A successful and challenging first edition

The event gathered 1500 participants from 30 different nationalities and coming from all over Italy.

One of the highlights of the day was the Colle delle Goderie, a brand-new climb that is already set to become a landmark among cycling enthusiasts thanks to its difficulty and its unique natural setting. With its 6,1 km ascent with an average gradient of 9,4%, including a 400 meters portion at 22% average and also a gravel section on the final section of the climb, it really challenged all the participants, who for most of them never climbed such steep percentages. This climb was probably the hardest ever proposed to l’Etape Series participants.

Olympic medalists on the start line

The event also welcomed some special with the participation of granfondo cyclist Martino Carollo, bronze medallist at the recent Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, legendary cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo, winner of ten Olympic medals across five editions of the Winter Games during the 1990s and 2000s, and race walker Elisa Rigaudo, bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Throughout the weekend, the village of Entracque became an international cycling hub thanks to the L’Étape Village, the vibrant heart of the event. The village hosted a packed program of activities and entertainment, partner exhibitions, public initiatives and a wide range of food and wine experiences showcasing the region’s finest products. The success of the event also belongs to all the cyclists who chose the Province of Cuneo to enjoy a day of sport, personal challenge and camaraderie. Alongside the competitive Granfondo (140km & 2800m elevation gain) and Mediofondo (110km & 2100m elevation gain) races, the non-competitive cycling tour attracted strong participation, offering riders of all abilities the opportunity to experience L’Étape Piemonte at their own pace while cycling through the mountains and villages of the Cuneo valleys. This initiative enabled cyclists of every level to embrace the spirit of the event while discovering the region’s landscapes, culture and hospitality.

International battle for the yellow jerseys

The international dimension of L’Étape Piemonte by Tour de France was also reflected in the sporting results. In the Granfondo race, American rider Drake Deuel claimed victory ahead of Italy’s Fabio Lanzone and Russia’s Aidar Zakarin, confirming the event’s appeal well beyond Italy’s borders. The women’s race also featured a strong international field, with Italian rider Annalisa Prato taking victory ahead of Iride Bertone and France’s Celine Lepecheur. These results perfectly reflect the event’s international character and its ability to attract athletes from around the world to Piedmont for the official Tour de France amateur cycling experience. These top 3 riders of the Gran Fondo are automatically qualified for l’Etape du Tour de France 2027 through l’Etape Championship program.

Next Italian rendez-vous: l'Etape Mondovi by Tour de France

With images of the Maritime Alps, roads lined with passionate spectators and yellow jerseys colouring the village of Entracque, this memorable edition of L’Étape Piemonte by Tour de France justs marks the beginning of the story between Piemonte and l’Etape Series by Tour de France. The next Italian rendez-vous with l’Etape Series is already planned with L’Etape Mondovi, planned on September 20th, still in Piedmont region. You can register here and know more about the event on https://letapeitaly.it/en/letape-mondovi-homepage