily a harbinger of form in Strade Bianche, which is traditionally held three days later.

For example, Martinez finished eighth in Strade Bianche last year after winning the Trofeo Laigueglia. Egan Bernal finished second in the midweek race in 2021 before finishing third in the Piazza del Campo in Siena. A win this Wednesday could put him in good stead for Saturday, although not everyone on the starting list on Wednesday will also participate in Strade Bianche. Ayuso, for example, or someone like Neilson Powless (EF) and Koen Bouwman (Jayco). Paris-Nice is also waiting on Sunday...

For Ayuso, it will be the Trofeo Laigueglia-Tirreno-Adriatico combination, and we are very curious to see how well the Spaniard does on Wednesday. Last Sunday, he won the Faun Drome Classic after a 40-kilometer solo ride, and according to Lanterne Rouge, he did so with incredible metrics. He made the difference on the climb with an average of 8:23 minutes at 7.53 watts per kilogram. Can anyone match that?

Practical information Trofeo Laigueglia 2025

• Laigueglia - Laigueglia (197 km)
• Wednesday, March 5, 2025
• Participants
  
• Classification: 1.Pro

In this article

• Latest winners
• Course, weather and times
• Favorites
• TV information

Latest winners of Trofeo Laigueglia

2024 Lenny Martinez
2023 Nans Peters
2022 Jan Polanc

Course, weather and times Trofeo Laigueglia 2025

As mentioned before, there is never a dull moment in the Trofeo Laigueglia, which is unsurprising given the route. The route is a flat 20 kilometers from the start, after which we start climbing. We do this without categorization; after 60 kilometers, the first categorized climb follows with the Cima Paravenna (6.8 km at 5.6%). After we ride through Laigueglia for the first time in 101 kilometers, there is one more loop on the menu with the Testico (7.2 km at 4.5%), after which we enter the local lap.

The final circuit is completed four times, with the climbs of the Colla Micheri (2.0 km at 8.0%) and the Capo Mele (2.0 km at 3.4%) as the final challenges on each lap. After 190 kilometers, when we have completed the last of the Capo Mele climbs, the finish line will be down in Laigueglia. This is a race for explosive riders because the climbs in the final are relatively short. Will Ayuso be able to use their power to the fullest?

Weather:
The past few weeks have not been pleasant in Italy, with lots of rain, wind, and even some minor earthquakes scattered across the country. But now that the race is getting closer, the weather is favorable for the riders. The entire week will be sunny in Italy, with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees in the north on Wednesday and a wind force of 2 from the east.

Times:
Start: 05:07 AM EST
Finish: around 10:15 AM EST

Favorites Trofeo Laigueglia 2025 

As mentioned, we have one important name at UAE Team Emirates: Juan Ayuso. The Spaniard demonstrated his strength in France, but after the race, he nonchalantly announced that he was not even in top form after being ill. He will have to get in shape this week, aiming to win the Tirreno-Adriatico. At UAE, he will have Antonio Morgado, a man in form, at his side. The Portuguese rider has recently shown that he is almost better uphill than on the Flemish cobbles.

Who are the other competitors? Michal Kwiatkowski made a statement on behalf of INEOS Grenadiers by winning the Clasica Jaén solo. Teammate Axel Laurance also has good legs, and Magnus Sheffield is returning to the race after an Australian campaign and weeks of training. Neilson Powless is an interesting name at EF, especially after his sixth place in the Algarve. Christian Scaroni is the man in form at XDS-Astana.

Christian Scaroni

Why are we pushing Ayuso so high up the rankings? The competition is made up of men he should be able to beat. On paper, Jesús Herrada (Cofidis), Koen Bouwman and Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla), Michael Storer (Tudor), Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché), and Fabio Christen (Q36.5) are all men who Ayuso should be able to beat in terms of ability. However, the Trofeo Laigueglia consists of short climbs, and tactics often play a major role.

So, it is also possible that we will see the more explosive men at the front. Think of Archie Ryan of EF, Alberto Bettiol and Diego Ulissi of Astana, and the young Louis Barré of Intermarché-Wanty. UAE will do everything possible to toughen the race and let the best man win. If not, we will have a fascinating spectacle on Wednesday!

Who are the favorites for Trofeo Laigueglia 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com?

Top favorite: Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) 
Outsiders: Christian Scaroni (Astana), Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS), Antonio Morgado (UAE) and Neilson Powless (EF)
Long shots: Alberto Bettiol and Diego Ulissi (Astana), Axel Laurance (INEOS), Jesús Herrada (Cofidis), Koen Bouwman and Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla), Michael Storer (Tudor), Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché), Fabio Christen (Q36.5) and Archie Ryan (EF)

TV broadcast Trofeo Laigueglia 2025

The Trofeo Laigueglia will be broadcast live on Eurosport on Wednesday. The race will start at 08:15 AM EST, while HBO Max will show it fifteen minutes earlier.

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])     

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