Anticipation is building for the Coppa Agostoni, a race with a fantastic list of past winners

Anticipation is building for the 2026 Coppa Agostoni-Giro delle Brianze, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, and set to kick off the traditional Lombardy “Trittico.” In Lissone, preparations are in full swing for a race that, for 79 years, has represented much more than just a sporting event. The event has, in fact, become a true town festival, bringing together cycling enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike along the roads to watch some of the best riders on the international scene pass by.

After starting from downtown Lissone, the race will really heat up in the Brianza hills. Thousands of spectators are expected here, ready to follow the four laps of the circuit featuring the climbs of Sirtori, Colle Brianza, and above all, Lissolo—one of the most challenging and anticipated sections of the course. Last year, Adam Yates won the race.

The history of the Coppa Agostoni dates back to October 1946. Over the decades, the competition has steadily grown in prestige: originally a race reserved for independent riders, it was later opened to professionals, eventually achieving international status thanks in part to the participation of riders from World Tour teams.

One of the most significant editions remains that of 1987, when the Coppa Agostoni was chosen as the sole race to determine the Italian Road Championship. Bruno Leali claimed the title. The event’s growing importance is also evidenced by a roll of honor brimming with great champions: over the years, winners have included, among others, Gimondi, Merckx, Zilioli, Bitossi, De Vlaeminck, Moser, Saronni, Battaglin, Fondriest, Konyshev, Bugno, Cassani, Tafi, Ullrich, Casagrande, Jalabert, Visconti, Gavazzi, Modolo, Pozzato, Moscon, and Lutsenko have triumphed.

Since 1996, the race’s name has been supplemented by the designation “Giro delle Brianze,” a choice that further highlights the close relationship between the race and the region that hosts it. In fact, the route passes through various areas of the Brianza regions of Monza and Lecco, making the race a sporting showcase for an area deeply rooted in cycling tradition.

Another change came in 2022, with a revision of the route that took the race through roads and towns in Brianza that had never before been part of an international cycling competition. The goal was twofold: to make the course even more challenging for the riders and, at the same time, to offer greater visibility to the landscapes and rolling hills of the Brianza region.